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- Great Plaza and the Stelae: The open plaza holds a row of tall carved monoliths, most of them portraits of the thirteenth ruler, Waxaklajuun Ub’aah K’awiil. The relief is so deep that the figures seem to step out of the stone. Some are weathered originals under protective roofs, and some are replicas, since the best originals are in the museum.
- Hieroglyphic Stairway: Sixty-three steps carry around 2,200 glyphs, the longest known Maya inscription, recounting the dynasty’s history. A large canopy shelters it, so you view it from a distance rather than climbing, which is the only way to take in the full sweep.
- Acropolis and Temple 16: This tall mound is built from centuries of royal temples stacked on top of each other. Altar Q at the base of Temple 16 shows the sixteen rulers of the dynasty, and
- Great Plaza and the Stelae: The open plaza holds a row of tall carved monoliths, most of them portraits of the thirteenth ruler, Waxaklajuun Ub’aah K’awiil. The relief is so deep that the figures seem to step out of the stone. Some are weathered originals under protective roofs, and some are replicas, since the best originals are in the museum.
- Hieroglyphic Stairway: Sixty-three steps carry around 2,200 glyphs, the longest known Maya inscription, recounting the dynasty’s history. A large canopy shelters it, so you view it from a distance rather than climbing, which is the only way to take in the full sweep.
- Acropolis and Temple 16: This tall mound is built from centuries of royal temples stacked on top of each other. Altar Q at the base of Temple 16 shows the sixteen rulers of the dynasty, and the Copán River once cut through one side, exposing the layers of building.
- Ball Court: One of the best preserved in Mesoamerica, with sloping stone sides and carved macaw-head markers. Its scale makes it easy to picture the ritual game played here.
- Sculpture Museum: Entry is about US$7 on top of the ruins ticket. The original stelae, altars and carved facades sit indoors, and the center of the building is occupied by a full-size replica of the Rosalila temple, painted in its original red, green and cream. It is the best place to understand how bright the city once looked.
- Rosalila and Los Jaguares Tunnels: The tunnels cost roughly US$15 extra. They run beneath the Acropolis and let you see sections of earlier buildings, including the original Rosalila temple, buried intact. Worth the money for the sheer age of what you see, though the sections are brief.
- Las Sepulturas: A residential compound for the Maya elite, set about 2 km from the main site along a forest path, with courtyards, a large patio and a colonnaded building. It is far quieter than the main ruins, and the walk gives you birds and shade.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.