Honduras > On the way to Copán Ruinas

It’s a great way to wake up with such a beautiful view. It’s a shame, really, that I’m only staying one night in this wonderful hotel. On the other hand, the area doesn’t offer that many activity options anyway. Today I leave El Salvador and head toward Copán in Honduras—a long journey that will largely pass through Guatemala. This gives me the chance to read up on Copán in my travel guide during the trip. After about three hours of driving, I arrive at the first border crossing of the day. Even before reaching the border, the bus has to stop for a police check. My passport is examined. The officer points approvingly to the Nicaragua stamp, though I don’t understand why—after all, I entered El Salvador via Honduras.

Honduras - The cathedral of Copan

He seems satisfied, and the bus is allowed to continue. A few kilometers further is the actual border. Here, my passport is checked on the El Salvador side, and on the far bank of the river, I receive a stamp from Guatemala. The border crossing between Guatemala and Honduras also goes smoothly. Since practically all tourists heading to Copán pass through this border and are only staying in Copán for a few days, Guatemala does not consider my trip as officially leaving the country. I don’t need a stamp; I only have to fill out a form for Honduras. Just after entering Honduras, I see a sign indicating that Copán Ruinas is only 16 kilometers away. I hadn’t expected Copán to be so close to the border. Shortly afterward, I enter the town of Copán. It’s clear that Copán relies on tourism. I see several restaurants and many souvenir shops. My hotel is right on the central square—a nice, cozy hotel with excellent rooms. In the afternoon, I wander through the streets of Copán and eventually end up on the terrace of Via Via, a worldwide Belgian chain of restaurants for backpackers. I meet Geert, the Belgian owner and guide for tomorrow afternoon’s walk. Saul also comes by to introduce himself; he will lead my tour of Copán tomorrow. Finally, while I’m still sitting on the terrace, Ruben walks by. Ruben is the tour leader for the Sawadee group following the Maya route. For the next three days, both groups will follow the same itinerary. I had met Ruben previously on the Bulgaria trip—nice to see him again here. In the evening, I eat with the tour group at Via Via. Ruben’s other group is also there—a true Dutch invasion. After dinner, Geert joins me and a few other travelers at our table. We start talking about tourism in Honduras. I am surprised to learn that Copán only attracts about 90,000 visitors per year. I had read that the coastal strip is Honduras’s number one tourist attraction. Geert explains that this is due to the cruise ships—many visitors don’t even get off the ship and don’t spend money in the country. Nevertheless, Honduras still counts them in its tourism statistics.