Activities in Western Honduras
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Cabañas
Just a few minutes east of Copán is the cheerful little farming community of Cabañas. Peace Corps volunteers have helped community members organize a day-long rural tour; highlights include hiking or horseback riding through coffee fields and tiny farming communities, visiting traditional houses 'painted' with colored mud, a 25m waterfall, and lunch at a campesino home. Visitors can also stay overnight with a family in Cabañas. There's even a website with hotels and descriptions.
It is vital that you call in advance, so the trip can be organized. Come the afternoon before, stay the night and start the tour early. Doña Magaly Alvarado, who operates the Comedor Calle Re…
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La Flor de Copán
Fine hand-rolled cigars are produced in La Flor de Copán factory, just 2km from town. You can learn about the entire process – from the trimming of the tobacco to the packaging of puros (cigars) – by taking a tour (L$40, 10am and 2pm); call to reserve a spot. If you want a smoke without a tour, stop by the factory outlet store in town (Calle Centenario near 3a Av Norte), open from 8am to noon and 2pm to 5pm Monday to Friday, 8am to noon Saturday.
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International Language Institute
Although it’s mainly dedicated to teaching English to Hondurans, the International Language Institute just up the street from the Casa del Obrero, also offers Spanish courses. Classes are one-on-one and cost L$228 per hour, with a one-time L$190 registration fee. Homestays, including three meals per day, can be arranged for an additional L$237 per day.
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Ixbalanque Spanish Language School
Probably the best school in town, Ixbalanque offers one-on-one Spanish classes 20 hours per week (L$3990), including a homestay (private room with bathroom, three meals per day and laundry). Volunteer opportunities in elementary schools, medical centers and municipal offices also can be arranged in conjunction with language study.
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Basecamp
Inside the ViaVia Café, Basecamp is easily one of the best operations in Honduras. It offers a variety of excursions, from a two-hour walking tour of the ‘real’ Copán village to an all-day hike through the hills and rural communities around Copán.
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Go Native Tours
The longtime and locally owned Go Native Tours offers hiking, caving and horsebackriding trips around Copán, as well as to Lago de Yojoa and Gracias. Some of the local trips involve and benefit local villagers. The office is in Tun Club Restaurant & Bar.
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Beneficio Maya
Learn how coffee is roasted, classified, and prepared for export at Beneficio Maya, a coffee processing plant. Visitors are welcome year-round but tours are only offered during the coffee season (November to February).
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Yaragua Tours
Just east of Parque Central, the reliable Yaragua Tours offers various excursions, including tubing and horseback trips along the Copán River, bird-watching, waterfall hikes and coffee plantation tours. Ask for Samuel Miranda.
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La Piscina de Don Nicho
If you’re in the mood for a swim, head to La Piscina de Don Nicho, a set of spring-fed pools 5km south of town near the road to Esperanza. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s refreshing.
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Recreational Center Camino Maya
This well-maintained recreational area with lush grounds and a pool is just off the road to the Hedman Alas bus terminal. At night, Las Piscinas – the center’s bar and discotheque – keeps the place hopping.
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Guacamaya Spanish Academy
Private Spanish classes 20 hours per week plus homestays, extracurricular activities and volunteer opps. It's a little cheaper here than other schools, extra per week for the homestay package.
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Lenca Land Trails
Lenca Land Trails offers personalized day trips and multi-day excursions to the colonial villages on the Ruta Lenca and the Parque Nacional Montaña de Celaque.
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Seed of Light Yoga
If hauling your pack around Honduras has left you aching for a good stretch, drop in on a class at this Krípalu yoga studio.
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Parque el Cerrito
Parque El Cerrito has a nice lookout point –105 steps to the best view around.
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Merendón Adventures
Merendón Adventures offers one- and two-day guided excursions in the park.
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La Finca Castejo
Known locally as Finca El Cisne, La Finca Castejo is the tourism arm of this century-old family farm; trips to the finca combine beautiful scenery with an inside-look at a working finca (farm) including horseback riding through coffee and cardamom fields, swimming in the Río Blanco, soaking at Agua Caliente hot springs and a stop at the coffee-processing plants (February to October).
Most tours are led by Carlos Castejón, a friendly US- and Zamorano-trained agronomist whose family owns the finca. Lodging is in a homey solar-powered cabin and includes transportation to/from Copán Ruínas and meals. The finca shares an office with Basecamp tours, opposite ViaVia Café in C…
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