Trip Report: Copan Ruinas and Ixbalanque Spanish School

Since I basically based my decision to study Spanish for two and a half weeks in Copan Ruinas on feedback from this forum, I thought I would post a follow-up trip report.

Upon arrival, I thought I'd have to get out of this town pretty fast, it was just so tiny. But once I started Spanish classes at Ixbalanque and started to unwind from the fast-paced lifestyle of Los Angeles, I really enjoyed it. The school was surprisingly good (I have gone to Spanish schools in Guate, Nica, Ecuador, and Peru prior to this trip). The teacher was organized, had a ton of creative exercises and games to make drills more fun, and was adept teaching at a more advanced level. The woman who runs the school, Amadea, was incredibly helpful. The school includes one activity a week (such as a trip to the Hot Springs or a horseback riding trip to a small Mayan village) but she helped me to arrange transportation for more excursions that I wanted to do and found a teacher to accommodate me when I decided I wanted more Spanish classes over the weekend as well. There weren't that many students there (just 3-5) but teachers told me I had missed the high season and that things have not yet recovered from the political unrest that really rocked the economy late last year. Lucky for me, the students I did meet were great and a lot of fun.

Homestay was also great, just a 5 minute walk from the school, nice people, and meals right on schedule. Overall, a really good value to study at school and stay with a local family.

With regards to the town, it is small and can easily be "done" in a day if you want to just see the ruins and take a quick glance around. I really enjoyed the slower pace, tuk-tuk like moto-taxis, and sense that everyone knows everyone else and was so glad I stayed longer. Recommended excursions include Macaw Mountain, Hot Springs (go for the higher-end site that costs $10), horseback riding trip to village of La Pintada, and zip lines. I also went to a organic coffee cooperative run by women and on a hike to another village where they show you how they do ceramics. Both excursions were great but I arranged them by talking to locals and with help of the language school rather than going through tour operators.Check out the discoteque Papachanga if you are more adventurous but if you are a solo female, go in a group.

While I was there, we had frequent blackouts and problems with hot water and running water in general. Also lots of thundershowers in the afternoons and evenings. But I really didn't mind and it's probably not so bad earlier in the summer season. Showers don't usually lost too long anyway. Bring a flashlight and umbrella and some mosquito repellent and you'll be fine.

Hope this helps and brings more students to Ixbalanque. They are a hardworking and very professional school, and in Copan, you really have to use your Spanish because the locals and families don't generally speak English. Much better practice than in some other areas where everyone answers you in English!

Thanks for your report. I loved Copan, the cobblestone streets, the market, bars, great restaurants with really good beef and veggies for cheap. The smallness adds to it's charm. Too bad about the blackouts and the situation in Honduras in general. I hope to attend that school someday.

Glad you took advantage of this wonderful opportunity, and found these forums helpful in making your decision. Thanks for returning to give feedback! Sounds like you made the very best of your time in/around Copán.

Wow - I can't imagine the initial shock coming from Los Angeles to a small mountain village like this.

Thanks so much for taking the time to report back. Copán Ruinas in general (and Ixbalanque in particular) makes my list of top 10 favorite places. Even before they built the new school (2006-7) Ixbalanque was a great place to study; I consider Amadea and her sister Kathea to be dear friends of mine. Can you share the names of your teacher and family? Thanks again!

Hopefulist, my teacher for both weeks was Yessenia and I stayed with Lorena and Luis.

Yessenia is wonderful. I don't know Lorena and Luis but I'm happy you enjoyed your stay with them. The area is really prone to power and water outages, unfortunately. When I was there in 2008 with a group of 15 in tow, a passing hurricane before our visit had caused landslides in the mountains that took out the pipe supplying the town with water. A few of the families had roof cisterns but most of us were out of plumbed water for a week and a half. Living like the locals! Happy trails!

Yeah, this was great reading this thread because I too love that little town. I spent a week there in July, even treated myself the last four nights at the Marina, the big gorgeous fancy place; and it's funny, though much more money than most any other place in town they were having a special of around 78 bucks a night, for a hotel that would probably be several hundred bucks in the USA (Ana Lara, the daughter-in-law of the owners of Llama Del Bosque talked me into going fancy the last nights there). Had a great time

Thank you so much for posting. Very helpful. Am booking my flight shortly for three weeks in Copan in February at one of the spanish school and was trying to decide between the two schools in the town.

Deb.

I just received word from Kathy at Ixbalanque this afternoon. The man who set up their website hasn't returned their emails so it's still down. You can reach her at this email: ixbalanquehn@yahoo.com

Enjoy your time there and please tell Kathy and Amadea hello from Stacey!

Thanks for the ideas around town..... I plan to return to Copan Ruinas in Feb. ( I too really liked the town) and then head up to Santa Rosa and vicinity in the mountains. The women's cooperative sounds interesting.

One highlight for me was an overnight stay at Finca el Cisne outside of Copan Ruinas. A tour of a working ranch on horseback, Coffee, cardamon and cattle. Carlos speaks excellent English and it made the experience very educational and interesting - great food and accomodation too.