Copán is the major Maya archaeological site in Honduras that was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980.
Located in western Honduras near the Guatemalan border, Copán grew in a fertile mountain valley and became one of the Maya world’s most important political, cultural, and religious centers. Its rulers commissioned temples, plazas, monuments, and finely carved inscriptions that preserve unusually detailed information about Maya history.
The city developed over many centuries before being abandoned in the early 10th century. Archaeologists regard its Hieroglyphic Stairway as one of the most significant Maya inscriptions; its steps record the history and rulers of Copán, although portions have deteriorated and reconstruction remains complex.
Copán is sometimes confused with Chichén Itzá, Palenque, or Tikal, all major Maya sites but located in Mexico or Guatemala. Copán is distinctive for its location in Honduras, its monumental sculpture, and the historical detail preserved in its carved texts.