Page
2 of 4Lodging in Copan, Honduras
While purchasing water, I met a 14 year-old boy named Juan who led me to the charming Hotel Salvador. With only three rooms and a live-in proprietary family (same building, different entrances), Hotel Salvador is clean with a friendly atmosphere. It doesn’t stock large quantities of food or drink, so one evening when I wanted a second beer my hostess sent her young son to the store with an empty bottle to exchange for me. Rooms are L.60 (4.30 USD) per night.
Traditional simplicity of the Hotel Salvador
There is a large selection of affordable hotels in Copan. Many are in the same price range, or even cheaper than Hotel Salvador. A quick walk around the coblestone streets is all you'll need to find one. Start by looking in a 3 block radius of the central park. You can even find 120 USD luxury rooms here, if you want.
Food in Copan, Honduras
Hotel Salvador may not keep extra beer on hand, but ask the proprietor, Tita, and she will fix you anything you want. Wanting a bit of a cultural experience, I asked her for traditional homestyle food ("comida tipica"), and she responded with roast beef, rice, black beans, corn tortillas, and tajidas (the delicious fried plantain dish you find all over Honduras). She charged L.30 (2.15 USD) for this meal. It's worth noting that payment here is informal, you don't ask how much a meal or beer will cost when ordering. Money is not an issue until you leave and a total is agreed upon for all services rendered - room, food, laundry, etc. The total is almost always discounted at these type of places - either by friendliness or omission.
Should you wish to venture forth for dinner at Copan’s restaurants, you may try Las Tajidas, a traditional restaurant with an indoor dining room, which includes a television, fans, and plants. I had a massive platter of BBQ chicken, rice, vegetables, and tortillas for L.50 (3.60 USD) and beer for L.12 (.85 USD).
Via Via, a Belgian owned restaurant
serves a breakfast of Belgian waffles fried just enough to provide an excellent
juxtaposition of moist and crisp textures. Together with tea, the meal cost me L.20
(1.45 USD). Via Via has a resident black and white kitten with a gregarious personality,
who loves to curl up and lay on your lap while you eat on the outdoor patio.
Via Via also serves lunch, though it looks less European than what’s on the
breakfast menu. I had carnitas of marinated beef with onion and tomato, and sides
of french fries and salad for L.50 (3.60 USD). Beer was L.10 (.70 USD).
Cafe Via Via's streetside patio
Llama del Bosque (Call of the Wild/Forest) is a tourist-oriented restaurant evidenced by the rare sight of waitresses in matching uniforms. High ceiling, tile floor, colorful decorations, and refreshing air conditioning make this a good place to splurge for a night. The beer was the most expensive I saw in the entire country, L.15 (1.10 USD), but the menu is extensive. I had what was listed as chicken Chow Mein, but was really Lo Mein (soft noodles), with carrots, onions, celery, and peppers for L.50 (3.60 USD). Portions were large and tasty. This was one of the cheaper options, most entrees were around 6 USD.
Vamos a Ver will entice you with its mysterious name ("We’ll See"), and will welcome you in with its cool courtyard decorated with a colorful mix of painted wooden tables and chairs. The hammocks hanging under a covered patio add to the atmosphere. It was slow, so the proprietors let me select a CD to play – a Jimi Hendrix disc I had never seen before. I had a relaxing breakfast here, consisting of eggs, bacon, bread, papaya, watermelon, pineapple, coffee, tea, and orange juice for L.35 (2.50 USD). This restaurant is also owned by Belgians and serves fresh, high-quality food.
Colorful garden atmosphere of Vamos a Ver restaurant