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3 of 4Nightlife in Copan, Honduras
Perhaps due to its rural surroundings, nightlife in Copan is considerably more controlled than places like La Ceiba. The bars lock their doors at 10 PM as a formality, but "private parties" continue in these "closed" establishments until around midnight. Few people last longer than this, and one night I found myself one of a small group of hangers-on. This included myself, the bartender, Freddy, who moon lights as a soccer coach, Jorge and another.
The bars remain the best place to improve your Spanish, with liquor acting as a social lubricant. I spent most of my bar-hours at Macanudo ("supreme, the best"), where happy hour runs from 7 PM to 9 PM with beer going for L.8 (.60 USD), about .30 USD less than during regular hours. The best deal are the Cuba Libres (rum and cokes) for the same price – about half normal prices here or anywhere else in the country.
Touring
the Copan Countryside on Horseback
The unimpressive, but scenic site of Los Sapos
Juan met me at my hotel about 8:30 one morning, leading a horse. With Juan walking alongside, I rode the horse across the river and up the opposite hillside to Los Sapos. Dilapidated even as ruins go, Los Sapos is nothing more than a few eroded rocks on the edge of a field. For L. 140 (10 USD) however, the horseback ride was worth it. The countryside or "aldea" around Copan is striking, and the 2-3 hour trip is a perfect way to get an understanding of the landscape.
The archaeological significance of Los Sapos is not unanimous. Most experts believe it was a place for childbirth. The eroded stone figures are most likely fertility icons. A frog is picture below. Slightly more eroded (unpictured) is a pregnant woman cradling her stomach.
The best preserved sculpture at Los Sapos. Can you see the frog? It's facing left, with a large sac under the jaw and bulging eyes on top of its head. Its front-left legs is behind the sac.
View of Copan Ruins from the opposite mountainside site of Los Sapos