The Maya city of carved stelae
Copán was a powerful Maya kingdom, and while it is smaller than Tikal, its sculpture is some of the finest in the Maya world. The Great Plaza is dotted with elaborately carved stelae portraying its rulers, and the Hieroglyphic Stairway carries the longest known Maya inscription. Tunnels beneath the Acropolis reveal earlier temples, and a museum holds a full-size replica of the brightly painted Rosalila temple. Scarlet macaws fly around the site. The small town of Copán Ruinas nearby has cobbled streets, cafés and hot springs in the hills.