A Horseback ride around Copan and a visit to the Mayan Ruins

. Our Washington State to Argentina Adventure ., . Our World Tour Adventure ., Honduras

Friday October 23, 2015

We had a really fun day with a three hour horseback ride around town followed by a visit to the ancient Mayan city of Copan.

    from Wikipedia:

Copán is an archaeological site of the Maya civilization located in the Copán Department of western Honduras, not far from the border with Guatemala. It was the capital city of a major Classic period kingdom from the 5th to 9th centuries AD. The city was located in the extreme southeast of the Mesoamerican cultural region, on the frontier with the Isthmo-Colombian cultural region, and was almost surrounded by non-Maya peoples. In this fertile valley now lies a city of about 3000, a small airport, and a winding road.

Copán was occupied for more than two thousand years, from the Early Preclassic period to the Postclassic. The city developed a distinctive sculptural style within the tradition of the lowland Maya, perhaps to emphasize the Maya ethnicity of the city’s rulers.

The city has a historical record that spans the greater part of the Classic period and has been reconstructed in detail by archaeologists and epigraphers. Copán was a powerful city ruling a vast kingdom within the southern Maya area. The city suffered a major political disaster in AD 738 when Uaxaclajuun Ub’aah K’awiil, one of the greatest kings in Copán’s dynastic history, was captured and executed by his former vassal, the king of Quiriguá. This unexpected defeat resulted in a 17-year hiatus at the city, during which time Copán may have been subject to Quiriguá in a reversal of fortunes.

Our horses were delivered to the hotel.
Our horses were delivered to the hotel.
A fine rider.
A fine rider.
A different view than on her bike.
A different view than on her bike.
No, we are not going to trade in our bikes for horses.
No, we are not going to trade in our bikes for horses.
A birthing rock from an old Mayan hospital. There is the head, arms, leg, and baby. It kind of difficult to see in the picture but it is there. The baby is to the right of the hand.
A birthing rock from an old Mayan hospital. There is the head, arms, leg, and baby. It kind of difficult to see in the picture but it is there. The baby is to the right of the hand.
The toad or frog was the symbol of fertility. Right next to that is a crocodile head.
The toad or frog was the symbol of fertility. Right next to that is a crocodile head.
We visited an old hacienda. This is the stove and washing sink.
We visited an old hacienda. This is the stove and washing sink.
Coffee beans.
Coffee beans.

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Our group. Leda on the left and Mary on the right.
Our group. Leda on the left and Mary on the right.
Nice view.
Nice view.
There's a new sheriff in town and her name is Jocelyn.
There’s a new sheriff in town and her name is Jocelyn.
Going for a family ride in the pickup.
Going for a family ride in the pickup.
The ancient Mayan city of Copan.
The ancient Mayan city of Copan.
Housing area.
Housing area.

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This is 4 houses around a courtyard.
This is 4 houses around a courtyard.
A model of the housing area.
A model of the housing area.
Many cool authentic carvings.
Many cool authentic carvings.

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A small pyramid.
A small pyramid.
All these stones have hieroglyphics.
All these stones have hieroglyphics.

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An artists rendition of the hieroglyphics stairway.
An artists rendition of the hieroglyphics stairway.
Over time the temples and pyramids were built on. There were also tunnels that led to the oldest parts underground.
Over time the temples and pyramids were built on. There were also tunnels that led to the oldest parts underground.
Entering one of the tunnels to explore the base of the temple. Skeleton head on top.
Entering one of the tunnels to explore the base of the temple. Skeleton head on top.

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An artist rendition of the main courtyard.
An artist rendition of the main courtyard.
Hieroglyphics.
Hieroglyphics.
How cool is this!
How cool is this!
Skeleton heads.
Skeleton heads.

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A macaw!
A macaw!
In fact there were over 20 in this one wild area.
In fact there were over 20 in this one wild area.

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4 thoughts on “A Horseback ride around Copan and a visit to the Mayan Ruins”

  2. Have you considered trading your bikes for two horses? Though these horses look a little undersized for your needs. Could try for two horses and a pack mule.
    Have fun!

  3. Hello jungle travelers! The ruins in Copan seem more family oriented and the villages have the same areas as the others, just more community evident. I guess they were the farthest away and had a unique history. You have found a mode of transportation that would suit the hills better than bike tires that slip on the wet asphalt and dirt. I wonder how the weather acted today with Hurricane Patricia hitting the western coast of Mexico. The fact that you were there about 6 weeks ago is interesting. I know you enjoyed your time in the coastal towns like Manzanillo.
    Thanks for sharing these pictures. Jocelyn does have some decent riding skills and very good posture. The horses seem smaller than the ones she rode at GS Camp. I hope you weren’t too sore after three hours! You are headed into more hills and some valleys and I know that the heat is tiring. Stay hydrated and keep steady on your wheels. Love always, andee momster

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