Santa Rosa de Copán travel guide

Bus

Buses depart from the city bus station on Carretera Internacional.

Local

‘El Urbano’ bus to centre from bus station (on Carretera Internacional, 2 km below town, opposite Hotel Mayaland), US$0.15, 15 mins; taxi US$1.40.

Long distance

If coming from the Guatemalan border at Nueva Ocotepeque, the bus will stop at the end of town near Av Centenario, 2 km below town, opposite Hotel Mayaland. To Tegucigalpa, Toritos leaves at 0400 from terminal Mon-Sat 0400 and 1000 Sun, US$6, 10 hrs. Alternatively, take an express bus to San Pedro Sula and an express bus on to Tegucigalpa (US$5, 6 hrs). To Gracias, Transportes Lempira, several 0630-1800, 1½ hrs, US$1.30. To San Pedro Sula, US$2.50, 4 hrs, every 45 mins 0400- 1730, express service daily 2½ hrs, US$3.50 (Empresa Torito). Bus to La Entrada, 1 hr, US$1. To Copán Ruinas, 4 hrs on good road, US$2.90, several direct daily 1100, 1230 and 1400. Alternatively, take any bus to La Entrada, 1 hr, US$1, and transfer to a Copán Ruinas bus. South on paved road to Nueva Ocotepeque, 6 daily, US$1.80, 2 hrs. There you change buses for El Salvador and Guatemala (1 hr to border, US$1, bus leaves hourly until 1700).

Banks

Atlántida (has Visa ATM, maximum withdrawal US$30) and Banco de Occidente (has ATM), both are on main plaza.

Cultural centre

½ block south of Parque Central with live music and singing, sculpture and picture galley.

Immigration

Av Alvaro Contreras y 2 Calle NO, helpful, extensions available.

Internet

Pizza Pizza, has email at US$4 per hr, good machines. Prodigy, C Centenario, US$1 per hr, also across the road from the Hotel Copán, US$2 per hr.

Laundry

Lavandaría Florencia, Calle Centenario.

Medical services

Dentist: Dr Wilfredo Urquía, at Calle Real Centenario 3-4 Av NE, speaks English. Recommended. Doctors: Clínica Médica Las Gemas, 2 Av NO, near Hotel Elvir, T666-1428, run by Dr Soheil Rajabian (speaks English among other languages), 1st-class attention. Hospital: Médico Quirúrgico, Barrio Miraflores, Carretera Internacional, T/F662-1283, fast and efficient, but not cheap.

Post office and telephone

The post office and Hondutel are on the park, opposite side to the cathedral.

Voluntary work

Hogar San Antonio, run by nuns across the street from the Parque Infantil (city playground), welcomes volunteers, as does the Cultural Centre.