Indiana Jones-Style Adventures in Copán

Get up close to Mayan ruins and jungle wildlife in western Honduras without risking it all.

Envious of the exploits of Indiana Jones, but don't want to deal with dodging evil agents and giant boulders? A visit to Copán Ruinas in Honduras allows access to Mayan ruins and jungle adventure — all without having to apply for a research grant.

The town of Copán Ruinas is cradled in a valley in western Honduras — a mere seven miles from the Guatemalan border. The Mayan ruins at Copán weren't fully explored until the 19th century by John Lloyd Stephens, who wrote about them in Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas and Yucatan. Of any Mayan site in the Americas, Copán has the most hieroglyphic inscriptions and sculpted monuments, prompting archaeologist Sylvanus Morley to call it the "Athens of the New World."

Next, head down the road to the Macaw Mountain Bird Park and Nature Reserve to get up close to a variety of tropical birds in open-encounter areas. Macaw Mountain also has a coffee roasting house, a restaurant and a gorgeously clear natural pool to dip in during the warmer months.

Even Indy had to get some shut-eye. For a great place to lay your head, stay at Hacienda San Lucas, an eco-lodge located on 300 acres in the hills above town. The Los Sapos Mayan ruins are nestled within the property, which offers equestrian tours and access to hike its nature trails.

Photo by David Ooms via Flickr.