Copan Ruinas is one of the most impressive Maya archaeological sites in Central America, famous for its intricate stelae, hieroglyphic stairway, and bird-filled tropical setting. Located just across the border in western Honduras, it is a popular day trip or overnight excursion from Guatemala.
2026 Fares and Options
These are the fares and departure times published by Guatemala Transportation, one of the operators running this cross-border route on a fixed daily schedule. Read at source on July 22, 2026. Other agencies sell the same route at their own prices, so treat this as the published benchmark.
| Option | Route & departure | Fare (per person) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared shuttle | Antigua → Copán Ruinas, 03:30 | $50 | 7 hrs (AtitlanTour, Adrenalina) |
| Shared shuttle | Guatemala City → Copán Ruinas, 04:15 | $50 | 5–6 hrs |
| Return shuttle | Copán Ruinas → Antigua / GC, 06:00 | $50 | 5–6 hrs |
| Bus chain | GC → Chiquimula → El Florido → Copán | Confirm per leg | Confirm per leg |
| Copán ruins entrance | park + Las Sepulturas | US$20.00 (rest of Americas/other continents); US$10.00 (Central Americans); sculpture museum US$10.00 extra (official tariff page, read 25 October 2026) | — |
The shuttle handles the border crossing for you; Guatemala Transportation’s Antigua departure leaves at 03:30. For the bus chain, confirm the fare, connections and expected arrival time for each leg before travelling. Contact Hedman Alas directly before planning a journey with the company.
A note on currency. This operator quotes in US dollars and states its own conversion as USD$1 = Q8. The Banco de Guatemala reference rate on July 22, 2026 was Q7.62466, so paying cash in quetzales at the operator’s rate costs roughly 5% more than the market conversion. Pay in dollars, or check today’s rate before handing over quetzales.
Antigua to Copan Ruinas
Guatemala Transportation, AtitlanTour and Adrenalina publish the following departures from Antigua (read 25 October 2026). The journey times below belong to the named operator and this direction.
| Operator | Antigua departure | Fare per person |
|---|---|---|
| Guatemala Transportation | 03:30am | USD$50 p/p |
| AtitlanTour | 3:30am | USD$48 p/p |
| Adrenalina | 03.30 AM | 55 USD p.p. |
Adrenalina lists daily availability, 7 hours and pickup at hotels in downtown Antigua. AtitlanTour lists 7hrs for the Antigua departure itself; that estimate is separate from any Guatemala City departure.
Source: Guatemala Transportation shuttle schedule; AtitlanTour transport schedule; Adrenalina Antigua departures, read 25 October 2026.
Getting There
Tourist Shuttle from Antigua (Recommended)
Several companies operate daily shuttle service from Antigua to Copan Ruinas, handling the border crossing for you.
Departure: 03:30 from Antigua and 04:15 from Guatemala City on Guatemala Transportation, USD 50 (read 24 September 2026). Route: Antigua to Guatemala City to Chiquimula to El Florido border to Copan Ruinas. Duration: 7 hours from Antigua per AtitlanTour and Adrenalina (read 25 October 2026). Price: $50 one way on Guatemala Transportation’s published schedule (same fare from Antigua or Guatemala City); other agencies sell the route at their own rates, so it is worth comparing two or three. Book through: Adrenalina Tours, Atitrans, GuateGo, or your hotel.
The shuttle handles the border logistics. You exit the van at El Florido, walk through Guatemalan immigration (exit stamp), cross the bridge, walk through Honduran immigration (entry stamp), and re-board on the other side.
Bus Route via Chiquimula (Budget)
- Guatemala City to Chiquimula: Confirm the departure, fare and journey time directly with the operator before travelling.
- Chiquimula to El Florido (border): Confirm the boarding point, fare and journey time directly with the operator.
- Border crossing at El Florido: Walk through both immigration offices. No fee for CA-4 nationals. Some non-CA-4 passports may be charged a small fee.
- El Florido to Copan Ruinas: Confirm onward transport, fare and journey time locally before crossing.
Total cost and journey time: confirm each leg and allow time for connections and the border crossing.
Hedman Alas
Contact Hedman Alas directly to ask whether it sells tickets for your route and travel date before planning your journey.
Check status: WhatsApp +50494413276 or hedmanalas.com.
Border Crossing: El Florido
The El Florido border crossing is small and relatively hassle-free compared to other Central American borders.
What to expect:
- Exit the vehicle at the Guatemala side.
- Walk to Guatemala immigration. Get your exit stamp. (Keep your entry stamp receipt if you have one.)
- Walk across the bridge (100 meters) to Honduras immigration.
- Get your Honduras entry stamp.
- Re-board your shuttle or catch a minibus to Copan Ruinas.
CA-4 agreement: Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua share a 90-day visa. Crossing between these countries does not reset your time. If you entered Guatemala 60 days ago, you have 30 days left in the CA-4 zone total.
Processing time: no agency publishes one (SAT and IGM checked 20 September 2026). IGM’s Semana Santa 2022 bulletin reported increased flow at El Florido, so allow extra time at holidays. The three Honduras crossings are compared on Honduras border crossings.
Hours: SAT publishes the Aduana Integrada El Florido as open 06:00–18:00 daily for its administrative and operative areas, with tourist attention running to 21:00 — and for Semana Santa 2026 the post ran 24 hours. The published hours per crossing, and the agencies behind each window, are on Guatemala border wait times.
About Copan Ruinas
The town of Copan Ruinas is a charming colonial village with cobblestone streets, good restaurants, and affordable hotels. The archaeological site is 1 km from town (walkable or tuk-tuk Q10).
Site entrance fees:
- Archaeological park + Las Sepulturas: US$20.00 for visitors from the rest of the Americas and other continents; US$10.00 for Central Americans
- Sculpture museum: US$10.00 for visitors from the rest of the Americas and other continents, US$5.00 for Central Americans; tunnels US$15.00 for both (official Copán tariff page, read 25 October 2026)
- Las Sepulturas: included in the park ticket above (IHAH tariff poster, checked 23 October 2026)
- Macaw rehabilitation center: Free
Best time to visit: The site is beautiful year-round. Early morning visits (8:00-10:00 AM) offer the best light for photography and fewer crowds.
After the ruins: two priced extras from Copán (read 26 October 2026)
- Onward to San Pedro Sula. Marvelus Travel lists a Copán to San Pedro Sula transfer labelled Private at US$ 14. The price field is cut off on the page, so it does not say whether that is per person or per vehicle, and a city drop-off is not the same as an airport transfer. Confirm both before you pay.
- Luna Jaguar hot springs. The hotel Ancestral Copán’s experience page quotes “Transport package: $25 USD per person including round-trip shuttle and entrance”, spa entrance only at $10-15 USD depending on time, and professional massages at $25-40 USD additional. That is the hotel’s package, not a tariff published by the hot springs.
Both pages are undated; figures as shown on 26 October 2026.
Tips
- Bring US dollars. Honduras uses the Lempira, but Copan Ruinas town accepts USD everywhere. ATMs in town dispense Lempiras.
- Overnight recommended. While a day trip is possible, spending one night in Copan Ruinas lets you explore the site at a relaxed pace.
- Return shuttles leave Copán Ruinas at 06:00 for Antigua or Guatemala City, USD 50 (Guatemala Transportation, read 24 September 2026).
- Bring your passport. You need it for the border crossing. Make sure it has at least 6 months validity.
Continuing from Copán to El Salvador? The daily 06:00 Copán to Santa Ana shuttle is on Copán to Santa Ana, El Salvador.
Confirm fares with the operator before booking. For currency conversion, check today’s exchange rate.
See also:
