Noah, Eden, and Jonah have been traveling with me their entire lives. So far the three of them have been to at least 22 countries, 4 continents, and almost every state in the United States. Needless to say, when I ask them what the best family vacations were, they had more than a few opinions! 

They quickly fired off an assortment of places we have been. It was interesting to hear what they picked, some of them I knew, but other ones were a complete surprise. After some serious conversation with them, we’ve narrowed it down to 17!

Top 17 Family Vacations You will Never Forget!

1. Singapore

Singapore is in all of our top ten picks. My oldest, Noah considers Singapore to be a utopia because of its cleanliness and orderliness. Oddly enough, we were only in Singapore for two days, making it one of the shortest stays we have done anywhere. It only took one day for us to fall in love with this city. We recommend walking around Marina Bay where the architecture is insane and definitely visit some parts of the Marina Bay Gardens. I can assure you that your kids have never seen anything else like this! The kid’s favorite hotel here is the Fairmont Singapore. For more ideas on what to do and where to find the best milkshake see my article: Singapore Travel Guide.

2. Cancun

Cancun has so much going on, and don’t worry, it’s safe. We spent a week there and basically had a non-stop adventure! The entire area is set up well to accommodate any kind of family and literally any type of budget. Families will appreciate luxurious, all-inclusive resorts with kid’s clubs and teen clubs. While the kids are off doing their own thing parents can head to a spa or the bar. There isn’t a bad beach anywhere in the area, so plan to spend at least two full days beach bumming.  While you are there, be sure to see Mayan Ruins, swim in a cenote, eat lots of Mexican food, and go ATVing. 

For a list fun family things to do in Cancun check out this post: 12 Adventurous Things to do in Cancun. I recommend staying at The Grand in Cancun or at another one of the  11 Best All-inclusive Resorts in Cancun for Families.

If at some point you head over to Cozumel (you totally should), check out my post: 13 Things to do in Cozumel. I recommend staying at Allegro Cozumel.

3. Thailand

Thailand is absolutely incredible and I wasn’t surprised it landed in my kids top three places. You can basically go anywhere in Thailand and have an interesting experience. I recommend visiting at least these three places when you go: Phuket, Bangkok, and Chiang Mai. Although they each have some similarities they are completely different experiences.

Phuket

Phuket is one of Thailand’s islands and it’s extremely kid friendly. My kids thought taking a Thai cooking class was cool and they loved going to the beaches and interacting with elephants and tigers. To find the elephants on the beach check out my post: Swimming with Elephants in Thailand. And for more help planning your trip to Phuket see my article: 5 Day Phuket Itinerary with Kids.

Bangkok

Bangkok is massive so there are loads and activities. The kids loved biking through the city despite the heavy traffic and they were thrilled when we stumbled across monstrous milkshakes. To read more about taking Bangkok to kids, check out my article: Two Days in Bangkok with Kids.

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is an easy city to get around and it has tons to see and do. The city has an incredible night market where you and your kids could shop for hours. Here you will find interesting things to purchase like leather journals, bracelets, and tuk-tuks made out of soda cans. There is an elephant sanctuary where families can care for elephants and of course the food is outstanding! I recommend staying at the Shangri-la and taking a food and city tour by bike. Learn more about visiting Chiang Mai with kids in my article: 4 Things to do in Chiang Mai with kids.

4. New York City

New York City is currently Noah’s #1 and in Eden’s top 3 and in my top 15. The kids love the many dessert experiences here like Serendipity and  Black Tap. Both places have outrageous over-the-top desserts. They all enjoy hanging out in Central Park and Bryant Park, both parks have lots of free activities. At Bryant Park, kids can play kubb, while parents grab a drink at the little outdoor bar there. In Central Park, there are multiple playgrounds.

Visiting the 9/11 memorial is a must and if the kids are 10 or older tour the museum. Kids enjoy touring the Statue of Liberty, but not necessarily Ellis Island. If you do, go to Ellis Island to look for your family’s name on the wall. If you want to do a bus tour I recommend The Ride, especially if your kids are teens or tweens. I think going to a Broadway show is a must, but this is expensive and not worth it if your kids hate musicals or might possibly sleep through it. Good plays for kids are Wicked, Lion King, and Phantom of the Opera.

Remember the further out you can plan a trip to New York the cheaper the trip will be. Here are 15 Ways to save money in NYC.

We’ve been to NYC more times than we can remember. Check out our New York City Travel Guide to help you plan your own epic NYC getaway!

5. Oahu, Hawaii

Hawaii is another place that all three kids agree on and Oahu is their top island followed by Kauai. On Oahu, their favorite thing to do is sit at the pool or sit on the beach.

The kids recommend hanging out at the beach on North Shore to check out the waves and do some shopping. While you are up there have shrimp from Giovani’s Shrimp truck and get shaved ice at Matsumoto Shave Ice. If you feel like getting active rent a paddleboard at Sea N Surf and paddle up the Anahulu River and look for sea turtles. The last time we went we saw five huge sea turtles.

Also, fun in Oahu is parasailing in Waikiki and hiking to the top of Diamond Head. When you get done hiking Diamond Head, stop by Shimazu Shave Ice for massive shaved ice.

For more help planning your family’s Oahu vacation read our Oahu Travel Guide. 

I highly recommend staying at Disney’s Aulani if possible. 

6. Orlando

Orlando would probably make any kid’s list. With it being home to Disney World, Sea World, Discovery Cove, and Universal Studios a family could spend a month and do something different every single day. Universal Orlando is a must once each kid is tall enough to ride all the roller coasters and the new water park, Volcano Bay is fantastic. Besides the theme parks, there are all sorts of other fun things to do like swamp tours through alligator-infested waters, knight tournaments at Medieval Times, and within a short drive lots of beaches.

7. London

London also made it high on the list of the kid’s favorite places. We visited during Thanksgiving a few years ago and everything we did was awesome. There is so much to see and do that you can easily spend a week or two here and never run out of activities. Some of their favorite things were seeing the play Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, eating at Borough Market, and doing the Tower of London tour. Both boy’s least favorite thing to do is the bus tours. I personally appreciated how many free things there were to do in London. For more London ideas and tips, see my article: London with Kids.

8. Negril, Jamaica

Negril, Jamaica is Jonah’s #1 pick, and if I was his age, I think this would possibly be my #1 too. We recommend staying at Beaches Negril. This is an all-inclusive resort geared specifically for families. Highlights of staying here include:

• Sesame Street parade and BBQ party where families can dance with the characters, DJs lead dances, flame throwers perform, and more.
• Ice Cream Machine – The kids loved the ice cream machine which they visited a minimum of three times a day. (Don’t judge me, it’s vacation!)
• Snuba – Even kids can snuba at Beaches Negril and they do not have to have any experience to do this. The instructors are fabulous and it’s an activity the kids will never forget.
• Multiple pools, a lazy river, a water playground, and hot tubs.
• Miniature golf
• Video game lounge
• Kid’s club

9. Vail, Colorado

Vail, Colorado is another destination that is enjoyable year-round. During the summer the kids enjoy biking around town, riding horses around the mountain, and visiting the Epic Discovery adventure park set up on the mountain. In the winter the skiing is excellent. My kids have skied since they were little and appreciate the extensive skiing found in Vail. If you do not ski, this is a great place to learn.  For more info, check out our Vail Travel Guide. 

10. Silvies Valley Ranch

Visiting a dude ranch is a completely unique vacation. You can have an experience as a family that just can’t be had unless you are on a working ranch. Here you can shoot guns, interact with baby goats, hit the spa, experience gourmet dining, participate in a cattle round-up, and much more. They even have four golf courses on the ranch. Golf lovers will flip out over the reversible golf course that’s right I said reversible! With a little bit of everything, your family is sure to have an incredible time. To get a feel of the overall ranch read about our Silvies Valley Ranch Experience.

11. Greece

Greece is an epic experience because let’s face it, there’s no other place on earth like it. It basically doesn’t matter what part of the country you visit, you will never have a bad meal, you will experience history and culture like never before. I can state this as a fact because we’ve traveled all over Greece and it’s all been wonderful. 

Athens

Chances are high that one way or another a Greek vacation is going to take you through Athens at some point. Plan to spend at least a day here so you can visit the Acropolis before heading out to the islands. At night during the sunset dine at Savvas, their rooftop overlooks the Acropolis. Hotels can be difficult to get for a family, you may want to stay in an Airbnb.

Mykonos

A one of a kind city and gorgeous beaches await you in Mykonos. Teens and parents alike will love Mykonos City full of white-washed buildings. Also, if you can get a sitter or if your kids are old enough to stay at the hotel alone plan to go out. Mykonos has one of the best nightlife experiences in the world.

• For more advice, check out my post: Mykonos with Kids

Santorini 

Here you will have the opportunity to see things you’ve never see before like Red Beach. Perissa, the black beach is also worth visiting if you’ve never seen one before. There are two towns built into the sides of the island, both of which are worth spending time in, Fira and Oia. In Oia, you will see one of the greatest sunsets in the world. 

• For more things to do and where to stay check out my post: Santorini on a Budget. 

Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki is from biblical times and many of their historical sights have withstood the test of time. (Okay, I know what you are thinking. Yes, all of Greece is from biblical times.) They basically have ruins or a gorgeous church around every corner. The food scene is excellent here. For a list of things to see and do check out my post: Thessaloniki on a Budget. 

Kassandra

Can’t afford to splurge on the islands? Head here instead. Here you will be greeted with that famous aqua water and glorious beaches. Go shopping in Pefkochori and grab lunch at Agora Beach Bar. I highly recommend staying at Alexander the Great Beach Resort in this area. 

12. Australia

If you can get yourself to Australia, do it! Australia is just as fabulous as everyone says it is. There are so many varied experiences to be had throughout the country.  Try to plan a minimum of 9 days in the country. More than two weeks would be better. 

Whitsunday Islands

If swimming the Great Barrier Reef is on your bucket list, then this should be your first stop. Whitehaven Beach should also be on your bucket list. It’s one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. 

Melbourne

If you’ve got a family of foodies, Melbourne is sure to delight. They have the most over-the-top, whimsical food creations you’ve likely ever seen. In between beautiful meals stop by the Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes and the graffiti alleys. The alleys in Melbourne are really cool. 

• Where to eat in Melbourne

Great Ocean Road 

One of the top road trips in the world is driving the Great Ocean Road. Along the way, you can stop at dozens of scenic overlooks and take in the magnificent rock formations like Loch Ard Gorge and the 12 Apostles. You can enjoy one of the many nice beaches where kids can swim and play in the sand. Plus, there are animal encounters. Pull over to look for koalas in the trees and feed the birds at Kafe Koala. Be sure to stop at the Great Ocean Road Wildlife Park, where you can hand-feed kangaroos. 

13. Texas

We are originally from Texas so it was no surprise that Texas made the list. The kids have been all over Texas and they recommend eating lots of Tex-Mex food and visiting the following cities: Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi.

San Antonio

San Antonio has a ton of stuff for families to do. Here you will find a massive zoo, Fiesta Texas theme park, the famous San Antonio River Walk, and just outside of town is Schlitterbahn the #1 water park in the world. When visiting plan at least one full day at Schlitterbahn, half a day at the river walk, and float the Comal river. Our favorite restaurants in San Antonio currently are Ocho, Toro Kitchen + Bar, and Rita’s on the River. 

In San Antonio, I recommend staying at Hotel Emma.

Plan your entire trip with our San Antonio Travel Guide.

Dallas/Fort Worth

The Dallas, Fort Worth area is packed with stuff to do for families. Over in Fort Worth will love the rodeo at the stockyards. Be sure to go when they have bull riding. Also found in the stockyards is a fun maze and Texas-themed shopping. Plus, they do a daily cattle drive. Our favorite restaurants in Dallas include Meso Maya for dinner and El Jordan Cafe for breakfast. Just north of Dallas is Addison, TX which is jammed packed with great restaurants. 

14. Honduras

Honduras is easily one of our top vacations, according to me. Unfortunately, the kids remember very little of the trip. I recommend going to Roatan and Copan. These two places are no where near each other and two extremely different experiences. What they do have in common is affordability!

Roatan

Roatan is one of the Bay Islands and along the 2^nd best barrier reef in the world. The reef is near the shoreline making it extremely easy for kids to snorkel. Jonah was 4 when we visited and he was able to snorkel. Also fun here is zip lining and paddleboarding.

Copan

Copan is a Honduran city that borders Guatemala. Here you can go horseback riding up a mountain, go zip lining on one of the longest zip lines in the world, and visit an incredible hot spring.

15. Panama City Beach

Another family favorite in Florida is Panama City Beach. The beach has soft, powdery, white sand. It isn’t as big as many of the beach towns, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot to do. Go mini-golfing and go-carting, spend the day at the beach, or shop around at Pier Park. Spend one day bopping around Scenic 30A, where you will find tiny beach towns like Seaside or Rosemary. Renting some bicycles is a perfect way to explore this area. Another interesting spot worth venturing out to is Sandestin’s Baytowne Wharf. Here, families can indulge in boutique shopping, zip-lining, ropes courses, an arcade, and unique eateries.

Use our Panama City Beach travel guide to plan your entire vacation.

16. Costa Rica

Costa Rica is super cool country with a wide variety of things to do. The food was consistently good, the activities were exciting and the people were so nice. Whether rafting down a volcano’s raging rivers in a tube near La Fortuna to chilling at a beautiful beach on the Pacific or the Atlantic everyone is going to enjoy the country. Costa Rica Travel Guide

17. La Paz

La Paz features miles of white sand beaches and endless opportunities for outdoor adventure including paddle boarding, kite surfing, kayaking, SCUBA diving, whale watching, swimming with whale sharks, sportfishing, hiking, mountain biking, and much more. If you want your kids off their devices and outside doing stuff you will love it here. Plus, the food is unbelievably good. 

Plan your own trip with our La Paz Travel Guide for Families. Plus, Best Places to Stay in La Paz, Mexico and Best Beaches in La Paz.

Conclusion:

So, there you have it, the best of the best family travel locations. There are hundreds of other places that could have made the list but didn’t. These were ones that just barely missed making our list: Las Vegas, Bavarian Alps in Germany, Paris, and house boating on Lake Shuswap in British Columbia. Like Honduras, my kids do not even remember house boating up in Canada, but if they did (well not Jonah, he had yet to be born), I am sure it would have made it onto the list.

Where are your favorite places to take your kids on vacation? We are always taking recommendations and planning our next family vacations. Yes, plural. Why take just one vacation? I think you should take as many as possible, big trips, weekend getaways, family reunions, you name it. These are all opportunities to have fun, spend time together and make the most memories possible. And don’t delay. Noah’s a high school senior and he’s about to move on with his life. (Oregon State University #Bragging) And y’all, I straight up ran out of time with him. You will run out of time, so make today count.

Read Next:

16 Insanely Awesome Girl’s Trips

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The post 17 Incredible Family Vacations appeared first on Mommy Travels.

The ruins are impressive, but they’re not the only thing to do and see here! A quaint, rural area, there is so much on offer in Copan Ruinas and it is worthy of a visit on your trip to Honduras. 

See scarlet macaws, the national bird of Honduras, enjoy some tasty local chocolate and coffee, hike in the hills, soak in hot springs and even fly over the canopy on a zipline if you’re brave! 

This Copan Ruinas itinerary will tell you exactly how to spend 3 days (4 nights) here, to hit all the highlights. 

Day 1: Mayan Ruins and Chocolate

Morning 

Kick off your first day in Copan Ruinas with the main event – the Maya city of Copan. 

A UNESCO World Heritage site, this well-preserved ancient city was once a thriving metropolis in the Maya kingdom, housing up to 20,000 people at its peak between AD 300 to AD 900. 

Copan differs from neighboring cities like Tikal and Palenque with its intricate carvings. The rock used to build the city was softer, and its residents were master artisans. They carved elaborate stelae and sculptures with natural, cultural and religious symbols. 

The ruins are less than a mile from the centre of town. If you’re up for an easy stroll, there is a well-made sidewalk. Otherwise, any tuk-tuk in town can drop you at the ruins for a few dollars. 

The ruins open daily from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm and tickets for foreign visitors are $20 USD. 

While it’s possible to walk around the site yourself, we highly recommend organizing a local guide at the site. Their knowledge and stories will bring the city to life, and give greater context to the structures you’re looking at and what life was like in Copan at its peak. 

Be sure to keep your eye out for scarlet macaws! They were an important symbol in Mayan culture, and you’ll see macaw carvings. Wild macaws have been released into the ancient city as part of a breeding program to increase the population. There are artificial nests in trees all over the site, and you’re sure to hear their loud squawks!

You’ll want to spend at least 3 hours to see the best of the site. 

If you’re a big history buff, you can add on a visit to the Museo de Esculturas (Sculpture Museum) which is also on-site. For an additional $7 USD, you can see more examples of Copan’s most impressive sculptures and carvings that are protected inside. As well as an elaborate reconstruction of the Rosalila Temple, created based off archaeolgists findings. 

Afternoon

When you’re finished at the ancient city, wander back into town for lunch. If you’re looking for a cheap local option, Buena Baleadas is delicious! For lunch with a view, head to La Casa de Cafe, which has a lovely patio overlooking the mountains. 

The rest of the afternoon is slow-paced and relaxing. Make your way to El Lugar de Te y Chocolate (The Tea and Chocolate Place), a gorgeous cafe on the outskirts of town.

It’s possible to walk there in around 15 minutes from town, but you’ll have to face a steep hill to get there! Pre-working off the chocolate perhaps? Otherwise, jump in a tuk-tuk. 

With a gorgeous wraparound balcony with forest views, hammocks, and comfy couches, bring a book and spend a few hours taking it easy and enjoying some sweet treats. 

You can try their organic chocolate in many forms – hot or cold chocolate drinks, different flavored chocolate bars, and freshly baked brownies! They also have a nice range of teas to choose from. 

Evening

Evenings are pretty quiet in Copan Ruinas, but it’s worth sitting down for some people-watching at Parque Central. You can watch the sky light up at sunset and see the lights come on at the cathedral. 

Enjoy a nice meal for dinner and turn in early. Mary Restaurant is a great local option. If you want something more international, try Cafe ViaVia which has a few different Asian curries and noodles. 

Day 2: Macaws, Ziplining and Hot Springs 

Morning

If you don’t have breakfast included at your accommodation, enjoy a nice meal this morning at Cafe San Rafael. A completely unexpected establishment in this rural Honduran town, the cafe serves delicious breakfast options and excellent barista-made coffee.

Then it’s time for the second thing Copan is famous for – macaws!

Hopefully, you saw some at the ancient city yesterday, but if you didn’t, today you’re guaranteed!

Macaw Mountain is a bird sanctuary that rescues, rehabilitates and releases a variety of birds, most commonly the scarlet macaws that Copan Ruinas is famous for. 

It’s a decent, uphill walk from town (1.5 mi) so you might like to take a tuk-tuk. The park is open daily from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. Entry is 240 Lempira or $10 USD. 

The experience at the park is a self-guided walk passing their different aviaries. There is great information about the birds and breeding programs in Spanish and English. 

There is also an open-air interaction area, where you can see birds hanging outside their cage. You can’t touch or hold them, but it’s interesting to see them up close.

If you’re up for a thrill, right next door to Macaw Mountain is the Copan Canopy Tour, a set of 14 ziplines flying above the canopy. Get some epic aerial views of the forest and surrounding mountains, and look out for wild macaws that often hang around the sanctuary. 

Although you can book the ziplining directly, the best way to organize today is to book a combined tour with Cafe ViaVia. For $45 USD, you’ll get transport to and from town, your canopy tour and entry to Macaw Mountain. 

Afternoon

Grab a quick lunch in town, before heading off for your next activity – hot springs! 

The Luna Jaguar Spa is a set of natural mineral pools tucked away in the hills 1 hour from Copan Ruinas. The thermal waters are created by nearby volcanic activity, and there are more than 15 pools with different temperatures. 

There is also a spa on-site where you can pre-book additional services like massages and mud baths. 

Cafe ViaVia offers a package including your entry to the spa and return transport for $22 USD. They depart Copan at 1:00 pm and return at 6:00 pm. 

Evening

Today has been a big day, and those thermal waters will have you feeling relaxed and probably ready for bed! Enjoy a nice dinner, and if you’re a sweet tooth like me, pop into Don Churro for some tasty churros for dessert! 

Day 3: Hiking, Horseriding and Coffee

Morning

You have two options to choose from this morning: hiking or horseback riding. 

Cafe ViaVia offers a selection of guided hikes into the mountains around the valley. They have a particularly interesting option, the Copan Cultural Hike, which takes you to an indigenous Maya village on the outskirts of town. You’ll learn about the history and culture of the area and community. 

If you’d prefer to give your legs a break, they also offer horseriding tours. Saddle up on a calm horse and explore the mountains around town with a local guide. You’ll stop for a rest in a neighboring Maya village, getting a glimpse into traditional life. 

Afternoon

This afternoon, join a coffee tour! 

Honduras is Central America’s largest exporter of coffee, and they produce some delicious beans. The Copan Valley is a particularly fertile area and there are lots of plantations around here. 

Cafe Welchez, a cafe in town, offers tours of their farm, Finca San Isabel. You’ll get a hands-on insight into the entire coffee-making process.

Tour the farm and see how coffee starts as a plant. Progress through the picking, processing and roasting stages, with plenty of samples along the way, before enjoying lunch in their cafe. 

You can book tours on Cafe Welchez’s website, and it includes transport from town. 

Evening

Celebrate your final night in Copan Ruinas with a drink. If you’re a beer lover, head to Sol de Copan, a German microbrewery that feels pleasantly out of place in this small town! If you’re a wine lover, return to Cafe San Rafael. They have the biggest selection of wine in town, and they also offer a delicious cheese and charcuterie board so stay for dinner. 

How to get to Copan Ruinas

Copan Ruinas is easily accessible from the city of San Pedro Sula. This hosts the largest international airport in the country, as well as the biggest bus terminal. 

Whether you’re just landing on a flight from outside Honduras, or coming from Lago de Yojoa or the Bay Islands, you’ll transit via San Pedro Sula. 

If you don’t plan to rent a car, which is helpful but not really necessary in Copan Ruinas, you’ve got two options to reach town. 

The best option is to take the Hedman Alas coach bus, which runs a direct service from San Pedro Sula to Copan Ruinas, however their operations are inconsistent. 

The cheaper, slower, and more local option is to take the Casasola Express colectivo van. Expect a cramped trip with frequent stops to squeeze in more passengers! 

Copan Ruinas is also accessible from Guatemala if you’re already traveling around the region. There are tourist shuttles from Antigua, that generally take 5 – 7 hours, and include assistance with the border crossing. 

Where to stay in Copan Ruinas

There are some lovely accommodation options in Copan, that draw on the town’s colonial and rural charm. Think leafy garden areas, flower boxes on windows, and hammocks strung up on balconies to take in the views. 

Accommodation in Copan Ruinas, and the mainland of Honduras more broadly, is much cheaper than on the touristy islands like Roatan. 

Here are some top picks for your 4-night stay: 

• Hotel La Escalinta – $
• Garden Hotel – $
• La Casa de Cafe B&B – $$
• Terramaya Boutique Hotel – $$
• Hotel Marina Copan – $$$
• Casa Villamil Boutique Hotel – $$$

Copan Ruinas itinerary: A wrap

Copan Ruinas is a gorgeous town in Honduras, full of history, culture, wildlife and nature. 

It’s a lovely change of pace from the busier and more touristy Bay Islands, and is a fantastic addition to any Honduras trip. 

The town is laidback and slow paced, and you could easily add a few more days here to relax and unwind if you’ve got the time. 

Guest Author: Sally from Sally Sees is passionate about all things Latin America. She has traveled extensively through Mexico and Central America, and her blog helps readers discover the magic of the region, inspiring and equipping them with the information they need to plan their own epic Latin American adventure. 

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The post Copan Ruinas, Honduras 3 Day Itinerary appeared first on Mommy Travels.

Check out the condition of the horse before you select one. Some are in much better shape than others.  You will be riding up a mountain and back down, so it’s important to be on a healthy horse. The mountain is quite steep at times. Our children had someone walk with them the entire way controlling the horse.

The views from the top of the mountain our beautiful.

Mr. Banana arranged this for us, but you can have it arranged yourself.  Just ask your hotel where the guys are hanging out with the horses and go speak with them. It is near the community center.

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Aguas Termales

While in Copan, Honduras with kids we went to the Agua Termalas.  Otherwise known as hot springs.  I was not looking forward to going, because it was more expensive than some of the other activities and I know what I think of when I hear hot springs.  It was $100 for our family of five.  This included transportation, entry fees, a private cabana, and a bbq dinner.  It was by far worth every dime to go.  This entire excursion was awesome.

After driving about an hour from Copan we arrived at the hot springs and were guided to a private area.  To get there we had to cross a hanging wooden bridge.  It was raining and the wood was slick, plus it looks to be 100 years old!  

And because that is not a dramatic enough entry we then had to cross over water on these stones.

You could walk through the forest to one hot spring after another.  
This is the hot spring next to our cabana. 

Here is our bbq chef preparing our feast on this random outdoor grill at a public park.  Now, does this look like something we should eat?  The food was delicious until the next day!  We should have stuck to restaurants!  Remember that bus ride from hell I mentioned we took to get to Copan.  Well, there were no miracles happening on the way back.  Our oldest threw up on the bus.  Oh well!

Like all the activities we did in Copan, this one too was arranged by Mr. Banana. Just ask your hotel and they will get him to meet with you and plan your activities.

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Best Restaurants in Copan

Honduran food is unique and always good. This held true during our visit to Copan. Every meal we had was fantastic, leaving me to believe there may be no such thing as a bad meal in Honduras! Here are restaurants in Copan, Honduras that I recommend. All are kid-friendly.

B’alam Café 

Located at the Yat Balam Hotel. (which looked very nice)  We had the best breakfast during our trip here. 

Asados Copan

One of the best meals I have ever had anywhere. We went to Asados Copan Restaurante for lunch after a great morning at the ruins in Copan, Honduras. Our taxi driver recommended it. Mr. Banana also pointed it out while we were walking to the ruins.  It’s a steak place and the menu is in Spanish. Their specialty is grilled meats.

We were not exactly sure what we ordered.  I can’t remember what it was called, but it was a lunch special for two people.  It was the best meal we had during our time here.  I highly recommend it.

We thought for sure we had miscommunicated with the waiter because of the amount of food they brought out. We had enough food to feed all of us and some leftovers. When they brought out our bill we saw that it was what we had ordered. Their lunch for two was enough to feed our family of five. The lunch special, an appetizer, and drinks for 5 people was $30. I have to mention that they also have clean bathrooms. (This is very important to my oldest child.)

Elisa’s Cafeteria (Hotel Camino Mayo)

This restaurant is located in the hotel we stayed in and was the first place we ate at in Copan. It was very good.  We were with a lot of people and everyone ordered something different and everyone loved their food.  We had the best Copan-grown coffee from here every morning while we sat in the hotel courtyard.

El Meson de Maria

Located right on Main Street in downtown Copan Ruinas, El Meson de Maria is a must-visit restaurant if you find yourself in the area. This authentic Honduran restaurant serves up classic dishes like carne asada (grilled beef) and tamales (ground corn with meat filling). The restaurant also offers an extensive variety of salads, soups, sandwiches, and pizzas. The atmosphere at El Meson de Maria is warm and inviting with lively music playing throughout the evening.

Cafe Barista

If you’re looking for a place to enjoy a cup of coffee and pastries while taking in views of the beautiful countryside, Cafe Barista is your spot! Located just outside of town near Las Sepulturas archaeological site, this cafe serves up freshly brewed coffee drinks made from locally sourced beans. Enjoy your beverage on their outdoor patio while watching the sunset over the mountains. They also have some delicious cake options to satisfy any sweet tooth!

Los Naranjos Restaurant

Los Naranjos Restaurant is another great option for traditional Honduran cuisine. This family-owned restaurant features both indoor and outdoor seating perfect for enjoying a meal with friends or family. Their menu has something for everyone from tacos to seafood dishes – all served with fresh ingredients from local farms. Be sure to try their signature dish – pollo en crema – which consists of chicken cooked in cream sauce served over rice!

Copan has something for everyone when it comes to food! From traditional Honduran cuisine to more modern fare, there surely will be something on every diner’s list that they can enjoy during their stay in this beautiful country. Whether you’re exploring downtown Copan Ruinas or heading out into the countryside, these three restaurants are sure to delight your taste buds and give you an unforgettable dining experience! Bon appetite!

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Copan is a small mountain town located in western Honduras, only 12 kilometers from Guatemala and home to the Copan Mayan ruins. Copan features neoclassical architecture and narrow cobblestone streets. Here travelers can enjoy the Copán’s Maya Ruins, regarded as the “Athens of the Maya World.”  The Mayan archaeological site of Copán in western Honduras, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980, receives about 100,000 tourists each year who come to explore the remains of this great civilization as well as the nearby coffee plantations.

The ruins were a short walk from Hotel Camino Maya, in the center of town. It was less than a mile and my four year old was able to walk it without a problem. The Copan Ruins are kid-friendly and a great activity for families traveling in Honduras.

At a small visitor’s center you pay and get your tickets.  Tickets for children are $7 and include the museum.  Tickets for adults to go into the ruins and the museum are $22.

• For our family of five to go on a tour of the Copan Ruins with a private tour guide and visit the Museum of Mayan Sculpture it cost $63.

Then there is a short walk towards a gated entry. It’s here that you will meet up with your guide. The guides are inexpensive and worth it. You pay the guide directly.  Once you get past the gated you come across a handful of macaw birds. They are beautiful.
There are many Mayan statues still intact.

You are allowed to walk on many of the structures.  This makes it especially fun for the kids.

The hole you see in this picture is just one of many.  They had underground tunnels and a water system.  There are over 4 km of tunnels and for $10 you can go into two of the tunnels.

The hieroglyphic stairway holds the longest known text left by the Mayans. According to our guide, this washed out and they put it back, but not in the correct order.

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Hotel Camino Maya in Copan, Honduras

Our room was good.  These are pictures of a triple room, you can see some pictures of their regular rooms here.  We had two double beds, a bathroom with a shower only, tv, bottled water, and most important air conditioning!  The maid service was good, we never saw them make up the room.  From what I could tell they cleaned and replaced everything daily, sheets, water, soap, and towels.  The tv had cable with some channels in English.  The lobby had 2 computers with free internet. 

The hotel had a bar, Lost Monkey’s and a restaurant, Elisa’s.  We of course had to try both.  We ate at Elisa’s the first night we got there.  I don’t remember much about it after the exhaustion of so much traveling.  I can remember how good the Honduran tacos looked.  The guy eating them said they were fantastic.  We had the room closest to Lost Monkeys so we were able to actually go to the bar and watch the kids in the room at the same time.  This was a first for us!  Lost Monkeys seemed like a popular hangout and was fun.

The hotel was built to where it has a big open courtyard.  I especially enjoyed sitting out there in the morning having my coffee.

When we were there the hotel was bright red.  If you look on their website it is yellow.  The bar also has a different name on the website.  Don’t worry though, you are looking at the right website!

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10 Things I will not miss about Honduras!

1. Living in a hooch with no bathroom and no running water. I have a whole new appreciation for running water in my house. Having to get up and walk my kids to the bathroom in the middle of the night flat out sucked.

2. Almost dying any time we set foot in any type of moving vehicle. They drive like maniacs down there.

3. Riding in buses with no AC. Although not to bad on a short trip this does get bad where it’s for hours at a time when it’s a hundred degrees outside.

4. Throwing up or having upset stomach every other meal. Lucky for us we could eat on the American base often, so we weren’t sick everyday.

5. No one speaks English. I know I should just learn Spanish. We do know enough Spanish to get by, but  when you are spending this much time in a country that doesn’t speak English eventually it gets tough.

6. Wondering what kind meat I’m eating. At some point I quit eating meat. All I ever saw were cats and dogs and I am still trying to convince myself that I didn’t eat one.

7. Going 36 hours with no electricity. I knew this doesn’t sound like that long but we are Americans and used to always having electricity. We’ve never gone that long before.

8. Mosquitos (and having to take malaria pills everyday)

9. Termites – I had no idea how disgusting termites were.

10. The way my hair looks in 100% humidity. It’s just not right. Next time I will not forget to bring a straightener with me.

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While on a family vacation in Copan, Honduras, we witnessed the “painting” of the Sand carpets.  We arrived in town the night before Good Friday. The street was blocked off next to the central park and teams of people were drawing with colored sand or sawdust.  We didn’t know what they were doing or why. From the looks of it, we guessed that there were different teams creating various images.  Maybe it was a contest?  As you can see from the picture they have paper drawn out that they use to guide  where to pour the sand.  The street is layered in hay, then topped with brown sand, and finally drawn on with colored sand. Some people thought it was colored rice. I am not sure what they were using. It could have been rice or sand. 

Here is the view from the balcony of our hotel.  They had a ladder set up at the other end, but the line was long. Now I wish I had waited in line! The picture would have been worth it!



Late on Good Friday evening there was a procession that made its way through the streets led by a priest.  Once they made it to the sand carpets, in the pouring rain, the procession stopped and there was a sermon, given from a megaphone. After the sermon and prayers were complete they proceeded to walk across the carpet.

Saturday, the next morning they began to sweep it all away.  They used the sand as mulch around the trees in the park.

On Easter Sunday there was another procession through town.  Here is a picture of them making their way down the street.  This has to be about half of the town, since Copan is not that big.

Have you ever seen sand carpets? Where were you and what were they of?

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Zip Lining in Copan

Our family, including all three kids ages 10, 7, and 4, had an amazing adventure while in Honduras.  We went on one of the world’s greatest zip lines in Copan, Honduras with the Los Sapos Canopy Tour.

I was not sure if they would let Jonah zip line since he was only 4 years old, but they let him go tandem!

We zipped down 14 different cables. One of the lines was 1 km long.  This was the first time zip lining for all of us.  Although we were high up, it was not scary.  All three kids did great.  The younger two went tandem, each time. Our oldest went tandem, but also took a few lines by himself once he felt comfortable.

This is me.  I thought it was just too much fun.

When I saw how they attached the zip lines to the trees I was less than thrilled.  We had already gone down 3 or 4 lines before we saw this! Obviously, we are all still alive, so ultimately it was fine.

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