The town of Copán Ruinas, a kilometre from the archaeological site, is one of the most pleasant small towns in Honduras. The cobblestone streets, the central park with its colonial church, and the concentration of good restaurants and guesthouses make it a comfortable base for exploring the ruins. The scale is small — everything is walkable — and the pace is relaxed.
The main plaza has the characteristic Honduran colonial layout: a low white church on one side, a municipal building on the other, and benches and trees in the centre where locals gather in the evening. Several excellent small restaurants are within a block of the plaza, including places serving traditional Honduran food alongside more international menus aimed at travellers. The town is safe, walkable at night, and genuinely friendly — a contrast to the grim transit towns that characterise many of Honduras.