Mayan Ruins of Copan, Honduras

Grand staircase under restoration
Originally uploaded by louise_parmenter

Finishing in Mexico we headed back to Guatemala, spent a couple of days relaxing in Xela before another long journey on to Honduras. Although covering smaller distances than in Argentina or Chile, travelling in Guatemala seems so much more of an effort. The chicken busses (ex-US school busses) are uncomfortable and packed, the road conditions poor and there are few long distance busses. So we set off towards the border with Honduras, our journey taking us via dangerous Guatemala City (with a quick-as-possible connection) and with a couple of days in the Guatemalan town of Chiquimula, using the hotel pool to cool down from the intense heat of this region. We then crossed over the border into Honduras and quickly discovered a country that was relatively more developed than Guatemala (Guatemala being definitely the most underdeveloped of Latin American countries), despite having the same serious crime problems caused principally by the Mara (mafia style gangs). Police, security guards and the army are all employed to protect banks, shops, petrol stations, etc., and all of whom wield M-16s or sub-machine guns!! It certainly made us more aware of the crime problems in this part of Central America.

We arrived into the pretty little village of Copan Ruinas and spent a lovely afternoon visiting the ruins, which, although not as architecturally interesting or well preserved as other big sites, offered great examples of Mayan architectural decoration and stelae.

Take a look at the pictures, here.

DISTANCE TRAVELLED (OVERLAND) SINCE USHUAIA: 31,250 KM