Not far from the Guatemalan border lies Copán, one of the most spectacular Maya ceremonial cities of Mesoamerica. The town of Copán Ruínas, 1km (1/2 mile) from the archeological site, is a small picturesque city with rough cobblestone streets and a buzzing central plaza that's the heart and soul of the place. It is reminiscent of a more compact version of Cuzco, Peru, although tourism is growing here at an equally impressive rate. For example, in the 1970s, there were just a couple of small hotels, mostly visited by archeologists. Now, there are more than 70. Copán is surrounded by beautiful forests with waterfalls, hot springs, and excellent bird-watching and adventure tourism possibilities.