Santa Rosa de Copan

Santa Rosa de Copán grew on tobacco in the nineteenth century and kept a colonial centre of cobbled streets, white walls and tiled roofs on a ridge at around eleven hundred metres. The Flor de Copán factory in town still rolls cigars and runs tours through curing, fermenting and rolling. The climate is cool, the cathedral sits on a large square, and the town is the natural base for the western highlands and the Lenca villages south of it.

What you actually see

• The colonial centre - cobbled streets and tiled roofs around the cathedral square.
• The cigar factory - Flor de Copan, with tours through the full process.
• The cathedral - the large church dominating the central plaza.
• The highland setting - a ridge town at eleven hundred metres with cool air.

When to go

November to April is the driest. The town is comfortable year-round at this altitude. Factory tours run on weekdays and are arranged ahead.

Honest expectations

The historic centre is small and a couple of hours covers it. The factory tour needs booking and does not run at weekends. The town is a base for the region rather than a sight in itself.

Nearby

Gracias and Celaque are southeast, Copan Ruinas is west, and Belen Gualcho is south.