Located opposite the visitor center this museum is arguably the finest in the entire Maya region with a tremendous collection of stelae, altars and panels and well labeled explanations in both English and Spanish. You enter through a dramatic entrance doorway, resembling the jaw of the serpent, and pass through a tunnel (signifying the passage into Xibalba, or the Underworld), along this tunnel is some information about the Maya and the way that the ancient people lived. As you step through the end of the tunnel you are confronted by a dominating full scale, flamboyantly painted replica of the magnificent Rosalila Temple built by Moon Jaguar in 571 and discovered nearly intact under Temple 16. A vast crimson and jade colored mask of the Sun God, depicted with wings outstretched, forms the main façade of the temple. Other ground floor exhibits concentrate upon aspects of Maya belief and cosmology, while the upper floor houses many of the finest original sculptures from the Copan Valley, comprehensively displaying the ability and skill of the Maya craftsmen. You will be astounded by the quality of the this museographic display.

Located at the western side of the main square of the Village of Copan Ruinas is this small yet richly endowed museum. Some highly impressive Maya carvings collected from the Copan region are displayed and kept at this facility to keep them from deteriorating even further. Some of the pieces displayed here are some altars and Stela B with the representation of Waxaklajuun Ub'aah K'awiil. Of special interest in this museum are three eccentric flints which are among the finest examples of this exquisite art form yet uncovered, each displaying seven Classic Maya heads depicted in profile. The flints are lanceolate in form, and from the size of their tangs it is obvious that they were hafted to some sort of shaft, in all probability a long lance. The amount of skill required to produce objects of this sort is beyond the capability of any present-day flint-knapper. The Regional Museum at Copan should not be missed. We recommend spending part of an afternoon here before visiting the site or upon returning to Copan Ruinas from your day long visit at the park...

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