A first-class nature-oriented destination in the hills outside of town is Macaw Mountain Bird Park (tel. 504/651-4245, www.macawmountain.com, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. daily), a couple of kilometers outside of Copán on the road to the hot springs (walk or take an inexpensive taxi). The beautifully designed bird park is filled with brilliantly colored macaws, toucans, and parrots from Honduras and elsewhere in Latin America.

The owner, American Lloyd Davidson, relocated Macaw Mountain Bird Park from Roatán to Copán in 2003. The wooden walkways, aviaries, and restaurant, built on four hectares of land in the heavily wooded Quebrada Sesemil valley, are lovely. Most birds are kept in aviaries, but in one area, visitors can hold and feed birds.

There’s a larger coffee plantation nearby with coffee roasters at work. Macaw Mountain Bird Park costs US$10 (both dollars and lempiras accepted); each ticket is good for three days of visiting. The ticket price also includes a guided tour, which is highly recommended to maximize your visit, as the guides not only explain about the birds, but also take them out of their cages.

The restaurant has seafood, chicken, and beef for US$9–12 for a main course.