The Flor de Copán cigar factory (tel. 504/662-0185), formerly in the center of town but now in a larger location next to the bus station, a block off the main highway. Flor de Copán employs 240 workers rolling stogies for export as fast as they can, more than 30,000 cigars a day on average.

Entrance to the factory costs US$2, including tours in Spanish, which are given weekdays at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The original Flor de Copán factory (now owned by Altadis USA), between the park and Hotel Elvir on Avenida Centenario, now serves as the company offices and store—no cigars can be purchased at the factory. Prices are generally about half of U.S. prices.

The Santa Rosa mark is considered mild and smooth, while the Don Melo is considerably stronger, made with a Honduran wrapper, a Honduran grown binder, and a blend of Honduran and Nicaraguan filler. The very strong and award-winning Flor de Copán line is actually now produced by Altadis’s factory in Danlí. Both the cigar shop and the factory are closed on weekends.