Horseback riding in Copan Ruinas, Honduras
During both of my one week study programs at the Ixbalanque Spanish School in Copan Ruinas, Honduras, I have taken advantage of their after school excursions. One of my favorite activities is the horseback riding into the countryside.
Both years, I have had the same guide for my horseback ride. I don’t remember his name, but he is one of the nicest, most accommodating people I have ever met. Here is a photo of him:
My guide for the second time on the horseback ride in Copan Ruinas, Honduras
My first trip, I was the only person on the ride with him. When he brought the horses to the school, the other students all came outside of the building to watch me climb on the horse. What they didn’t know was that I was from Oklahoma and have had my share of horseback rides. Foot in the stirrup, swing up on the horse, and away we rode. I think they all expected me to fall off the horse!
My guide brought the horses to the school
When we got to the outskirts of town we rode into the Copan River. We stopped in the middle of it to allow the horses to drink. The water was up to the belly of the horse. I had to raise up my feet to keep them from getting wet. It was 8 a.m. There was a light fog hanging in the Copan Valley. It was a beautiful morning. It was about as good as it gets.
Crossing the Copan River by horseback
My guide spoke no English. I could understand about half of what he said in Spanish. We rode down the middle of the river for several hundred yards, finally climbing the bank to get up on a dirt road for better footing and more rapid travel.
Riding down the middle of the Copan River
We rode past several small farms. As we rode side by side, my guide told me about his life in Copan, his family, and how much pride he took in his horses and making them available for tourists.
horseback riding down a rural road outside of Copan Ruinas, Honduras
Part of the countryside outside of Copan Ruinas, Honduras
Part of the landscape outside of Copan Ruinas
The countryside as seen from on top of a horse
We continued to climb higher and higher into the hills until we reached the top with an incredible view of the Copan Valley. As I surveyed the valley below, I remember thinking, “only a few days ago, I was sitting in a white shirt and tie in my office and now, here I am high on a hill in the tranquil Copan Valley, sitting on top of a horse”!
A view of the Copan River
A view of the Copan Valley and Copan Ruinas Honduras
So, if you visit Copan Ruinas, Honduras, I highly recommend that you take a morning and invest in a nice leisurely horseback ride through the countryside.
Next-I will give you an overview of the bird farm
Steve Barrymore ssb11@prodigy.net
To read about my other travels click here. If you want to read my entire Honduras blog click here.
