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There are a couple of places within easy reach of Copan that make an extra day or two's stay here worthwhile. Closest is the small Maya site of Los Sapos , a delightful walk south from town. Ten kilometres or so in the opposite direction, the picturesque waterfall of El Rubi is the perfect spot for a picnic, while the hot springs fifteen kilometres north of town are a pleasant place to soak away your cares. Copan is also a convenient spot to cross over into Guatemala, with the El Florido border crossing just 12km to the west. Los Sapos , dating from the same era as Copan, is set in the hills to the south of town, less than an hour's gentle walk away. The site, whose name derives from a rock carved in the shape of a frog, is thought to have been a place where Maya women came to bear children, though unfortunately time and weather have eroded much of the carving. To get there, follow the main road south out of town, turn left onto a dirt track just past the river bridge and follow this as it begins to climb gently into the hills, past the Hacienda San Lucas farmhouse hotel. The views across the tobacco fields of the river valley are beautiful, and there are plenty of spots for swimming along the way. Pick-ups leave Copan regularly throughout the day for the peaceful town of Santa Rita , 9km northeast. At the river bridge, just before entering the town, a path leads up to El Rubi , a pretty double waterfall on the Rio Copan, about 2km away. Surrounded by shady woods, this is the perfect spot for a swim in the clear, cold water, followed by a picnic. Follow the path as it climbs along and above the right-hand bank of the river for about twenty minutes; just past a steep stretch and small bend to the right, a narrow path runs down through the pasture on the left to a pool and high rock, on the other side of which is El Rubi. Around 15km north of Copan are some hot springs ( aguas termales ; US$0.75), set in lush highland scenery dotted with coffee fincas and patches of pine forests. Once there you can either wallow around in man-made pools or head to the source via a short trail where cool river water and near boiling-hot spring waters combine. One way to get to the aguas termales is to hitch a ride on a passing pick-up, which are reasonably frequent from outside the Hotel Paty in Copan and also pass the bird park; expect to pay around a US$1 for the ride, which takes about 50 minutes - but don't leave it any later than 3.30pm if you're planning to hitch back to Copan. Alternatively, speak to one of Copan's tour operators; Yaragua Tours can arrange a half-day pick-up trip at 2pm for US$10 per person for a minimum of four people.
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