Forget the theme-park bird tricks—Macaw Mountain is the real conservation deal. Just 5.8 km ≈ 3.6 miles (~13 minutes) from Ancestral Copan Hotel lies a living sanctuary, not a zoo: rescued macaws, parrots and toucans live in lush aviaries across ten forested acres, with real access paths that even accommodate wheelchairs.

Inside, personal encounters feel wild—wander cobblestone and raised wooden trails that weave into the canopy, pass interactive aviaries and a soothing river valley. Don’t expect cages—expect stories of rehabilitation, bilingual signs teaching bird lives and release programs.

Since 2011, Macaw Mountain has partnered with the World Parrot Trust and others to reintroduce scarlet macaws into the Copán Valley—dozens have flown free. But even the non-release birds get a permanent safe-haven here.

The undeniable highlight? Watching rehabilitated macaws freely soar home to their feeding station around noon—a vivid spectacle and testament to the sanctuary’s successful breeding and reintroduction programs, bringing these magnificent birds back to the skies of the Copán Valley.”

Cap off your visit in the historic coffee roaster, with 100% Arabica in hand, perched in a high-canopy café. Browse the local artisan gift shop, then dip into the natural bathing pool for a forest-fresh cooldown.

Every step here is more than sightseeing—it’s part of preserving Honduras’ national bird and supporting a tangible conservation mission.