Major Mayan settlement - probably only 20 percent was excavated the rest waiting to be discovered. whereas Tikal you get to enjoy the sunrise and admire the pyramids, Copan was more about how an actual Mayan city is designed, built, and how ancient Mayans actually lived there. the Estella - the rock carvings - were also one of its kind and you will not see them in Tikal. Copan is nowhere as well visited as Tikal so you can get the entire ruins to yourself and just a few other tourists. you also have your fair share of wild red Macaw birds flying around, with close encounters possible