We at Ixbalanque believe that Copán Ruinas offers the Spanish student the perfect balance of educational excellence and cultural opportunity. Yes, there are large cities (Antigua, Oaxaca) where you can also study Spanish. And , of course, a city of 500,000 people will have more attractions -and, distractions!- than a town of 6,000. Still, if your goal is to learn Spanish in a cultural context, we feel very strongly that a small town with a world-class cultural heritage is far better suited to achieving that goal. Antigua, for example, has 97 language schools, all within a few blocks of the town center. Assume at any given time that each school has ten students, and you'll see that your "immersion experience" will be shared with a thousand other students speaking English, French, German, Swedish or Italian, but when they meet each other, they are definitely not speaking Spanish! In Copán Ruinas, by contrast, the 20-30 students in town will be truly immersed in a non-cosmopolitan population of unjaded, friendly villagers who ONLY speak Spanish.

It's also important to consider the quality of the family-living experience. According to the renowned Lonely Planet Guide, in Antigua, for example, "too often there are several foreigners staying with the same family at once. In this case, it's more like a hotel, than a family atmosphere. Also, often there are separate mealtimes for the students and the family." Such a situation is inconceivable in Copán Ruinas. Here the families truly delight in 'adopting' someone from another culture for a week or two. You really become part of the family. In this environment, your Spanish skills will soar.

Here's what Lonely Planet recommends:"Antigua is not for everyone who wants to study Spanish; there are so many foreigners about, it takes some real discipline to converse in Spanish rather than in your native tongue. If you think this will bother you, consider studying where there are fewer foreign students and more opportunities to dive headfirst into learning Spanish."

The way we see it, Spanish school in a large city is an industry. In Copán Ruinas, it's an opportunity.

What's the weather like?

Copán Ruinas is located in the western highlands of Honduras, more the 1,800 feet above sea level. This altitude is known as tierra templada, or temperate land, and it is therefore comfortable year-round. The visitor will experience neither the swelter of the coastal jungles, nor the night-time chill found at higher elevations to the west and in Guatemala. Like other tropical countries, Honduras has two seasons - wet and dry. The dry season usually lasts from December to May, the wet season from June to November. During the wet season, mornings are typically clear, then thunderstorms build through the afternoon into a refreshing shower, then the clouds dissipate in time for a lovely sunset. The coolest months are January and February, while March and April are the warmest. Still, this is the tropics, so average temperatures tend not to vary more than 10 degrees Fahrenheit (5 Celsius).

Is it easy to communicate with home?

It's very easy in Copán Ruinas to keep in touch with family, friends, or business associates. The national telephone company, Hondutel, has an office a minute's walk from the school, where you can place long-distance calls. Or, you could use the phone at your family's home. It's generally much cheaper to arrange in advance to receive a call from abroad, rather than to dial from Honduras.

There are five internet cafes in town, offering very inexpensive and reliable access to the World Wide Web.

Is Copán Ruinas/Honduras safe?

In marked contrast to its neighbors Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua (which have been ravaged by war and civil unrest for much of their modern history), Honduras has been remarkably peaceful. The new president is Western-educated, and committed to improving the Honduran economy, which continues to suffer the effects of the devastating Hurricane Mitch in 1998. The president has made very clear that he views the sustainable development of eco-tourism to be the key to revitalizing the Honduran economy. In fact, his inaugaration was held at the ruins of Copán, in order to underscore the importance of eco-tourism - and Copán Ruinas - to the future of Honduras. We believe the best way for outsiders to help a poor country like Honduras is to visit it, meet the people, and spend some time and money immersing yourself in another culture.

The town of Copán Ruinas is, in fact, very safe, and very welcoming to visitors. This is what the respected Moon travel guide has to say about Copán Ruinas: "It's hard not to be charmed by the relaxed friendliness of the place. In contrast to many Guatemalan mountain towns, Copán Ruinas evinces an overwhelming sense of safeness and a lack of resentful, tense vibes between locals and foreign visitors. Any afternoon and evening in the square, one can watch schoolchildren playing, elders liesurely passing the time of day, and a young man plucking a tune on his guitar under the admiring gaze of his girl."

Do you teach children, too?

Children are very welcome at Ixbalanque! We've had many families study here, and have developed a kids-friendly curriculum to keep the youngsters engaged and happy. Most of the families who house our students have children of their own, who, like all kids, are quick to make friends. Also, we can arrange visits for your kids to local schools, an experience that will prove unforgettable. We think studying Spanish for a week or two in a safe and friendly Central American town is a wonderful way to encourage in a child an adventurous spirit of travel and a lifelong respect for other cultures. By the way, yes, there's a pizza parlor, and several ice cream shops in town.

Is there medical care or a pharmacy in town?

There are four pharmacies and an English-speaking doctor in town, as well as ambulance service to the hospital, 1.5 hours away. We recommend that visitors carry with them all the prescription medicines they will need during their stay.

Can you recommend a good guidebook for the area?

There are a number of books that discuss Copán Ruinas, Honduras, or Central America. The Moon Handbook of Honduras, and the Lonely Planet Guide to Guatemala (with a large section on Copán Ruinas) are indispensable. Also look for Adventures In Nature Honduras.