Noted for its outstanding Mayan remnants, Copán Ruinas gained recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. Often referred to as the Paris of the Mayan realm in Central America, Copán stands as one of the pivotal surviving sites of this ancient civilization. The remnants of the city and the grand public squares depict the three dominant phases of its evolution, before eventually being deserted in the early 9th century AD. Presently, Copán Ruinas is of significant cultural value in Honduras.