A stay at La Casa de Cafe (website) is definitely a splurge. For Guatemalan standards, and I suppose for Honduran as well, $45 for a double room is expensive, but it really is a pleasant place to stay. It is a cute bed-and-breakfast that offers the quiet and comfort of home to its visitors. It was easy to make reservations via email/website, but there aren't many rooms at La Casa, so in high season, this should be done well in advance.
Getting to La Casa is easy from the bus station. Taxis are waiting outside, and Copan Ruinas is so small, everyone knew where La Casa de Cafe was. Howard, one of the owners, met us upon arrival. He was efficient but seemed generally annoyed every time I interacted with him. His wife, Angela, on the other hand, was extremely friendly with us. She was the perfect hostess! She gave us immediate advice, such as what we should expect to pay for taxi fares to the ruins and so on. She offered us cool water and showed us where to go if we wanted coffee or tea, included with our room.
The room itself (ours was no. 5 on the end) was gorgeous and situated around a grassy courtyard with a clear view of the valley and faraway mountains over the border in Guatemala. The room was simply decorated and bright. The shower (with plenty of hot water) was tiled and gigantic! Hammocks swung under the eaves right outside the room, begging for you to relax and enjoy the courtyard and views.
In the morning, breakfast is served, with plenty of delicious coffee, right outside in the courtyard. We had watermelon juice and fruit salad of banana, melon, pineapple, and more watermelon. Also served is fresh bread and jam and scrambled eggs with onions, tomatoes, peppers, and cheese.
After long travels from one country to the next, it can be extremely rewarding to splurge and allow a day of overspending the budget for serious recuperation and pampering. The absolute quiet and setting alone lend to Casa de Café’s tremendous value.