Located in the heart of a tropical jungle, the vestiges of Copán are one of the main sites of the Mayan civilization with Chichén Itzá in Mexico and Tikal in Guatemala. The political, civil and religious center of the Copán valley, this site with its acropolis and monumental squares was also the political and cultural reference of a larger territory covering the south-eastern part and the periphery of the Mayas' area of occupation. Discovered in 1570 by Diego García de Palacio, it now forms an archaeological park which includes more than 3,400 buildings within a radius of 14.9mi (24km).