Coba

Hidden Ruins of Coba  © Discovery Mexico

One of the main attractions of Coba is the Nohoch Mul, the highest pyramid in the Yucatan Peninsula rising 138 feet. You can climb the 120 stairs of the pyramid to have an incredible view of the jungle and the other structures of the site. There is another pyramid called Temple of the Church, which is Coba’s second highest building. From the top you have a great view of Macanxoc lake, one of the two lakes that are close to Coba, which is a rather rare particularity in this region.
Coba has an estimated of 6,500 structures, and only a handful have been cleared from the jungle.
You will find several sac-be –roads built by the Maya- stretching from Coba to many directions. There are 50 sac-be that have been uncovered, many of them measure 10 to 30 feet wide. One is more than 100 km long, and it is suggested that it required more manpower to build it than the pyramids at the site.
The site has several stelae with Mayan glyphs, one of them has a glyph that reveals the date November 30, 780 A.D.

Coba is located between Chichen Itza and Tulum, in the Riviera Maya. The city of Chichen Itza is at one and a half hours away by car and the city of Tulum at less than 30 minutes. There is an asphalt road from both cities, through the jungle of the Riviera Maya, which allows you to explore a little bit of scenery before arriving. Once at the site, you can rent a bike to explore the extensive area.

Coba was a huge city, covering over 50 square miles, with a population estimated over 100,000 inhabitants during its peak, from 400 to 1100 A.D. Most of the construction took place between 500 and 900 A.D. but minor buildings and temples were still built until at least the 14th century, and maybe until the arrival of the Spanish. The reason of the downfall of the city around 1100 A.D. is not known.
Coba was a huge center for trade and it is believed that there were several treaties with the city of Tikal.

The site is perfect for a relaxing day. You can enjoy the archaeological site and then the two lakes to refresh yourself. Besides, if you arrive early in the morning you can enjoy the jungle and the tropical birds, butterflies and monkeys playing around.