Coba is an ancient Mayan city, lost in the jungle. One of the largest Maya metropolises - most of the city has not yet been excavated.
For us, it was the beginning of our journey and the first Mayan pyramids that we saw.
Yesterday we drove all day from Israel to the city of Tulum on the Caribbean coast of Mexico.
Departure at midnight. Then - transit in Paris 7 hours. Quite a long time, but at the same time not enough - to go to Paris, and the weather was not favorable - cold, rain. After a night flight, we found such comfortable beds, where we camped for another 2-3 hours.
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And then we went to duty-free, to try cognacs and whiskey. Time has passed unnoticed.)
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Arrived in Cancun at 6 pm the same day. We bought tickets to Cancun at some very ridiculous price - $ 700, it was impossible not to go.) What makes flights to the west convenient - the day is stretched. We took the car and immediately went south - to Tulum. Beach holidays in the resorts of Cancun did not attract us much. Therefore, we chose Tulum as our location for these 2 days - there are many historical and natural attractions in the vicinity of this city, and there are much fewer tourists than in Cancun.
Because of the time difference, everyone woke up quite early. However, we will wake up early throughout our journey. Close to the equator, the daylight hours are short (from 6 am to 6 pm), and there is a lot to be done, so we tried to make the most of daylight hours. But we also usually went to bed early.
We leave at 7:30.
The Mayan city of Coba is about a 45-minute drive.
There are few people, except for us - single tourists. We pay 60 pesos for parking and 65 pesos for entrance to the national park.
And we go deeper into the jungle. Everything around is shrouded in haze. It rained yesterday, and today tomorrow - they also promise rain all day. But hopefully we'll be lucky.
Birds and animals are noisily chirping in the forest in the morning. Here - right next to the road, a company of nosukh frolics noisily on the branches of trees. But in the morning they have their own family concerns, so they did not come out to beg for food.
The ancient city of Koba was discovered only at the end of the 19th century. The first descriptions of archaeological excavations were made by famous travelers John Lloyd Stevens and Frederick Catherwood. In 1881, Theobert Mahler took the first known photograph of Kob. Currently, only a small part of this once huge metropolis has been excavated. What is nice is that only some buildings in the city have been partially cleared, otherwise the selva surrounds us throughout the entire journey. And you need to walk around this city quite a lot.
And here is the field for playing ball.
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It is still not really clear why and why the ancient Mayans played ball. But the game was clearly ritual in nature and was intended for the eyes of the gods and a small part of the priests and nobility. And at the end of the game, it is believed that someone was sacrificed. Moreover, more and more versions say that the captain of the winning team was sacrificed to the gods. It is logical - why do the gods losers? And the captain is honored, the opportunity to communicate with the gods.
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Nohoch Mul - The Great Pyramid. 42 meters high - from a 14-storey building. Nooch Mul is one of the tallest Mayan pyramids on the peninsula, taller than El Castillo at Chichen Itza and the Pyramids of the Magus at Uxmal.
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Near the warning sign: "descent from the pyramid - at your own risk." But about the rise - not a word. Like, climbed - it's your own fault, get down as best you can.
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There are 120 steps leading up. Crooked, worn, dilapidated, slippery with dew and rain.
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Well, we climbed. Oh, climbing up is good, even though the steps are steep and high.
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From above, a view of the green sea of the jungle under your feet, in the distance, another pyramid sticks out of the fog. High...
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At the very top of the pyramid there is a closed temple and some kind of stone, which seems to have once served as an altar.
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And now you have to go down. Yeah ... And down, it's all much cooler.
My husband swore at me that if I didn’t shed a tear, then he wouldn’t let me go to any more pyramids. As a result, she fell off.
Especially for the fearful, a rope is thrown in the middle. She clung to him, going down. Well, I’m accustomed not to go down on my ass, but correctly - facing the slope.)
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We set off to wander further through the various buildings of the former Koba complex.
The Mayan city of Coba is located ninety kilometers east of Chichen Itza and about forty northwest of Tulum, has an area of just over 70 square kilometers and a network of 45 roads (or sacbés) that used to connect the city with many Mayan cities and more small communities.
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Between the field for the ball game and the Nohuch Mul pyramid is a monument called Xaibe (Puck). The name of this semi-circular pyramid means "Crossroads", as it is located at the intersection of four sakbe roads.
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Many Sacbe roads were built from Koba. The most important - 100 kilometers, reached Yaxunaacute, which is a short distance from Chechen Itza. These roads were white stucco, in some places they reach up to 20 meters wide and 6 meters high. We will then see such a road very well and pass along it to Yashxa (Guatemala). The 35 roads that have been documented in this area prove that Coba maintained close contacts with such great cities of Guatemala and southern Campeche and Quintana Roo as Tikal, Dzibancheacute, Kohunlich, Muyil, Oxtankah, Tankah, XEL-Ha and Calakmul. Undoubtedly, Koba had an excellent road network. Between 200 and 600 AD these roads determined the development of agricultural areas and the development of inter- and intra-regional trade routes, which may have allowed some important ports such as Xel Ha to be controlled as well.
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Koba existed for almost 2 thousand years - from 300-250 BC to 1517 AD. The heyday of the city falls on the classical period - then the city began to dominate the entire region. Between 200 and 800 AD, Coba was one of the largest cities in the Maya world until its rival, Chichen Itza, expanded its sphere of influence.
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And these trees grow there. It is not clear whether this is such a multi-stemmed tree, or hanging roots take root and become new trunks.
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Much of the city was built in the Petén style of monumental architecture, a style characteristic of the Classical period, and in the Oriental Coastal style dating back to the period after the Classical Yucatán Peninsula.
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Its name translates as "water with moss" or "wet water", although some authors suggest that it means "muddy water", due to its proximity to a small lake with a rather muddy color.
Near Coba there are 2 lagoons, which are home to many birds, as well as crocodiles.
Do you see a crocodile? Me neither. And he is...
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More than 6,500 structures have been discovered on the territory of the ancient city, but only a small part of them have been excavated to date.
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After the seventh century, the strengthening of the western cities of Yucatán - Puuc, as well as the growth of the influence of Chichen - Itza in the socio-political picture of the peninsula, meant the beginning of the decline of Coba. In 900 or 1000, Coba tried to confront Chichen Itza to determine which city would serve the other, but after losing the Yaxuná enclave, he resigned himself to the new dominant power in the region.
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The pyramid, which the locals consider a sanctuary and call "Iglesia" (church), is almost 25 meters high and belongs to the early classical style.
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After 1000, Coba lost political relevance, although it seems to have retained its symbolic and religious significance, which allowed it to regain some position between 1200 and 1500 - during which time several new buildings in the East Coast style were built in the city.
At the time of the Spanish conquest, Coba was already completely uninhabited.
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At 11, after walking around the ancient city for 3 hours, we leave Koba. We are heading to the next point of our plan - Cenote Casa.
To be continued...
Coba is the legendary city of the Mayan civilization, or even more correctly, what remains of it is half-ruined ruins. But even in this form, it attracts a huge number of travelers who want to touch ancient relics and artifacts.
The ruins of Koba cannot be compared with the grandeur and perfection of the archaeological complex of Chichen Itza. But the greatness of the monuments of Chichen Itza is unlikely to erase the memories of visiting Koba: jungle trails, desert monuments, the opportunity to climb the pyramids and observe the surrounding jungle in solitude. The absence of a large influx of tourists is the main advantage of this place. Coba still has the aura of the ancient Mayan city lost to Chichen Itza.
It is unlikely that the ruins of Coba will amaze with the sophistication of their architecture. There are no grandiose pyramids that amaze tourists in Chichen Itza or Uxmal. Despite all this, Coba is worth a visit. This is one of the oldest and largest cities in the Yucatan, which played an important role in the development of the Mayan civilization. In its current form, it creates a unique feeling of antiquity. The vast majority of the monuments have not been restored, which is why they look like real ruins. Groups of monuments are located in the middle of the jungle, connected by roads and paths. Tourists have to walk or pedal a lot along these paths, visiting one pyramid after another.
The ancient city of Koba is located next to the lakes, which is quite unusual. But the unusual thing is not that the Mayans did not want to build their cities near lakes, but that the Yucatan Peninsula has almost no lakes, and even those that do are often swampy. There are crocodiles in the waters of the lake, which is reminiscent of a warning sign prohibiting swimming.
Koba consists of several groups of monuments, interconnected by labyrinths of paths and ancient roads called "sakbe". In total, there are more than 40 sakbes here. The length of the longest of them is 100 km - the longest road in the Mayan world.
The construction of an extensive network of sakbe is still a mystery and bewilderment. After all, the Mayan civilization did not have wheeled vehicles, the Indians never even saw horses in their eyes. Obviously, they were built for religious purposes.
At the height of their empire from the 3rd to the 10th century, the Maya ruled over a vast area from central Mexico to Honduras and El Salvador. The Spanish conquerors killed priests, burned books, thus destroying most of the information about the history and culture of the Maya. Only ruins surrounded by legends remained. Many of the mysteries of Cob are yet to be explored and are still hidden under the thick cover of the jungle. Only a small part of them has been cleared of the forest and restored by archaeologists. Wandering around these ruins, it is hard to believe that more than 50,000 people lived in this jungle-covered area more than 1,300 years ago.
The monuments of Koba are divided into three main groups: Grupo Coba, Grupo Nohuch Mul and Grupo las Pinturas.
Grupo Koba
After walking 100 meters along the main road from the entrance and turning right, you will reach La Iglesia (Church), the most famous pyramid of Grupo Coba, and the second highest in the complex. Unfortunately, climbing this huge pyramid 20 meters high is currently prohibited.
Among other monuments of the group, the ball court attracts attention. The site consists of two stone walls and a field between them. There are stone rings on the walls, into which Maya athletes are believed to have thrown balls. Although their ball court is much smaller than that of Chichen Itza, games have periodically ended with the same result: human sacrifice. Researchers disagree on whether the winners were sacrificed as an honor to go on a date with the gods, or the cost of losing is human life.
Grupo Nooch Mull
Nohoch Mul is a 15 minute walk from Grupo Coba. Nooch Mul in translation means "Big Mound". Also known as the "Great Pyramid", you will agree, it sounds much better than the "Great Mound". With a height of 42 m, Nooch Mul is the second highest Mayan pyramid in the Yucatan Peninsula, higher than "El Castillo" in Chichen Itza and the "Pyramids of the Magician" in Uxmal.
Climbing to the top of the Great Pyramid is the most popular tourist activity. 120 narrow and steep steps lead upstairs. Considering the height of the pyramid (42 m), as well as the absence of any fences or railings at the top and sides, it’s a little scary to climb, but from the top you can see fascinating landscapes of a continuous sea of green jungle and protruding Mayan monuments.
Although it is physically difficult to go up, going down, oddly enough, is much more difficult. The steps are narrow, steep and rather slippery. Feeling during the descent, as if descending from the edge of a high cliff, careless movement, and you can fly head over heels down. The fact that such a danger exists is warned by the inscriptions on the posters below. Many descend in a timid but sure way: they sit on the top step and slowly move down one step. It looks silly, but when you visit the top, you will understand what it is. Wear comfortable shoes and hold on to the rope.
Groupo las Pinturas
The main attraction of this group is the Conjunto Las Pintura pyramid. Translated from Spanish, the word "pintura" means "paint", "paint". Once, the monument was completely covered with colored frescoes. The thatched roof on top protects the remains of the original red paint.
In the jungle near the ruins of Koba is the small village of Pac Chen. The inhabitants of this village lead the same way of life as their ancestors during the Maya Empire: they live in thatched huts without electricity, running water and paved roads, collect herbs in the jungle for medicinal and other purposes, bathe and make sacrifices in the cenote. Every day the inhabitants of Pac Chen receive dozens of tourists who want to know what the Mayan village is like in the 21st century. In addition to visiting the village. Tourists are offered the opportunity to rappel down to the cenote, glide over the forest canopy on a stretched rope, kayak in a bird-filled lagoon, and taste a lunch prepared by the villagers.
The archaeological zone is located on the territory of the ancient city of Coba lost in the jungle - the heart of the once prosperous and disappeared Mayan empire. Coba - the oldest city of the Mayan civilization in Mexico is a group of monuments connected by labyrinths of paths and ancient Mayan roads in the jungle, called "sacbe". In total, there are more than 40 sakbes here, and they were built for religious purposes. The length of the longest of them is 100 km - the longest road in the Mayan world. The construction of an extensive network of sakbe is still a mystery, because the Mayan civilization did not have wheeled vehicles and horses.
The city of Coba still has the aura of the ancient Mayan city, which it has finally lost. During the development of the Mayan civilization, Coba was one of the largest cities on the Yucatan Peninsula. During its heyday, the city had up to 50,000 inhabitants. Numerous white roads "sak be", various ball courts, high pyramids of Koba - all this testifies to the great importance of the city.
The city of Coba played an important role in the development of the Maya civilization. In its current form, Coba creates a unique sense of antiquity.
The city of Coba impresses with its size, in its heyday it covered an area of approximately 50 square meters. km and was not only an important political and commercial center of the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, but also a place of great religious significance.
The ancient city of Coba is located next to the lakes, which is quite unusual, because due to the limestone structure of the earth, there are almost no lakes in the Yucatan. All water goes underground, forming bizarre cave and cenote systems. Small crocodiles are found in the waters of the lake, and if you are lucky, you will be able to see them. For the same reason, swimming is prohibited, but you can relax and dine in one of the small restaurants overlooking the lake.
Getting around Kobe is possible by bicycles or double rickshaws.
In the city of Coba, you will definitely remember: labyrinths of paths in the jungle, desert monuments and the opportunity to climb the pyramids and watch the surrounding jungle alone. The absence of a large influx of tourists, a large number of amazing monuments of ancient civilization and nature “unspoiled” by man are the main advantages of the city of Koba.
The presence of a guide is a prerequisite for visiting Koba, it is more correct to order an individual tour.
The monuments of Koba are divided into three main groups: Grupo Coba, Grupo Nohuch Mul and Grupo las Pinturas.
Grupo Coba (Grupo Coba)
After walking 100 meters along the main road from the entrance, you will reach Templo de la Iglesia, the second largest pyramid in Kobe. The pyramid is closed for climbing.
Among other monuments of the group, the ball court attracts attention. Stone rings are installed on the walls, into which Mayan athletes threw the ball with their hips. Although the ball game field in the city of Koba is much smaller than in Koba, from time to time the games also ended with human sacrifices. Most researchers believe that it was the team captain who was sacrificed to the gods – the winner, for whom it was the highest award.
Between the ball court and the Nohuch Mul pyramid is a monument called Xaibe. The name of this semi-circular pyramid means "Crossroads", as it is located at the intersection of four Sak Be roads.
city of Coba (Coba) in Mexico, excursion to Coba to the pyramid of Coba
Grupo Nohuch Mul
Nohoch Mul is a 15-minute walk from Grupo Coba (Group Coba). Nohoch Mul means "Great Mound" in translation, but is better known as the "Great Pyramid". Nohoch Mul – the second highest Mayan pyramid in the Yucatan Peninsula, higher than “El Castillo” in Chichen Itza and “Pyramids of the Magus” in Uxmal.
Climbing to the top of the Great Pyramid of Koba – Nohuch Mul is the most popular tourist activity. 120 narrow and steep steps lead upstairs. Considering the height of the pyramid (42 m), as well as the absence of any fences or railings at the top and sides, it is a little scary to climb, but from the top you can see fascinating landscapes of a continuous sea of green jungle. You can sit on ancient stones, think about the eternal, and then about the earthly - about the descent. Although it is physically difficult to go up, going down, oddly enough, is much more difficult. The steps are narrow, steep and rather slippery. Feeling during the descent, as if descending from the edge of a high cliff, careless movement, and you can fly head over heels down. Many descend in a timid but reliable way: they sit on the top step and crawl slowly on all fours, holding on to the rope.
Grupo Las Pinturas
The main attraction of this group is the Conjunto Las Pintura pyramid. Translated from Spanish, the word "pintura" means "paint". Once, the monument was completely covered with colored frescoes.
City of Coba Mexico (Coba): useful information
- The city of Coba (Mexico) is open 7 days a week, from 8 am to 5 pm;
- We recommend that you do not travel around Kobe on foot, it is better to order a bicycle – rickshaw (tricycle with driver). This will save a lot of time and effort for the main – visit to the pyramid. You can rent bicycles, but they are quite old, because they stand in the open air, we do not recommend;
- Be sure to wear comfortable sports shoes that do not slip. The steps on the main pyramid of Koba are narrow with uneven edges, it is especially difficult to go down;
- Coba has a lot of roads and hiking trails. Some lead to the main pyramids of the city, others are lost in the jungle. It is very easy to get lost, it is better to come to Koba with a guide;
- The city of Coba is located in the middle of the Yucatan jungle, a region with a very hot and humid climate, there are mosquitoes here, do not forget to take a mosquito repellent.
Coba is a Mayan city and a fairly large archaeological complex. It occupies approximately 120 square meters with the ruins of a variety of traditional buildings from the classical period of the development of the Mayan culture, dating from about 250-900 BC. n. e. Coba was one of the largest cities in the Yucatan, but at one point, for unknown reasons, it was abandoned.
The tourist trail does not overgrow here for several reasons. Firstly, it is quite close to the resort area of Cancun, a favorite destination for vacationers from all over the world. Drive about 2 hours.
Secondly, despite the fact that there is a lesser known pyramid here compared to Chichen Itza, it is very popular among tourists. This is one of the few pyramids in the world that you can climb. Actually, for the sake of this rise, many generally go to Koba.
42 meters along 120 curved steps polished by previous tourists under the rays of the scorching sun at a temperature subjectively exceeding the number of steps, sweating and suffocating from the heat, you climb up with a crowd of the same ... just like you ... Isn't that romantic!
In fact, the ascent is less of a problem than the descent. It is worth remembering this when you, imagining yourself a pioneer, stubbornly climb up. Many tourists go down for a very long time in the way of "grinders", that is, they sit on the fifth point and slide down the steps, holding on to the rope in the center of the pyramid. I would not say that there is a need for this, you can descend normally, but you still need to hold on to the rope. It is better to free your hands before climbing and get rid of excess weight, because even young people climb with difficulty. People with poor physical fitness and poor health do not recommend climbing at all. You can climb several steps - about 10 steps - and take wonderful photos of yourself from the pyramid and in the crowd of crawlers.
To the question of the crowd. The flow of tourists is constant, so you have to go with the speed of the flow, or overtake them without insurance, letting go of the rope. We were lucky, the group approached cheerfully and everyone walked in approximately the same rhythm. But before us, people were sliding down for more than half an hour, blocking the descent for everyone else. Therefore, if the time for visiting is limited, then it is better to rise immediately, there is no need to be nervous and late later.
If you still climbed up, then the views from the pyramid will delight you. Although I would say I was expecting more. For example, I was much more impressed by Blue Mountain in Jamaica without a grueling climb, but with gorgeous landscapes.
In addition to the pyramid on the territory of the complex, which is far from all open to the public, there are a large number of various buildings. Here you can see a small field for playing ball and a unique round pyramid.
The park is very beautiful. You almost always walk in the shade of trees, so even on a hot day you do not feel discomfort.
These ruins of the ancient city are usually visited by tourist groups with Tulum. But you can also go separately only here if you want to walk around the complex without fuss. Buses run here, but it takes about ten minutes to walk from the bus stop.
The advantage of this complex is the presence of rickshaws that quickly move everyone from one object to another.
For elderly people or with small children, this is a necessary service. By the way, it was included in the cost of the tour. You need to specify when buying a package. Bicycles can be rented for an extra charge. fee.
I think that this is not the most significant attraction in Mexico, but lovers of interesting experiences should visit and be sure to climb the pyramid. Even from a group of 30-40 people, no more than half are solved. There will be an opportunity to test your spirit of adventure and boost your adrenaline.
The ruins of Koba cannot be compared with the grandeur and perfection of the Chichen Itza archaeological complex. But the greatness of the monuments of Chichen Itza is unlikely to erase the memories of visiting Koba: jungle trails, desert monuments, the opportunity to climb the pyramids and observe the surrounding jungle in solitude. The absence of a large influx of tourists is the main advantage of this place. Coba still has the aura of the ancient Mayan city lost by Chichen Itza.
It is unlikely that the ruins of Coba will amaze with the sophistication of their architecture. There are no grandiose pyramids that amaze tourists in Chichen Itza or Uxmal. Despite all this, Coba is worth a visit. This is one of the oldest and largest cities in the Yucatan, which played an important role in the development of the Mayan civilization. In its current form, it creates a unique feeling of antiquity. The vast majority of the monuments have not been restored, which is why they look like real ruins. Groups of monuments are located in the middle of the jungle, connected by roads and paths. Tourists have to walk or pedal a lot along these paths, visiting one pyramid after another.
The ancient city of Koba is located next to the lakes, which is quite unusual. But the unusual thing is not that the Mayans did not want to build their cities near lakes, but that the Yucatan Peninsula has almost no lakes, and even those that do are often swampy. There are crocodiles in the waters of the lake, which is reminiscent of a warning sign prohibiting swimming.
Koba consists of several groups of monuments, interconnected by labyrinths of paths and ancient roads called "sakbe". In total, there are more than 40 sakbes here. The length of the longest of them is 100 km - the longest road in the Mayan world.
The construction of an extensive network of sakbe is still a mystery and bewilderment. After all, the Mayan civilization did not have wheeled vehicles, the Indians never even saw horses in their eyes. Obviously, they were built for religious purposes.
At the height of their empire from the 3rd to the 10th century, the Maya ruled over a vast area from central Mexico to Honduras and El Salvador. The Spanish conquerors killed priests, burned books, thus destroying most of the information about the history and culture of the Maya. Only ruins surrounded by legends remained. Many of the mysteries of Cob are yet to be explored and are still hidden under the thick cover of the jungle. Only a small part of them has been cleared of the forest and restored by archaeologists. Wandering around these ruins, it is hard to believe that more than 50,000 people lived in this jungle-covered area more than 1,300 years ago.
The monuments of Koba are divided into three main groups: Grupo Coba, Grupo Nohuch Mul and Grupo las Pinturas.
Grupo Koba
After walking 100 meters along the main road from the entrance and turning right, you will reach La Iglesia (Church), the most famous pyramid of Grupo Coba, and the second highest in the complex. Unfortunately, climbing this huge pyramid 20 meters high is currently prohibited.
Among other monuments of the group, the ball court attracts attention. The site consists of two stone walls and a field between them. There are stone rings on the walls, into which Maya athletes are believed to have thrown balls. Although their ball court is much smaller than that of Chichen Itza, intermittent games have ended with the same result: human sacrifice. Researchers disagree on whether the winners were sacrificed as an honor to go on a date with the gods, or the cost of losing is human life.
Grupo Nooch Mull
Nohoch Mul is a 15 minute walk from Grupo Coba. Nooch Mul in translation means "Big Mound". Also known as the "Great Pyramid", you will agree, it sounds much better than the "Great Mound". With a height of 42 m, Nooch Mul is the second highest Mayan pyramid in the Yucatan Peninsula, higher than "El Castillo" in Chichen Itza and "Pyramids of the Magician" in Uxmal.
Climbing to the top of the Great Pyramid is the most popular tourist activity. 120 narrow and steep steps lead upstairs. Considering the height of the pyramid (42 m), as well as the absence of any fences or railings at the top and sides, it’s a little scary to climb, but from the top you can see fascinating landscapes of a continuous sea of green jungle and protruding Mayan monuments.
Although it is physically difficult to go up, going down, oddly enough, is much more difficult. The steps are narrow, steep and rather slippery. Feeling during the descent, as if descending from the edge of a high cliff, careless movement, and you can fly head over heels down. The fact that such a danger exists is warned by the inscriptions on the posters below. Many descend in a timid but sure way: they sit on the top step and slowly move down one step. It looks silly, but when you visit the top, you will understand what it is. Wear comfortable shoes and hold on to the rope.
Between the ball game and the Nooch Mul pyramid is a monument called Xaibe. The name of this semicircular pyramid means "Crossroads", as it is located at the intersection of four sakbe roads.
Groupo las Pinturas
The main attraction of this group is the Conjunto Las Pintura pyramid. Translated from Spanish, the word "pintura" means "paint", "paint". Once, the monument was completely covered with colored frescoes. The thatched roof on top protects the remains of the original red paint.
Don't miss Cho Ha Cenote, a short drive from Coba Ruins. The depth of this underground cenote is more than 20 meters. The cenote is fed by a clean underground river. 79 steps of a wooden spiral staircase lead to the very bottom of the cave, decorated with hundreds of years old stalactites and stalagmites. Usually, tourists are brought here for swimming.
Coba: useful information
Tourists have the opportunity to rent a bike or use the services of a triciclo (tricycle with a driver) in order to save time and energy on visiting the pyramids. Local guides will tell and show everything on foot or by bike.
Keep in mind that you will have to walk a lot in Coba, even if you rent a bike. Bicycles are not allowed near the ruins, so you will have to walk anyway. Walk 5-6 km at a free pace in 3-4 hours and visit the main groups of monuments. The territory is flat, so walking here is not difficult.
Coba has a lot of roads and hiking trails. Some lead to the main pyramids of the complex, others are lost in the jungle. It's very easy to get lost, so keep an eye out and remember where you're going.
The complex is open 7 days a week, from 8 am to 5 pm.
The ruins of Coba are located in the middle of the Yucatan jungle, a region with a very hot and humid climate. There are a lot of mosquitoes here, so take care of mosquito repellant. Take water, a hat and comfortable shoes with you.
Coba is about 90 km east of Chichen Itza and about 44 km northwest of Tulum, to which it is connected by a modern road. ADO buses run every morning to Coba from Cancun (3 hours), Playa del Carmen (2 hours) and Tulum. Buses stop near the El Bocadillo restaurant near the entrance to the complex, where you can also buy return bus tickets.
Koba video
