The most famous Mayan ruins in Riviera Maya are Chichén Itzá and Tulum, but there is another little explored by Brazilian tourists who visit the Mexican Caribbean, Cobá.
Hidden in the middle of the jungle 45 minutes from Tulum, Cobá has the tallest pyramid in the north of the Iberian Peninsula. Yucatan, Nohoch Mul, which is 42 meters high and offers an incredible panorama of the Mayan jungle from the top.
It also has other interesting structures and a very pleasant environment for those who want to venture out and learn more about this incredible ancient culture. In this guide, I will explain how to visit this archaeological site with practical information and suggestions.
History of Coba
The ancient Mayan city of Cobá is located halfway between Tulum and the almighty Chichén Itzá, in an area surrounded by 5 lakes that helped the city develop and survive. On the other hand, the local population was already there long before the city was built.
According to studies carried out, there was already a population in the area in the year 100 AD, but it was only between the years 500 and 900 AD that Cobá exercised all its power in the region, being one of the largest Mayan cities with a population of approximately 55 thousand inhabitants and an area of 70 square kilometers.
At its peak, it maintained commercial relations through the “sacbés” (white roads used for transporting goods) with large cities such as Calakmul, Tikal (in Guatemala) and even with the distant Aztecs in Teotihuacán.
However, from the year 900 onwards, Cobá entered into a violent dispute with Chichén Itzá and was defeated, thus losing political importance in the territory.
The city lasted until the 14th century and by the time the Spanish colonizers arrived, Cobá was completely abandoned. Cobá is one of the few Mayan cities that retained its original Mayan name, which means “murky water.”
How to visit the Cobá archaeological site
From the entrance of the complex to the Nohoch Mul pyramid it is approximately 1.5 km and to get there you can walk, rent a bike (I recommend it) or hire a guide who will take you in a “tricitaxi”.
Although Cobá does not offer as many things as Tulum and Chichén Itzá, the tour will last approximately 2.5 hours, seeing everything calmly, and of course, climbing the main pyramid to enjoy the beautiful view from up there.
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What to do in Cobá and what is the best itinerary?
After purchasing your ticket and starting to walk around the complex, you will be able to admire the Juego de Pelota (a kind of Mayan soccer field) and the Templo de la Iglesia. It is really cool to walk in front and behind to enjoy the lush vegetation between the stone walls of the old buildings.
Following this you will enter the main path in the middle of the jungle to go to the main attraction of the archaeological site, the Nohoch Mul pyramid. You can also turn right to go to a place called Grupo de las Pinturas, but you can also do it on the way back (it's up to you).
On the way to the pyramid you will pass another Juego de Pelota (Ball Game) which has a skull on the floor and other relief designs on the walls. Next you will see the Oval Temple, a small building that has been restored and is actually quite beautiful.
These are small samples that prepare you for the arrival at the main pyramid and I'm sure you'll be impressed. Nohoch Mul is an imposing 42-meter stone pyramid and looking from below it's difficult to see the end.
It is one of the few pyramids in Mexico where you are allowed to climb to the top and it may seem easy to get to the top, but it is not. If you are not in good physical condition, climb slowly and be very careful not to fall, but don't worry, it won't be the hardest effort of your life.
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On the esplanade in front of the pyramid, you will see some stone tombstones where the Mayans carved interesting facts about the upper class of society and thanks to these tombstones it was possible to discover several characteristics of the Mayan civilization.
When leaving the pyramid and returning, you can pass by the Grupo de las Pinturas (if you didn't pass by before) and you can also explore another group of ruins a little further away called Macanxoc (if you like this type of tour, go ahead!).
Come back, if you've been wanting to see the Las Pinturas group, now's the time to visit it. You have to take a path through the woods of about 500 meters to get there. Luego gets back on the main road. There is another group of ruins that are a little more crippled than we were before, the Macanxoc group.
Main attractions in Coba
Juego de Pelota and the Temple of the Church
These are the most important buildings of the so-called Cobá Group (which has 43 structures). The Templo de la Iglesia is one of the oldest in the settlement and is estimated to have been built between the years 300 and 600 and is the second tallest in the area at 25 meters.
The Juego de Pelota has two parallel walls with a spare base and still preserves the hoops where the teams had to “score the goal”.
This sport was a very common ritual in the Mayan world and according to research, the winners did not always win the best prize (it is said that on some occasions the prize for the honor of victory was death!)
Second Pelota Game
I have seen several Juegos de Pelotas from different civilizations, but this is one of the most beautiful, with figures carved in relief paying homage to the humiliated and two stones placed right in the center, one in the shape of a skull and the other in the shape of a Jaguar.
Oval Temple (Xaibé)
It is a pyramid with a staircase at the front that reaches the top and has circular corners and a circular base. In fact, it is a very beautiful building and is worth taking a photo of.
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Pyramid of Nohoch Mul
The meaning of the name Nohoch Mul is “large mound” and with good reason, as the pyramid is 42 meters high and among all the Mayan ruins, it is only surpassed by the 50 meters of the Calakmul pyramid.
The pyramid is formed by a 7-level structure, with rounded sides and a temple at the top where we can see the carved image of a deity.
In front of the pyramid is a commemorative monument called Stela 30, as it was carved on November 30, 780.
Set of Paintings
These are the newest buildings in the area and date back to the last time Cobá was inhabited. Here you can see the remains of some altars and columns.]
At the back of the building there is a small pyramid with a temple on top, which according to research, had several painted murals (hence the name Las Pinturas). In this area you will also find several monuments.
How much does entry to Cobá cost?
Entrance to the Cobá ruins costs approximately 15 reais, while parking costs 6 reais.
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Mexico Guide's Tips for Your Visit to Cobá
- To help you make the most of your visit to the Cobá archaeological site, I have put together some suggestions:
- Opening hours are from 08:00 am to 17:00 pm. I recommend you arrive as early as possible, as the place is usually full. Avoid queues!
- Be very careful when climbing the Nohoch Mul pyramid as it is very steep and you need to be very careful when stepping. Do it with caution!
- Even though you will be walking through the shade of the jungle, the humidity and heat are terrible, so bring plenty of water and sunscreen. You can easily walk the trail in flip-flops, but I recommend wearing sneakers, especially if you plan on climbing the main pyramid.
- This is a tour that you can easily do on your own, but if you prefer, several companies offer tours leaving from Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum.
Important tip for buying tours to Cancun and Riviera Maya
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If you have any questions, leave your comment here or write directly to Instagram of guia_mexico which I will answer with great pleasure.
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