Coba

“Water stirred by wind.” Place of the “Nohoch Mul Pyramid”, the tallest pyramid on the Yucatan peninsula with 42 meters and 130 steps up to the top of the site. From the top of Coba’s ancient pyramid, the jungle looks like a living green carpet. The ruins of Coba lie 44 km northwest of Tulum, in the State of Quintana Roo, Mexico. 172 km from Cancun, enveloped in the deep green of the tropical jungle, this ancient Mayan city rises up between two lagoons. In its era of splendour the…

The ruins of Coba lie 44 km northwest of Tulum, in the State of Quintana Roo, Mexico. 172 km from Cancun, enveloped in the deep green of the tropical jungle, this ancient Mayan city rises up between two lagoons. In its era of splendour the site extended over 75 sq. km.

Coba is estimated to have had a population of over 50,000 at its peak, was first inhabited around 100 A.D. and was eventually abandoned when the Spanish conquered the peninsula around 1550 AD. However the city was once the most powerful in the region, controlling farmland, trading routes and important water sources.

The site is the nexus of the largest network of stone causeways of the ancient Mayan world, and it contains many engraved and sculpted stele that document ceremonial life and important events of the Late Classic Period of Mesoamerican civilization and some of these depict women, suggesting the city had many female rulers. There are two well-preserved ball courts on the site too, used for playing ōllamaliztli, a traditional Mayan ballgame. Coba was an important trade link between the Caribbean coast and inland cities, a network of ancient roads called sacbe in Maya, which means “white road” radiates out from Coba.

The important artifacts and structures that can be viewed and experienced within the ruins of Coba:

Nohoch Mul Pyramid.

Pyramid of the Painted Lintel.

Macanxoc Group.

Coba Stelaes.

Joined Roads.

Information

10 Hours

2 Years Old+ Age

Departure

Cancun / Riviera Maya

From Our Gallery

Nohoch Mul Pyramid

The tallest pyramid on the Yucatan Península with 42 meters and 130 steps up to the top of the site. From the top of Coba’s ancient pyramid, the jungle looks like a living green carpet.

Open for the public to climb | With 42 meter long

Pyramid of the Painted Lintel

This group of buildings mostly corresponds to the last period of occupation in Coba. Building I has a temple on its upper part whose frieze and lintel were richly painted on their interior side, as well as with a stele. This group of buildings belongs to the last period of occupation of the city of Coba. Its architectual style pertains to what is called the east coast style, which corresponds to the Post-Classic period.

Part of the Painting Complext

Coba Stelaes

These monuments give insight into various aspects of the formal life of Coba. The hieroglyphic inscriptions contain additional information about the city’s sociopolitical organization as well as dates and accounts of major historical events, including dress, ritual processes, and the roles and power of both men and women in the city’s ceremonial and political activities. Women are the figures of authority in many of the scenes depicted on the stelae.

Carved in the 7th century | Part of the Macanxoc Group

Joined Roads

Unique to this Mayan city. These roads range in width from 10 to 30 feet and were built by the Maya for commerce. The longest is 62/100 kilometers; most transportation along sacbes was done in the cool temperatures of night. The white limestone provided a natural guide when illuminated by moonlight.

The longest Sacbe Road is 62 km/100 km

Bicycle Expedition

Wander the Sacbe Roads in a bici taxi or in a bicycle and marvel yourself with the green Mayan forest. From the entrance to the Nohoch Mul Pyramid is about 2 km of distance, the other principal buildings of Coba Ruins are also about 2-3 km of distance between one another.

Rent a bici taxi or a bicycle on site. Round about 10 km.

Tour Location

Coba, Mexico