Cobá is one of the most important Mayan settlements on the Peninsula. Nohoch Mul is the highest pyramid in Quintana Roo, an attic with fantastic views.
Cobá lives under the long shadow Chichen Itza and Tulum, the two most visited archeological sites from Riviera Maya. Despite coming dozens of coaches and tourist vans every day from Riviera Maya, It is a place that you can visit alone leaving the tour schedules.
I recommend you sleep in the town of Cobá, this area deserves a day to know the beautiful surroundings, and so you can enjoy the destination with the calm it deserves. Visit the ruins early in the morning, you will be almost alone in the temple.
Location of Cobá:
It is located 45 km from Tulum, one of the most attractive coastal towns of the Riviera Maya. The town retains its calm and Mayan essence despite its proximity to Riviera Maya. It is surrounded by five lagoons, the most colorful is the Cobá lagoon, at the foot of the archaeological zone. There are crocodiles in the lagoon, they are not difficult to see.
There are several restaurants near the lagoon and there is cheap lodging in the town. I like to sleep here, this area has many attractions.
Meet the 5 archaeological zones safety pins of Quintana Roo
How to get to Cobá:
- tour with agency: From Riviera Maya agencies offer tours, the great bulk of tourists arrive like this.
- renting car: From Tulum you take the 109 road towards Valladolid, well indicated. Many travelers dare to drive through the tranquil Yucatan Peninsula.
- collective transport: Cobá has a special situation with the subject of collective transport, yes there is, but not much. From Tulum almost force to go by taxi, complicating a round trip from Tulum. Big bus also arrives from Tulum and Valladolid. Later I leave you schedules and prices to arrive by public transport.
A little history of Coba:
Its strategic location allowed it to develop actively for years and acquire the power of the area.
There is evidence of the settlement of Cobá (chopped water) from 100-300 BC to its decline from 1000 to 1450 AD. C .. Few cities on the peninsula have such a broad chronology, where it always played an important role.
It came to have a network that communicated it with more than 50 internal and external roads to other cities such as Yaxunah or Chichén Itzá. There is evidence of commercial exchange with remote places such as Tikal o Calakmul, or with other cultures such as the Teotihuacan, from the central area of Mexico.
Mayan stelae in Coba:
We are facing one of the most important Mayan cities in northeast Mexico. A city with a marked lineage of ruling women, according to the stelae found. The stelae They are fundamental for the information they provide to the whole map of the Mayan civilization.
In the so-called Macanxoc area are some of the most relevant stelae in the Mayan world, such as the 1 wake, with a long count of the largest number found in a wake.
Tour of Cobá:
The different groups of the archaeological zone are linked by pleasant shady paths. Early in the morning we got to see monkeys and beautiful birds.
- GRUPO COBÁ: past the access, first visit the call Coba Group, it is on the right. Once seen, you will see that in the entrance they offer rent a bicycle or take you in tricitaxi for the enclosure.
- NOHOCH MUL: what nobody wants to miss is its main pyramid, a 42-meter high building, the most precious attic. Nohoch Mul is one mile from the entrance.
- GRUPO MACANXOC: On the road to Nohoch Mul, you find the detour to this group, where there are steles. It is the least visited group within the enclosure.
The Pyramid of Nohoch Mul:
Nohoch Mul It is the tourist star of Coba, one of the most impressive rooftops of the Yucatan Peninsula.
From the top of The 42 meters of Nohoch Mul you can see the lagoon, unmissable views from the best penthouse in the area. All the overgrown hills and mounds that you can see from this fantastic viewpoint are ancient Mayan settlements.
The effort of the climb is worth it, although I warn you that the steep descent usually costs more. Nohoch Mul is the highest structure of the Yucatan Peninsula, not counting Calakmul.
Scale the 9 Mayan pyramids highest in Quintana Roo, Yucatán and Campeche
En Cobá You can enjoy a great city with structures, details, ball games, stelae and architectural ensembles of great value and beauty. You will discover it among the fantastic jungle of Yucatan, enjoying nature while walking, cycling or whatever you want.
Cobá, archaeological site
LOCATION:Cobá is 47 km from Tulum and 60 from Valladolid.SCHEDULE AND SERVICES: open from 8 a.m. to 17 p.m. daily. You can pay an extra and enter before sunrise. They do not sell drinks or food inside. There are services at the entrance.
PRICE ENTRY: 70 pesos. For 240 weights you can enter from 5 to 7: 30 in the morning and visit it. PARKING LOT: 30 mxn per car. On Sundays, the INAH entrance is free for Mexicans and permanent residents. Access to the archaeological sites is free every day for children under 13 years of age, students, teachers and seniors with valid credentials.
RENT BIKE: you can tour the enclosure by bike or tricitaxi. From the entrance to the pyramid there are less than 2 kilometers. Rent bike-taxi son unos 150 mxn and a bike 50 mxn per person.
HOW TO GET IN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION? Cobá arrives to the collective transport from Playa del Carmen (9, 10: 30) and Valladolid (8: 15, 10: 30, 12, 18 and 19 hours). Taxi up to 4 people Tulum-Cobá over 450 pesos.
WHAT TO BRING? Light and light clothing, hat, insect repellent, sunscreen, closed shoes better to climb the pyramid and some water always goes well.
Good way,
- Offers on flights international and national ..
- Find the accommodation with the best offers from Booking.com.
- Stay with airbnb and get 25 € discount.
- Contract activities, tours and excursions organized.
- Rent a car with the indispensable and necessary best discounts.
- Secure your transfers of arrival or departure to the airport.
- Travel safely with IATI and take advantage of 5% off.
If you prefer, you tell us your idea of the trip and together we organize it.
That beauty! And while, I continue deciphering the margarita if we go to the Riviera Maya this summer or not ...
hahaha 🙂 If you come, you do not come or if you come ... You know that you have first-hand information, and what is third. Of some particular type you tell me. If the daisy says yes ... you will not get tired of beautiful places! Regards!
I love these reports of yours, so different from what I'm used to seeing.
Excellent must be to travel to this charming place. The photographs tell how beautiful the place is. A place to discover how great a perfect trip is. Regards!
Let the "tourism" be for the "tourist" who only wants to see what they mark; So there will be places like Coba, be enjoyed by those who really want to immerse themselves in a culture, enjoy seeing what everyone does not see ... do not you think, Sandra?
There are places that are not second course, but the most delicious dessert and reserved for special palates. There is nothing better than knowing less frequented places and people who know them and give you the importance they really have. There are jewels that must remain jewels!
Una abraçada molt forta!
Well, it's almost lucky that it's not devastated by tourism, right? Imagine thousands and thousands of people climbing that pyramid (its charm was lost, and possibly, irreversible damage to the structure).
Great entry 😉
Hello! Tomorrow and flight! Among the archaeological sites of Chichén Itzá, Ek Balam, Uxmal, Muyil, Cobá and Tulum, where would you recommend a guide and where to go for free? A greeting.
Hello: We will be in Valladolid and from there we want to visit Cobá and some of the nearby cenotes and continue towards Tulum. Is it possible to do this tour on the same day by public transport?
Hello Silvina, I did not understand one thing, do you return to Valladolid the same day?
If you want to return to Valladolid the same day look at the bus schedules between Tulum and Valladolid, a bit rocket, but you have time to visit everything. Get out of Valladolid very early, back you have a bus until late: https://www.ado.com.mx/ado2/#/
The only thing that will be difficult for you is transport between Cobá and Tulum, you usually go by collective taxi (to share the price between 4) that leave from the entrance of the archaeological zone. To the cenotes of Cobá you will have to go by bicycle or taxi, walking are some distance, like to 8 kilometers.
Best regards, good trip.