Hidden amidst thick, intimidating jungle for centuries, the Coba archaeological site was once among the largest cities of the Mayan civilization with the second largest Mayan pyramid in the world and the largest pyramid in the Yucatan peninsula.
Coba means “water stirred by wind” and was a focal Mayan commercial site and a powerful city in 800 AD. It housed some 50,000 inhabitants and had its fair share of male and female rulers to overlook the population. Not only was Coba extending over 30 miles (48 km), it also had many important trade routes with one of it stretching for 100 km to Chichen Itza.
Take a group tour to Tulum and Coba for only $146
Although a lot of it has been excavated, it’s estimated that the part found and open to the public is just 5% of the entire Coba ruins and the rest is still hiding beneath the jungle’s canopies. That’s why it’s advised that travelers don’t wander off into unmapped paths as you can be easily lost in between the dense trees of the forest.
That said, if you plan to make your way to the ruins, here are the must-see things in Coba.
If you want to enjoy Coba without crowds flocking around you then this private Coba ruins tour with an added visit to Tulum will be your best bet. But if you only want to head to Coba, you can get your entry ticket online.
Nohoch Mul Pyramid
Standing the tallest amidst the entire ruins in the Nohoch Mul pyramid. With 137 feet of height, this is one of the few Mayan pyramids that can be climbed today. Nohoch Mul means “great mound” and it’s size reflects its name. The pyramid is estimated to be the tallest in the entire Yucatan Peninsula and the second highest Mayan structure in the world.
Nohoch Mul was discovered in the 1800s but the site wasn’t opened to the public until 1973. This was because of it’s dense jungle. Although all Mayan ruins including the Chichén Itza and Uxmal is between jungles, the Coba ruins was situated in a way that made it difficult for the excavation process to happen.
See the famous Chichen Itza and Coba with a swim in its famous Cenote
Although Nohoch Mul pyramid is seeped in mystery still, it is believed to have been used as a temple for the Mayan god of Venus. Only the Ruler and the Highest Priest was allowed to walk the steps of the pyramids and provide offerings through human sacrifices.
Today, you can trudge along the step and climb the steep pyramid to see the view of what the priests saw when looking down from its highest step. With the help of the ropes that run down through the middle of the pyramid, you can make the steep away up and down. While the climb maybe a bit heart-pumping, the experience is equivalent to Indiana Jones and gives you the best view of the jungle from the top.
Mayan Stelae
Coba is one of the largest Mayan ruins that’s spread for a whopping expanse of 30 miles. Infact to go from one cluster of architecture to another, you need to either hire a bicycle or take one of the cycle taxi services you can find at the archaeological site.
And visiting all the group of structures is very much encouraged as the Macanxoc Group of ruins houses eight Mayan stelaes and 23 altars. The stelae are stone carved monuments which look like stone tablets with Mayan hieroglyphics and depictions of their believes carved into it.
While the stelaes have faded in time, you can still make out the lines and carvings of what used to be full portraits of kings and rulers. Some of these stone tablets also seem to depict females giving rise to discussions of female rulers having power in Coba.
Explore Coba and its cenotes on a private tour
With so many stelaes and altars found in Coba ruins, it’s believed that this city while being an important commercial link was also a place of worship and spiritual believes.
But that’s not all. Coba ruins is also where you can find tablets with the famous Mayan calendars etched with the dates these ancient people noted down.
Sac Be – Mayan Roads
The main thing that makes Coba ruins unique and so important is its extensive network of roads with no curves known as “Sac Be” meaning “white roads” in the Mayan language. These Sac Bes are made of white limestone and would illuminate in the moonlight to show the path for travelers.
Coba served as an important link between the Caribbean and the inland roads. Their longest road starts from the Nohoch Mul pyramid and is found connecting to the pyramid of Chichen Itza which is around 100km in distance.
These Mayan roads is said to have been used for commercial purposes, but the ancient Mayan records show that no vehicles or wheels had been invented at the time so the reason for why the sacbe was made in such detail and intricate manner remains mysterious. Some theories suggest that the Sac Be could have been used for sacrificial purposes, but this claim has yet to be thoroughly studied.
Coba ruins has the largest network of Mayan Sac Bes with over 50 roads discovered and connecting the site to other Mayan cities and 16 of these are open to adventure travelers that would love to walk the path and experience the roads the Mayans once used.
Ball Court
Like all other Mayan cities, the Mayan city of Coba also have their own two sets of ball court. The court near Nohoch Mul is the popular one as it is more preserved with an equally well-preserved human skull carved into stone at the center of the court.
The mayan game of pok-a-tok was ritualistic to them as the captain of the winning team were chosen to be sacrifices for their gods. Hence, despite the barbaric outcome, the players chosen for the game would be the best out of their population and treated as such until their demise.
This ritual was more common and much more practiced in Chichen Itza but is believed that Coba did not practice this as the court was probably used sparingly and only for ceremonial games.
Pyramid of the Painted Lintel
One of the most looked for things in the ruins of Coba, the pyramid of the painted lintel is a small structure in Coba’s Macanxoc group. The ancient structure is famous for its traces of colors on its upper ceiling inside the temple that the Mayans once left behind.
Despite its small structure compared to the other buildings, the Pyramid of the Painted Lintel is of importance as it’s the last building to be constructed in Coba which might be reason the fragments of paints are still visible.
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