Coba Ruins’ architecture, and better yet, its iconic causeway that serves as the arteries of the city beings in so much fascination from archeologists and curious tourists. Even with its city in ruin, Coba continues to charm people to its sacbeob like how it served the Mayan people long ago.
What Is Coba Known for?
Coba’s noteworthy feature is its network of stone causeways that served the ancient Mayan world back in the hay day of the famous civilization. Its documentation of the ancient life and important events that took place in the Late Classic Period of the Mesoamerican civilization is the cherry on top of its magnificence.
Coba’s raised stone pathways connect residential areas to the main pyramid of the Nohoch Mul. While the means of how the ancient Mayans transported goods along these roads still remains a history, but it definitely formed part of the whole appeal of this complex.
How Old Are the Coba Ruins?
Established in 600 BCE, Coba’s structures and roads have survived the turmoils of time unlike most of its Mayan contemporaries. The city’s ruins survived for an extremely long period of time.
The toils of the 10 century have damaged many other Mayan sites, but surprisingly Coba survived. Albeit the interruptions during 900 CE to 1519 AD of the Mesoamerican civilization, it was finally abandoned in the 14 to 15th century.
Who Built Coba?
The city of Coba was built and inhabited by the Mayan people of the Yucatan. Its iconic feature, the causeways built for commerce and transportation. The Sacbe or Sacbeob (plural), the white roads connect clusters of residential areas to each other allow for transport of goods and people.
What Does the Name Coba Mean in Mayan?
Surrounded by two large lagoons, the Mayan named this city Coba, meaning “waters stirred by the wind”. Located between Tulum and Valladolid, Coba first came to light since its abandonment in the mid-1800s. It was opened to the public in 1973.
With its growing fame, Coba is still mostly unexcavated make it an even authentic wonder in the Yucatan.
How Tall Is Coba Pyramid?
The main pyramid in Nohoch Mul, called the Ixmoja, thought to be the tallest pyramid in the Yucatan Peninsula, stands 42 meters or 138 feet. Ixmoja is also the heart of the city, with an awe-inspiring view at the top.
How Many Steps Are There in the Coba Pyramid?
Standing at 42 meters or 138 feet tall, Ixmoja, Nohoch Mul’s tallest pyramid has 120 stone steps. They can be climbed but they’re also steep so you need to grab onto the thick rope in the middle for safety.
Can You Still Climb the Pyramid at Coba?
Despite its steepness, the Ixmoja pyramid in Mohoch Mul is climbable. Just be sure to grab on to the thick rope at the middle of the steps to be safe. Light breeze and breathtaking views will welcome you at the top.
How Long Does It Take to Climb Coba?
Climbing the tallest pyramid will only take less than 20 minutes, depends on certain factors like endurance. But exploring the whole of Coba will take about 3 full hours, without rushing.
How Much Does It Cost to Visit the Coba Ruins?
It costs 75 Pesos or less than 4 US dollars to enter Coba. If you’re bringing a car with you, the parking fee may charge for about 50 pesos or 3 US dollars.
Where Is Coba Ruins Located?
The ruins are located approximately 43 km or 27 miles northwest of Tulum in Quintana Roo in the Yucatan Peninsula. Tulum is also the recommended starting point if you want to explore Coba.
How Do I Get to Coba Ruins?
The best place to start if you visit Coba is from Tulum, about 45 minutes from the city. You can get to the site from Tulum or Playa del Carmen, or even Cancun via ADO Bus which typically costs around 6 US dollars.
Taxis from Tulum, or Playa del Carmen range from 50 to 65 US dollars. This might be pricier but it gets you there faster and more conveniently. Rental car prices vary depending on which car rental company you’re taking.
How Far Is Coba Ruins From Tulum?
The Coba Ruins is 42 km or 26 miles away from Tulum, directly. The driving distance is approximately 48.5 km or 30 miles. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes to get in between them.
How Far Is Coba Ruins From Akumal?
The distance between the Coba Ruins and Akumal is approximately 45 km or 27.9 miles, directly. If you take the long road, the driving distance is about 74.2 km or 46 miles, and the travel time will take more than an hour.
How Far Is Coba Ruins From Playa Del Carmen?
Aside from Tulum, Playa del Carmen is an ideal starting point to get to Coba. The beachside city is approximately 109 km or 67 miles from Coba if you take the Federal Highway 307.
How Do You Get From Playa Del Carmen to Coba Ruins?
You can get to the Coba Ruins from Playa del Carmen in 3 common ways: via taxi, ADO bus, or a rental car.
Taxis that can be found in sitios or taxi ranks across the city will take you to Coba for a price range of 130 to 160 US dollars. While ADO buses cost around 6 to 9 US dollars. Car rental prices vary depending on the car unit and the rental company you’re using.
How Far Is Coba Ruins From Cancun?
Cancun is approximately 134 km or 83.2 miles from Cancun, via Highway 180D and left to Highway 109. Taking the long road to Coba from Cancun is about a couple of hours.
How Do You Get From Cancun to Coba Ruins?
You can get to Coba from Cancun in 3 common ways: via taxi, bus, or rental car. The fastest way is via taxi which typically costs around 12 US dollars. While buses from Cancun to Coba cost around 10 US dollars, it may take a bit longer to arrive.
As for rental cars, their prices depend on the car unit you’re going to take and the rental company’s fees.
