| Some of the most popular activities in Cancun | | | | Standing over 65 feet, this steep stone |
| are visits to the sites of ancient Mayan | | | | temple is the second-tallest structure in |
| ruins. While many visitors are aware of the | | | | Coba. About a mile down the main road, you |
| world-famous Chichen Itza and plenty of tours | | | | will encounter one of the Mayan kingdom's |
| visit nearby Tulum, archeologists and those | | | | greatest temples. Towering above the jungle |
| in the know often recommend a forgotten Mayan | | | | at 136 feet, Nohoch Mul is certainly a sight |
| city. Deep in the Mexican jungle rests the | | | | to behold. Once you reach the top of the |
| city of Coba, an expansive complex of stone | | | | stone steps, however, you will be granted an |
| structures and winding roads. Due to its | | | | even more impressive view of the surrounding |
| remote location, Coba wasn't explored by | | | | jungle and Coba's nearby lagoons. Another |
| archeologists until the 1920s and remains | | | | favorite site along Coba's winding paths is |
| mostly unexcavated. However, realizing the | | | | the Conjunto Las Picturas (Temple of the |
| cultural value of the site, the local | | | | Paintings), a multilevel pyramid once crowned |
| government constructed a modern road to the | | | | with colorful murals - remnants of which can |
| site in the 1970s and tours have grown in | | | | still be detected. |
| popularity ever since. | | | | |
| | | | If you also visit Chichen Itza or Tulum while |
| Though known for its stone pyramids, the area | | | | in Cancun, Coba will stand out for reasons |
| of Coba was populated and used for | | | | other than its impressive architecture. As |
| agricultural purposes as far back as 600 BC. | | | | Coba has only been accessible by modern roads |
| By the 1st century AD, Coba began to show | | | | for 30 years, the city hasn't received the |
| signs of its eventual prominence in the Mayan | | | | attention paid to other Mayan sites. As a |
| Kingdom, sustaining a sizable population in a | | | | result, development in and around the site |
| more concentrated area. Much like the other | | | | has been kept to a minimum. For the most |
| great Mayan cities of Mexico, the majority of | | | | part, the structures in Coba have been left |
| development took place between the 6th and | | | | in their original state, many still |
| 10th centuries - including the construction | | | | uncovered. For the tourist, this means that |
| of the temples and pyramids that can be seen | | | | the site maintains the ancient allure that |
| today. It is believed that Coba's population | | | | greeted the first archeologists nearly a |
| numbered at least 50,000 during this time - | | | | century ago. Furthermore, with the Mexican |
| certainly no small number for an ancient | | | | jungle encroaching upon the city from all |
| city. Following the initial decline of the | | | | angles, Coba is bound to feel as exotic as |
| Mayan civilization, new temples were | | | | any place you have ever visited. |
| constructed in Coba as late as the 14th | | | | |
| century, with many inhabitants remaining as | | | | Most visitors to Coba experience the site as |
| late as the arrival of the Spanish | | | | a day trip from the resorts of Cancun. While |
| conquistadores. | | | | there are fewer tours to the site than either |
| | | | Chichen Itza or Tulum, it shouldn't be |
| One of the first things you will notice when | | | | difficult to find reliable transportation to |
| you arrive in Coba is the series of ancient | | | | the ruins through your resort. Buses |
| stone roads known as sacbeob. In addition to | | | | generally leave for Coba in the early |
| supporting the belief that Coba was a large | | | | morning, as the site is open daily from 8 am |
| and influential city during its peak, these | | | | to 5 pm. When you arrive, you can view the |
| roads are the finest example of the Mayan | | | | site with the help of a tour guide, stroll at |
| mode of transportation anywhere in Mexico. | | | | your own pace or rent a bicycle and cruise |
| While most of the stones have since been | | | | the ancient roads of the city. When you've |
| misplaced, the well-defined paths are | | | | had your share of Coba and the vibrant |
| unmistakable. Some of these roads lead to the | | | | surrounding jungle, check out the modest gift |
| Caribbean coast - approximately 25 miles to | | | | stalls or grab a snack at one of the rustic |
| the east - while the longest pathway is | | | | cafes. |
| connected to the smaller Mayan site of Yaxuna | | | | |
| over 60 miles to the west. Within the city | | | | If you want to explore the remnants of the |
| itself, these same roads connect the temples | | | | Mayan kingdom, there are plenty of |
| and other structures within an ancient model | | | | fascinating sites within a short ride of |
| of the urban grid system. | | | | Cancun. However, you don't want to forget |
| | | | about the great city of the jungle - the |
| The first structure you will notice along the | | | | always exotic and captivating Coba. |
| sacbeob is the pyramid known as La Iglesia. | | | | |