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