MexicoYucutan

Coba Ruins

Unlike most other tourist destinations in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, which tend to be highly excavated, the ancient city of Coba is as derelict as it gets.

Surrounded by four beautiful lakes the saying. “waters stirred by wind,” rings true here. These ancient structures and the wild elements which envelop Coba truly make you feel like you’ve stepped into the jungle.

Although the area may be largely deserted now, it wasn’t always this way. In the past, it’s believed that Coba was, in fact, a booming Mayan hub. Its thought there were up to 50,000 habitats when agriculture was booming in the area between 600AD and 900AD.

Unlike the temples at Chichen Itza or Ek Balam, reconstruction in here has been minimal or close to none existent. Many imagine it to be like stepping into an Indiana Jones movie rather than a history tour.

Roughly five-thousand uncovered mounds remain shrouded in mystery, while archaeologists continue working hard to uncover their secrets.

One of the cooler things about the ruins is that you can rent a bike. Coba’s claim to fame is the sacbes, which are white stone roads that traverse all across the city and make great bike paths. There are sixteen of these roads open to the public, although more than fifty have been discovered so far.

Due to the lack of excavation at Coba, it is still very much a wild place, and tourists are allowed to climb many of the ancient temples. The biggest pyramid is Izmoja, which stands at 138 feet tall. There’s a thick rope which runs up the middle for safety, and the climb the top is wholly worth the effort just to see the view!

Of course, a trip to the Coba Ruins wouldn’t be complete without swimming in the beautiful Cenotes. Entrance fees are very cheap, at only 55 pesos (USD $3) for each cenote.