Discover the cultural heritage of

COBA

Explore more about these ruins

what you need to know about COBA

Coba is an important ancient Maya city in an area of lakes, from here the great sacbe’ob (long roads) were built, which helped it survive until it was defeated by Chichen Itza. The round observatory, the great Pyramid of Nohoch Mul and the stunning inscriptions make it unique.

The Mayan architects and the mass of laborers have left us majestic buildings in beautiful harmony with the luxuriant natural setting.

HIGHLIGHTS

Coba, the city surrounded by five lakes, was one of the most important cities of the northern Maya lowlands. It dominated an extensive territory, and its 50 raised roads, known in Maya as sacbes (white roads), served ceremonial, administrative and residential centers. As well as creating alliances, trading and opportunities for interchange, the roads enabled Coba to exercise control over other groups.

Highlights include reliefs and stelae of prisoners and calendar inscriptions of notable events, and there are two particularly important buildings in terms of their size and height. One is the Nohoch Mul and the other is known as “La Iglesia” (The Church).

MEANING

Coba means “choppy water”. It is one of the few pre-Hispanic settlements to keep its original name, as testified by the inscriptions carved on the monuments.

LOCATION

It is located in the northwest of the state of Quintana Roo, in the municipality of Tulum.

ACCESS

From the city of Cancun, take Federal Highway 307 towards Tulum and continue on State Highway 109 towards Nuevo Xcan. The site is located 43 km further on.

HOURS

Monday to Sunday from 8:00 to 17:00 hrs. Last entry 15:30. Maximum capacity 1500 people per day and 250 people at time.

CULTURAL IMPORTANCE

Coba consisted of small villages which lived by farming and hunting. Between the fifth and tenth centuries, its economy grew and its political organization improved. Roads were built and stelae and panels were sculpted. The road network kept expanding, and political and trading relationships began with other Mayan towns.

Coba was completely abandoned by the time the Spanish conquistadors took over the Yucatan peninsula, until the explorer John Lloyd Stephens reported its existence in 1842. Juan Peón Contreras and D. Elizalde arrived at Coba in 1886, sketching just one of the temples. In 1891, Teobert Maler provided the first photograph of a temple at Coba.

MAP

GALLERY

important INFORMATION

Extra Fees

Extra fee for video cameras.
Parking fee (included if you go in our tour).

Restrictions

No Smoking.
No entry with food.
Pets not allowed.

Recommendations

Respect the cultural heritage of the site and the natural environment.
Follow the indications of the archaeological zone’s custodians.
Use of comfortable shoes, light clothing, hat and sunscreen are recommended.
Walking is pleasant and recommended, but it can also be done by bicycle or cab.

Services

The site has restrooms and a ticketing area.
In the immediate surroundings there are establishments dedicated to the sale of food and handicrafts of the region.
Guides from the community offer tours, on foot or by bicycle, during visiting hours.

HEALTH MEASURES

Mandatory use of face masks to access the archaeological archaeological zone.
Maintain at all times safe distance of 1.5 meters between visitors.
Application of antibacterial alcohol-based gel (70%).
Body temperature reading is mandatory.
People above 37.5° C will not be allowed to enter the archaeological zone.