The archaeological site of Coba  exists in a world that has changed very little in the past 1000 years or more. So, it is still surrounded by a natural environment  of jungle vegetation,  tropical hardwoods, lagoons, vines, and  wildlife as far as the eye can see. Although the cities origins date back to the year 600 A.D. it was abandoned after the Spanish conquered the Yucatan Peninsula around 1550. Evidently, Coba was located in such a remote area in those days that the Spanish never found the city which remained hidden in the jungle until 1842 when it was rediscovered by explorers.

Coba is an expansive site which is believed  to contain apporximately 6500 structures  that once supported an estimated 45,000 people. At this time, however,  only a small portion of Coba has been cleared from the jungle and restored by  archaeologists. This part consist of 6 separate areas called the Coba Group, the Nohoch Mul Group, the Pinturas Group, the Chumuc Group, the Macanxoc Group and the Uitzil Mul Group which are all connected by a system of dirt roads built over a 1000 years ago. To see the ruins in these different areas you can either walk, rent a bike or a chofer driven tricycle. If your visiting Coba in the  summer months it would be best to rent a bike or chofer driven tricycle and save your energy for climbing the Nohoch Mul pyramid, tallest in the Yucatan peninsula at 138 feet. Images of  this pyramid and some of Coba’s other attractions along with additional information can be found in the  photo gallery below.

This tower is located at the entrance to Coba’s ruins and has a zip over the lagoon

Found at the park’s entrance, this gallery has a unique roof garden

one of several shops around the entrance of Coba

across from the observation tower and park entrance

Located in the Coba group of structures, it is 24 meters high and is the place where rituals were carried out

a jungle canopy covers coba’s roads which were built over a 1000 years ago. here 2 visitors are exploring the ruins on rented bikes

chofer driven tricycles are a good way to get around Coba’s ruins

One of the more well perserved structures found just before arriving at the refreshment stand

just across from the Nohock Mul Pyramid, sells cold beverages and snacks which you will appreciate after climbing 138 feet in the heat

a view up the stairs from the base, there is a rope in the center for assistance when needed

a view of the surrounding environment from the top of Nohoch Pyramid

guest riding the zip line from the observation tower over the coba lagoon