The next morning, we embarked on our journey to Coba. The drive from Tulum to the Coba ruins parking lot took approximately 30 minutes and was clearly marked with signs. At the traffic circle, we turned left onto the road leading into Coba town. After traversing the small town, we encountered a lake on our right. The parking lot was visible ahead, with separate entrances for cars and larger vehicles (our group utilized the latter). Parking fees were minimal, costing 60 pesos. In order to view the ruins, one must purchase two tickets for every person in the group. They explained it was due to allocation of the funds from tourists to the various localities. It is still a reasonable charge at 100 pesos per person. The site is open from 8 am to 4:30 pm
Coba is known for its towering pyramid of Nohoch Mul, one of the tallest in the Yucatán Peninsula. The site also features numerous other structures, including temples, palaces, and ball courts.
You can choose to walk between the ruins, but there are bikes to rent–which I would recommend as the ruins are quite spread out. The bikes are nothing fancy, but add an element of adventure as you ride through the jungle. Rentals are around 60 pesos each.
The ruins are much more interactive than Tulum. Some of them you can walk through, while others are roped off. Pay attention to the signs they have posted around them. The buildings are a little more hidden, so in addition to the cool historical site, it’s also like a biology field trip. Plan on at least 20 minutes to walk from the entrance to the pyramid Nohoch Mul. Visitors used to be able to climb to the top, but this has never been an option since COVID, despite news we read to the contrary before our trip. Too bad, but it was still amazing.
There were also many smaller pyramids that you could climb around. Throughout the ruins are multiple stelae (plural of stele). Stelae are carved stone monuments that served as historical records and religious symbols for the ancient Maya civilization.
These tall, narrow slabs were often decorated with intricate carvings depicting rulers, deities, and important events. They provide valuable insights into the Maya’s beliefs, culture, and political structure. Many of the stelae at Coba are adorned with hieroglyphic inscriptions that can be deciphered to reveal specific dates, names, and stories. All of the family enjoyed trying to decipher the depictions and make up our own interpretations of what they were trying to convey. We weren’t studious enough to try and actually do any research. It was vacation after all.