Coba Mayan Ruins - Rivieria Maya, Mexico

Coba Mayan site has the last temple in Mexico that can still be climbed!

Coba is Fantastic!!

We left from our resort by taxi and after a amazing drive through the countryside, came to a lake filled with alligators & crocodiles. We had arrived at the entrance to Coba.

Our driver helped us find our Coba Guide Mario who was Mayan and spoke English for us.Mario was indepensible for information about the area, the site, the artifacts and the Mayan Culture and history. He gave us a fantastic tour!

Did you know that Coba has Nohoch Mul, which is the tallest temple in the Yucatan peninsula? It is 12 stories tall with 120 steps to the top! What a climb! And the view from the top is unbelievable!

Climbing to the top - Unbievable!

The Temple Nochoch Mul is 12 Stories High!

Nohoch Mul is the tallest temple in the Yucatan peninsula. It is 12 stories tall with 120 steps to the top! To step from the trees into the clearing and see this enormous temple. WOW!!!

From the top, the view is magnificent! I could see for miles and miles - spans of jungle with only the tops of other ruins reaching above the jungle canopy.

Coba's Nohoch Mul is the last temple in Mexico where one is still permitted to climb! Definitely a MUST DO!!!

Where is Coba? 

In the eastern jungle of the Yucatán Peninsula

The Coba Mayan site is located in the wild eastern half of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. It's about an hours drive or 42 km west of Tulum.

Coba is over 80 sq. miles with 5 lakes and 6500 structures. Here, only 5% of the structures have been excavated. They are so very, very beautiful and to stand among them in the remote Mayan jungle was almost surreal!

How to get there . . . 

Coba Mayan Site Location

We hired a taxi, but there are numerous tour operators that you can use to get to Coba. 


Coba is much different from the other archaeological sites in that it is much less developed and missing the vendors. So go prepared.

Visiting Coba can involve a great walk through jungle, past lakes with crocodiles and thousand year old ruins. Or, there are also bicycles for hire at the entrance. One can either rent your own bike, or there are a type of bike-taxi where 2 can be transported through the site with a driver.

We toured Coba with our guide Mario, an expert on this  amazing archeological site. A highly recommended tour to learn about the History of the Mayan People & this city. 

Coba ~ Mayan Ruins in Quinatana Roo

Mario, our guide was the best!

Coba was the second largest city of the Mayan Civilization. The site has 6500 buildings, only 5% have been excavated to date.

We visited the Coba Group, walked 1 km to the Painted Group, then 1 km to the Nohoch Mul Temple seeing sac-be roads, ball courts and stellas (there are 44 that have been found). 

I just have to say, the allure of these ruins for me, was the undisturbed jungle & lakes all around and the absence of vendors. It felt as though I was one of the first to discover these beautiful ruins!

Coba - dangerous descend

the thrill is worth it!

It's 'climb & descend at your own risk'.
The rise of the temple is so steep that while going up, I simple reached my arm out & could grab the stones for security. However, this meant coming down was a thrill. Many slid down on their bottoms. I chose to walk down since I was filming. 

The stones are uneven & in spots, some are worn smooth & pretty slippery. After a slight slip & hearing others around me gasp (a fall would definitely be nasty & 1 person/year apparently does fall) I grabbed the rope that is securely attached down the center of the steps.

What an experience!! I LOVED it!

Coba~ Mystery & intrigue of a lost civilation 

a city of up to 50,000 Mayan, gone . . . 

The videos in the following playlist will take you on our tour. This Coba Playlist holds the entire catalogue of videos of the tour, with the history provided by Mario (cc). Enjoy!! 

I highly recommend a guided tour to learn about the history of the Mayan people & Coba. I can't wait to go back!! 

All video and Photographs contained here are the copywriter property of Joe Vass & Cindy Aspden of JCVdude on YouTube. 
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