We had some very informative adventures as we explored the popular ruins at Chichen-Itza and Tulum…and then we heard about the lesser-known Mayan ruins at Coba! Of course, we’re not a family to leave any stones unturned (or at least, unvisited!). Coba proved to be a must-visit gem in Mexico!
Where is Coba?
It turned out that Coba was an easy drive from Cancun and the surrounding resorts. Since we had rented a car anyway to visit Chichen-Itza and Tulum, we were good to go!
What makes this place so special?
Coba remained inhabited off and on until about 1519, and was a central point which connected surrounding settlements – such as Tulum and Chichen-Itza – with limestone causeways, the longest of which is approximately 100 km long!
The settlement had many of the same features as we had seen in Tulum and Chichen-Itza such as various buildings and the Mayan ballgame court.
Since Coba is not as well-known as Chichen-Itza or Tulum, there were not as many tourists as the ruins when we visited. What made it even more special was the Nohoch Mul Pyramid…which we were able to climb when we visited in 2020. (Note: since the pandemic the pyramid can no longer be climbed).
Cooling off after a hot day of climbing!
After a hot and steamy climb up the pyramid, we could have gone back to the hotel and cooled off in the pool, but what’s the fun in that, right?! We wanted to experience how the locals stay cool in the Mexico’s heat, and we quickly learned about cenotes!
What is a Cenote?
The collapse of limestone bedrock creates cenotes, natural pools that form sinkholes and fill with exposed groundwater. Some cenotes lie open to the air, while others hide within underground caverns. Not too far from our hotel we found a series of pools and decided to visit!
While visiting Tulum, we learned that cenotes were considered gateways to the underworld, places where spirits dwell. We weren’t ready to explore the underworld, but we definitely craved a refreshing swim!
Our time visiting Coba gave us the opportunity to visit an ancient Mayan site that was not overly touristy and gave us unprecedented access to the ruins that we have not seen anywhere else. And if we hadn’t been climbing the pyramid during the hot and sunny Mexican afternoon, we may not have taken the opportunity to cool off in a cenote! Getting off of the beaten track can be amazing!
What’s next? Stay tuned!
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