Located 44 kilometers away from Tulum is the small community of Coba, which mostly consist of a couple rustic neighborhoods, a few local restaurants and a small grocery store. There are also two lagoons that bookend this quaint little town.
What makes Coba a popular daytime destination with tourists are the ancient Mayan Ruins that date back as far as 600 to 900 AD. The archeological site is world known and is an extraordinary adventure. When you are wandering around the site it almost feels like you just discovered a hidden city. Studies show that this ancient city could have had a population of 50,000 or more inhabitants at any given time. This explains the abundance of pyramids and other structures that could have been used as stores, shops and other needed services.
The Mayan civilization left behind engraved pictures and writings at the top of the temples. There are hand carved Stelae that exhibit their ceremonial rituals and dress. You can see alters and other artifacts that were built to serve their gods in many ways. The maze of roads and thoroughfares will lead you all around this once thriving city. When you first enter the site there are several pyramids where you can climb and get a 360-degree view of how large the city really was. One of the pyramids takes you over 130 feet high and offers spectacular views.
Enjoy all these views and roads in this amazing 360 video tour. Use the arrows to explore each scene; you can turn around, up and down to enjoy a whole picture of this incredible site.
The tour takes approximately 3 to 4 hours to really see everything. Take note on a few things to consider when exploring this historical site and that is to wear proper clothing and shoes, bring plenty of water and a hat, and always watch your footing. It is so exciting to see all the incredible sites that you sometimes forget to look down at where you are going.
You can explore the site by foot, by bicitaxi (a taxi service on a tricycle) or rent out a bike to wander around at your own pace.
There are a few ways to get to Coba and its ruins. You can take the ADO bus from Playa del Carmen, catch a colectivo or hire a taxi driver for a round trip ride. Coba is approximately 40 minutes from nearby Tulum and a little over an hour and twenty minutes away when leaving from Playa del Carmen. The site’s operating hours are from 8 am to 5 pm every day.
There is another close by attractions such as various cenotes and other archeological sites. When you are in the area, make it a point to visit this once in a lifetime experience. It’s hard not to fall in love with the charm of Coba, with its tree-lined roads and the many mysteries that this ancient town keeps.
At TOP Mexico Real Estate we love sharing the beauty and attractions of the Riviera Maya. Feel free to get in touch if you want to know more about Tulum real estate opportunities.