Coba Ruins
Trip Start
Jul 08, 2007
1
25
143
Trip End
Ongoing
Coba,
Mexico
Saturday, September 22, 2007
A little bit of history:
Cobá is one of the most important archaeological sites in the Yucatan area. Built between two lakes during the Classic Period (600-900 A.D.) it was at one time a very large city spread over 80 square kilometers. The main pyramid, Nohoch Mul meaning 'large hill', is 42 meters tall (138 feet) and is the highest in the Yucatan peninsula -photo below. Another pyramid known as Templo de la Iglesia, 'Temple of the Church', is second in height at Cobá and from its summit there is a spectacular view of lake Macanxoc
CobaRuins10
.The Maya prospered here between 400 to 1100 A.D. In its heyday nearly 50,000 people lived within Cobá confines, but despite its size it is not visited as frequently as some other major Maya sites. It stands isolated and off the coast, between the coastal town of Tulum, and Valladolid in the state of Yucatan. Besides the structures there are mysterious ancient roads through the jungle called Sacbes which radiate out from Cobá. Smaller trails lead to other aspects of the ruins. These ruins were opened to the public in 1973 but only a few of Cobá estimated 6,000 structures are restored or uncovered. Most are still buried under centuries of thick jungle growth.
My experience:
You can find 2 nice ball courts, the bicycle ride between the different parts of the site make it an original way to experience the site and the Nohoch Mul pyramid (42m high) offer a great view of the surrounding areas.
