Coba is the archaeological site with the highest temple on the Yucatan Peninsula and has the oldest network of stone causeways in the Maya world.
It also contains stone stelae with inscriptions about important events of this ancient city.
It is believed that the name “Coba” is the original name of this city, which means “stirred water“, due to its proximity to lagoons.
What to see in Coba
Coba is a really big and spread out archaeological site, so touring it completely is a complicated task.
To make your itinerary easier, we’ve left you a list of the main attractions in Coba. This way, you can decide what you want to see and how much time you want to spend visiting each place.
General diagram of Coba.
Temple of Nohoch Mul.
Nohoch Mul, Coba. Photo by RivieraMaya.mx
The Temple of Nohoch Mul is the highest temple in the Yucatan Peninsula, standing at 42 meters tall.
It’s also one of the few tall buildings in archaeological zones where visitors are allowed to climb to the top for an extraordinary view of the Macanxoc and Coba lagoons.
The church (Coba group)
The temple called “The Church” in the Coba group is 24 meters tall, making it the second tallest structure in the city. You can’t climb to the top, but you can get a great view of the Macanxoc lagoon from there.
This group also has one of the two ball games in Coba, several stelae with inscriptions, a large courtyard, and 6 sacbeob (stone walkways).
“Las Pinturas” (The paintings) complex.
The Las Pinturas complex is from the last period of construction at Coba, so many of these buildings are the least old in the area.
This meant that part of the original painting on one of the temples is still visible today. You can see it on the lintel of the entrance.
This building has 13 small altars in front, which give clues to its ceremonial character.
The Observatory
The observatory or Xaibé is shaped like a half-circle, about 14 meters tall with four levels. It’s thought that these levels represent the different seasons. In the central part of the structure, there’s a staircase with 20 steps. These steps are believed to represent the days of the month in the Mayan calendar.
Ball game courts
Coba has two ball games. One is in the group of the same name, and the other is in the D group.
The rings in the games are engraved with the symbol of Venus, which is linked to war, sacrifice and death.
Sacbes and unexcavated temples
Coba’s got the oldest network of stone causeways in the Mayan world. As you check out the different groups of this complex, you’ll see how they’re all in different states of preservation.
You’ll also find piles of stone by the side of the road, and a lot of them are unexplored buildings or temples.
Mayan communities.
Pac Chen Lagoon. Photo by Fabian Arriaga. CC.
Twenty kilometers (12 miles) from Coba is the community of Tres Reyes and the eco-village of Pac Chen. You can learn about the Mayan communities today, the Mayan customs that have been preserved, and even enjoy water activities in one of the nearby cenotes.
How to get to Coba
Coba is about 47 km (29 miles) northwest of Tulum, and there are different options for getting there.
Most visitors to Coba have as their main destination cities such as Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Tulum through Cancun’s international airport.
How to get to Coba from Tulum
By public transportation.
- Bus. The ADO bus company has daily departures from Tulum center to the entrance of the archaeological site of Coba. Schedules and prices can be consulted directly on the official ADO website.
- Colectivo. There are colectivos or minivans that leave from the Tulum town hall to Coba, but their availability depends on demand. On the way back it is necessary to watch for the arrival of a colectivo because they do not make a formal stop in Coba.
By car.
The drive from Tulum to Coba is 47 km and is done entirely by taking Federal Highway 109 and turning left (third exit) at the first traffic circle.
Continue on the Nuevo Durango-Coba highway until you reach the Coba lagoon where you can find parking.
How to get to Coba from Playa del Carmen
By public transportation.
- Bus. You can take a bus from the ADO terminal in Playa del Carmen to Coba, but you’ll need to make one stop in Tulum.You can find the schedules and prices on the official ADO website.
- Colectivo / Minivan. By colectivo or minivan it is necessary to divide the trip into two routes: Playa del Carmen to Tulum and then, Tulum-Coba (explained above).
By car.
From Playa del Carmen, take Federal Highway 307 until you reach Tulum. At the intersection with Federal Highway 109, turn left and continue until the first traffic circle.
At this traffic circle turn left at the third exit and continue until you reach the Coba lagoon where you can look for parking.
How to get to Coba from Cancun
By public transportation.
- Bus. From the ADO terminal in Cancun you can take a bus to Coba, this bus can make intermediate stops in Playa del Carmen and Tulum.
- Colectivo / Minivans. By colectivo it is necessary to divide the trip into three journeys: from Cancun to Playa del Carmen, from Playa del Carmen to Tulum and finally from Tulum to Coba (explained above).
By car.
From Cancun take federal highway 307 crossing Playa del Carmen until you reach Tulum, at the intersection with federal highway 109 turn left and continue until the first traffic circle.
At this traffic circle turn left at the third exit and continue until you reach the Coba lagoon where you can look for parking.
Organized tours to Coba
You can visit Coba on a booked tour from any tourist center in the Riviera. For example, you can book one from Playa del Carmen, Tulum, or Cancún.
Transportation and a local guide are usually included, and the tour is combined with other attractions, such as the archaeological site of Tulum.
A very popular option, perhaps not the cheapest, but well organized, are the Xcaret Expeditions tours. These tours combine Coba and Tulum or Coba and Xel-Há.
Note: The Coba + Tulum tour is currently being restructured, so it is not available at the moment.
Archaeological site schedule
The archaeological zone is open from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Monday through Sunday.
Although admission ends at 3:00 pm, the archaeological zone closes at 5:00 pm.
Tour duration
A basic tour of the main attractions in Coba takes about 3 hours, but if you’re into history, Mayan culture, or archaeology, you’ll have more time to tour the city with 4 or 5 hours.
Admission price
The entrance fee is 80 Mexican pesos (about $4 USD).
Coba Map PDF
Download the map of the archaeological site with directions so that you can have it available without Internet or to print it. Includes English and Spanish.
Download PDF map 625KB. 3949 Downloads.
Download map PNG image 504KB. 1499 Downloads.
Tips to get the most out of your visit
- The archaeological site is pretty big and popular. Try to arrive as close to opening time as you can so you can take your photos with hardly any other tourists and have time to check out the site at your own pace.
- Bring comfortable clothes, athletic shoes, sunscreen, water, sunglasses, etc.
- If you don’t have much time to tour the site, rent a bike.
- The archaeological zone is extensive and the main attractions are spread out, consider downloading the map to better plan your route and your day.
