Coba & Tulum Tour
Coba is beautiful and mysterious - a visit here
requires some effort but is very worthwhile. Its name means "ruffled
waters", derived from the five lakes in the vicinity, and it is one
of the oldest Mayan settlements on the peninsular. It also has the
highest pyramid in the area and the greatest concentration of
sacbeob (Mayan roads constructed from stone), both of which suggest
a major city - yet the ruins were not discovered until the late 19th
century. Even today, only a small fraction of the many structures in
this vast site have been excavated and this, together with the
remoteness and jungle setting, contribute to the feeling of
exploring new ground. Bring a Panama hat and imagine you're Indiana
Jones...
Cobá was a thriving city from around A.D.600, although it had been settled for around a thousand years before this date. It is more similar to Tikal in Guatemala than to its Mayan neighbors, and depictions of female Tikal royalty on several stelae found here have led to speculation that there was at least one marriage between the royalty of the two cities. Another interesting feature of Cobá is the convergence of around
forty sacbeob, built by the Maya, one of which has been traced a
distance of 60 miles (100 km). Each sacbe was constructed with
stones to a height of one to two meters and then covered with white
mortar. Their purpose is puzzling as this civilization had no
wheeled transport and had yet to see the horse, but may have been
built for religious processions and pilgrimages.
The first group of structures (Groupo Cobá) is within view of the entrance. Here is La Iglesia, a pyramid over 65 ft (20 m) high and the second largest at Cobá. The steps are steep and crumbling, and climbing had been prohibited on our last visit. Back on the main path, follow the signs to Nohoch Mul, the largest pyramid, over a mile (nearly 2 km) away. The walk is interesting as there are several stelae, protected by palapa roofs, shown where they were discovered and there are many more unexcavated mounds along the way. This is also a good chance to observe the jungle life; butterflies, birds and insects abound but the path is wide and foliage well cleared. Nohoch Mul is a staggering 136 ft (42 m) high and towers above the jungle. The steps are disintegrating in places (look for shell-like carvings in others), but climbing the pyramid is not too difficult. Descending is more so, but rest for a while at the top and admire the scenery - miles of jungle, lakes and a good view of the site as a whole. The temple, which crowns the pyramid, was added later and is similar in style to those at Tulúm; there is a carving of the descending god at the entrance.
Tulum is a particularly impressive site, perched as
it is high on top of limestone cliffs that spill down to the
turquoise waters of the Caribbean below. The first time you enter
the modest walled city, it takes your breath away. El Castillo, a
large temple, is the site's biggest structure.
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About AGI Tours
Contact UsAGI Tours S.A. de C.V. E-mail: agitours@agitours.com
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Tulum
and Coba are located along the Mayan Riviera and can easily be
combined with other attractions in the area a great combination of
archeology and adventure. 
Allow at least half a day
to see the main structures and try to avoid the heat of the day.
There are no crowds here, as Cobá is not on the tour bus routes, and
any other travelers you meet will be of the serious kind rather than
the bikini-clad tourists at Tulúm. Opening times are the usual
8.00am to 5.00pm. Toilet facilities by the entrance are basic but
clean, a small fee is charged for their use.
