History of Coba Maya Ruins

Hidden in the heart of the Yucatan Peninsula just one hour west and inland from Tulum is Coba Mayan Ruins.  With more than 50,000 Maya people dwelling there, Coba was once the main religious center providing spiritual healing in the Yucatan Peninsula. Coba means ‘waters stirred by the wind’ in the Maya Language which makes perfect sense since there are two large lagoons surrounding the area.

Many ancient roads or “sacbes” (meaning “white paved road” in the Maya Language) have been discovered, which connect all of the structures here and all lead to the main pyramid of Nohoch Mul. Roads have also been found leading to other power centers in the Yucatan Peninsula, such as Tulum (a port of entry and trade center) and Chitchen Itza further inland 100 kilometers away.

It has been said that only 5% of the total area in Coba (which spreads across 30 square miles) has been excavated by archaeologists. Some believe there are close to 6,000 structures existing here, including multiple pyramids and two ball courts which have been uncovered. The site has only been open to the public since 1973. Coba was left to abandon before Europeans arrived in the Yucatan and slowly was engulfed by the surrounding jungle.

Why Visit Coba?

From spider monkeys in the trees to towering pyramids (known as temples) with amazing views, the spread out ruins are the perfect place for adventurous spirits. The ruins have acres of lush jungle paths to explore with many ruins around every corner. It is one of the few ruins we’ve found that also has a convenient bike rental that makes exploring this site super easy and fun. 

Ticket & Hours Information 

If you choose to explore Coba Mayan Ruins there are two options:

1. The DAY PASS. The hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (last access at 4:00 p.m.) *70 pesos.
2. The-unknown-to-us-until-recently NIGHT PASS. The hours are 4:30 p.m to 7:00 p.m. (or dark) *200 pesos if we remember correctly.

The night pass for entry is about twice as expensive as the day pass but it was totally worth it for a once in a lifetime experience.

What Makes the Night Tour Special?

The highlight for us was having access during sunset because the ruins are much more popular during the daytime. It was almost like taking a private tour of the facility, seeing the evening animals who began to emerge from their midday naps.

The animals include thousands of birds, bats, small mammals and a family of spider monkeys in the trees above one of the pyramids (near the entrance). We saw them swinging around and sitting on top of the second tallest pyramid catching the last glimpse of the sun over the Yucatan, Peninsula. 

Climbing The Main Temple of Nohoch Mul: 138 Feet Tall

After we biked for a while through the wooded jungle, even spotting a multi-colored turkey, the sun was fading fast. So we raced over to the tallest pyramid (called Nohoch Mul), and climbed the arduous steps up 138 feet (42 meters) and joined a dozen other adventurers at the top. Side note: it is one of the only pyramids of its size that you can still climb to the top of in Mexico as of now. Go and climb it while you still can!

At the top we basked in the beauty of an almost 360-degree panoramic view.  In the jungle bed below us, a few other (less tall) stone structures peaked slightly above the trees. The sun showed off in all its glory, splashing sherbert colors of hot pink, tangerine, purple and deep blue across the enormous sky as it descended towards the horizon.

The Descending Maya God

And to top it all off, the upside-down Descending Maya god was carved above the entrance to the little stone temple on top of the pyramid we were standing on.  The Descending Maya god (see picture directly below the the right) was associated with the Morning Star (Venus), as well as the god to accompany the setting Sun through the perils of the night until it would rise again the next day. The Maya also associated Venus and the Descending god with war and fighting, which would have been a reality Maya people knew a lot about as major centers of power were set up similar to the “city-states” of ancient Greece, always fighting for power and dominance of the land. 

Imagining what it was like to be a Maya person watching a similar sunset centuries before us, was truly a crazy special experience.

The Descending Maya god found above the entrance to the temple on the Nohoch Mul pyramid in Coba

Visiting Coba ruins during sunset and evening felt like one of those magical moments we will never forget. The best part? Getting to enjoy the moment with each other and our long-time friend, Erin!

If you are traveling to the Yucatan make sure to add the Coba Maya Ruins night tour to your list of activities. It won’t disappoint as a truly epic experience!

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