How to visit Coba Ruins – one of the best Mayan sites in Mexico

Last Updated on March 7, 2024

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If visiting Mayan Ruins in Mexico is something that you enjoy, Coba ruins should be on your list. Nestled in the middle of a dense jungle and a bit off the beaten path, this archeological site might not be the most popular one, but it’s definitely worth visiting. Its remote location means, that Coba ruins receives just a fraction of visitors compared to more famous sites like Chichén Itzá or Tulum ruins.

The entire site of Cobá is enormous and covers an area of 30 square miles. What’s unique about this Mayan site is that it has several different settlements in one place. So instead of single structures scattered all over the site, you’ll find clusters of pyramids and temples connected by long paths. Mayan ruins of Cobá are also where you will find the second tallest pyramid in the Yucatán Peninsula, only giving way to Calakmul.

You can easily reach Mayan ruins of Cobá from Tulum, Playa del Carmen, Cancún and Valladolid. It makes for a great day trip from either of these destinations or an excellent stop on your Yucatán Peninsula road trip. I recommend skipping organized tours and visiting the site independently. If you have a car, that’s very easy to do, if you don’t, it’s a bit trickier, but still possible.

About Coba Ruins

Built between 500-900 AD, the ancient city of Cobá was once one of the most powerful in Yucatán. Its location near the water and farmlands helped it become an important trading hub. It’s estimated, that at its peak Cobá had a population of 50,000 residents, which was one of the largest cities at that time.

Around 900-1000 AD Cobá engaged in power struggle with Chichén Itzá, eventually losing its status as the political and economic center. By the time Spanish arrived, Cobá was no longer inhabited.

It wasn’t until 1973, that the archeological site of Cobá was open to public. What we see today is just a small percentage of what is still hidden deep in that jungle. Only a small fraction has been restored by archeologists and the majority of the structures are yet to be excavated.

Cobá in Mayan means “stirred by water” and the name couldn’t be more perfect, as the town is located on two lagoons: Cobá Lagoon and Macanxoc Lagoon.

Practical information for visiting Coba Ruins

Entrance fee

The entrance fee is currently 100 MXN ( paid in cash ), making it one of cheapest Mayan ruins in Mexico. If you want to rent a bike to get around the site, which I highly recommend, add another 60 MXN. If you arrive by car, the parking costs 50 MXN.

You can also hire a guide, right there at the entrance, which is a great option if you’d like to learn more about Mayan history and the ruins themselves. There are some plaques with information at some of the structures, but it’s minimal.

Opening hours

Coba Ruins are open daily from 8 am – 5 pm.

Best time to visit Coba Ruins

I always recommend getting to popular attractions as close to the opening time as possible. The difference in experience is huge. Not only there will be just a handful of people there, but you also avoid the hottest part of the day. Early morning light is also best for taking pictures and it will be easy to get great photos with no people in them. I was at the entrance of Coba ruins right when it opened at 8 am and was the only one there ( except for the cute puppy who followed me from town and throughout the site ). I had the main Ixmoja pyramid all to myself, which was an incredible experience.

If you’re getting to Cobá by car, arriving around the opening time is easy. It’s a bit harder, if you are using public transportation, especially if you’re coming from Cancún or Playa del Carmen. In that case, I recommend spending a night in Cobá, so you can get to the ruins bright and early.

How to get around Coba Ruins

• walk – you can certainly get around the ruins on foot, just keep in mind, that the structures are really spread out. To see all of them you’ll need to cover about 4-5 km. Also, the main pyramid is a nice, but long walk from the entrance ( 1.2 miles ).
• bike – my personal favorite way of getting around Coba ruins is renting a bike for 60 MXN. There are designated areas to park your bike near most pyramids. There are a couple more remote structures, where you’d need to leave your bike and walk. The entire site is really well marked and it’s easy to see where bikes are and are not allowed.
• bicitaxi – you can also hire a bicitaxi, that does the pedaling for you and takes you around the site. These typically fit two people up front, but can also accommodate a couple with a small child. It’s a great option if you want to just sit back and relax, or have any mobility issues. The cost of a bicitaxi is 140 MXN.

How much time to spend

Plan to spend about 2 hours to explore the site. Add another hour if you don’t rent a bike and decide to walk. The ruins are pretty spread out and while you can definitely walk between them, your visit will obviously be longer.

Can you climb Coba Ruins?

Unfortunately, you can no longer climb Coba ruins. Due to COVID, climbing the main Ixmoja pyramid is no longer allowed and the structure is roped off. There’s no word on when or if it will ever reopen to climbers.

Do you need a guide?

You do not need to hire a guide to visit Coba Ruins, but if you don’t have much knowledge about Mayan history, it’s certainly a great addition. If you don’t want to spend the extra money, I do recommend reading a little about prior to your visit. Especially that there isn’t much information once you’re there.

Other tips for visiting Coba Ruins

• visit early in the day, ideally right when it opens at 8 am, to beat the crowds and midday heat. Coba Ruins don’t get nearly as busy as the more famous sites, but they still get a decent amount of visitors later in the day.
• avoid Sundays – that’s the day when Mexican citizens and residents get free admission to Mayan ruins including Cobá.
• take a picture of the Coba ruins map right after the entrance to give you an idea of the layout and distances.
• rent a bike ( 60 MXN ) to get around the entire site.
• as soon as you enter the ruins, make a beeline for the main Nohoch Mul pyramid.
• bring plenty of water and snacks if you need them. Once you enter the site, there’s no food or drinks to buy.
• the only restrooms are near the entrance.
• bring enough cash to cover the entrance, bike rental and anything else you might need to purchase while in Cobá. Everything is cash only and there is no ATM in town. The closest bank is located in Tulum and Valladolid, so make sure you have enough to cover all expenses.

Coba Ruins – top sights to see

Nohoch Mul

This group of structures is the one furthest away from the entrance, which is about 1.2 miles, but it’s where I recommend starting your visit. The main reason is, that’s where you will find Ixmoja, the pyramid everyone comes to see. If you get to the ruins early in the morning and make Nohoch Mul your very first stop, you have a high chance of having the site all to yourself.

Ixmoja pyramid stands at 130 feet tall ( 42 m ), has 120 steps leading to the top and it’s the second tallest pyramid in Yucatan. Until recently, it was one of the very few Mayan ruins in Mexico, that you could still climb. Coba followed suit of other Mayan sites and climbing is no longer possible. Unfortunate for those who’d like to enjoy great views from the top, but probably best for preserving this amazing structure.

Xaibé

When you are done at Nohoch Mul and start making your way back, next building you will see is Xaibé. This is a unique, pyramid like structure, that was not that often found in Mayan cities and its shape suggests, that is was used as a lookout tower. Xaibé sits at the intersection of four streets, hence its name, which in Mayan means crossroads.

Juego de Pelota ( Ball Court )

A little up the road from Xaibé is Juego de Pelota, one of the two ball game courts at Coba. These courts were used for playing the ancient Mayan ball game Pok-ta-Pok and you can find them at nearly all Mayan sites. This is the bigger of the two ball courts found at Coba.

If you’ve visited Chichén Itzá, you will notice the difference between the ball court found there and the one here. Coba ball court is not even near the size of the one in Chichén Itzá. It’s believed, that this means, that the games played at Coba had more of a ceremonial nature.

Grupo de las Pinturas

A short bike ride from Xaibé is Grupo de las Pinturas ( Group of the Paintings ), which is a collection of several structures and pillars. The highlight of this group is Pyramid of the Frescoes with paintings at the top of the temple.

Grupo Macanxoc

Macanxoc Group, named after the lagoon it’s on, is where you will find the largest collection of stelae, which are slab stones with writings and drawings on them. The presence of stelae and temples indicates, that this part of the Mayan city was a ceremonial center of Coba.

Cobá Group

This is the cluster of buildings, that is the closest to the entrance and also the one with the most structures ( there are 50 of them ). The most prominent one is La Iglesia, which is also the second tallest pyramid at the site.

Cobá Group also contains one of the two ball courts.

Stelae

Stelae are large flat stones with detailed drawings and writings, depicting traditional Mayan rituals and important events in daily life in Coba. You can find them scattered all of over the site, often near other structures or temples. However, the Macanxoc Group has the biggest collection of them.

Sacbe

One of the things Coba ruins are known for is network of white limestone pathways called sacbe, which connect different neighborhoods to the main pyramid Nohoch Mul. Cobá was an important trade center and sacbe were also used to transport goods at night.

There are over 50 of saecbe found at Cobá, but only 16 are open to public. The longest one is 62 miles ( 100 km ) and runs from Cobá to the ruins of Yaxuma near Chichén Itzá.

How to get to Coba Ruins

Mayan ruins of Cobá are located in a small, sleepy town Cobá, in the Quintana Roo state, close to the border with Yucatán. 29 miles from Tulum, 38 miles from Valladolid, 68 miles from Playa del Carmen and 108 miles from Cancún. By far, the easiest way to get to Cobá is by car.

Getting to Cobá without a car is a bit harder, but not impossible. You can take a bus or a Colectivo ( or a combination of both ) from several destinations nearby. Of course, you can always take a taxi, but that’s going to be quite expensive.

Playa del Carmen to Cobá

• Colectivo – there is no direct Colectivo from Playa del Carmen to Cobá. You will need to take one to Tulum first, then take another one from Tulum to Cobá. Colectivos to Tulum leave from Calle 1 S and Avenida 45 S in Playa del Carmen ( next to Chedraui ). Once in Tulum Centro, head to the corner of Tulum Avenue and Calle Osiris Norte and hop on the Colectivo to Cobá. The last Colectivo back to Tulum leaves around 3.30-4 pm.
• Bus – another option is to take the Oriente bus from the ADO bus station. Oriente is a second class bus and unlike ADO, they do not have a website with schedule. It’s best to head to the station to get the times of departure. When you are ready to return, there’s a bus back to Playa del Carmen at 3.10 pm. But remember you are in Mexico, so it can show up either earlier or later, so be at the stop about 30 min earlier, just to be safe. The bus will stop in front of the Chile Picante restaurant ( look for two giant chile peppers in front ).

Tulum to Coba

• Colectivo – Colectivos to Cobá leave from the corner of Avenida Tulum and Calle Osiris Norte and it takes less than an hour to get there. If you plan on returning to Tulum via Colectivo as well, keep in mind that the last one leaves around 3.30-4 pm.
• Bus – you can also take a second class bus Oriente from ADO Terminal in Tulum. It’s a one hour bus ride and one way ticket costs 58 MXN. Cobá doesn’t really have a bus station ( or a bus stop per se ). When you get to Cobá, the bus will stop by the lagoon, and from there you are about a 5 min walk to the ruins. To catch the bus back to Tulum, wait in front of the Chile Picante Restaurant. The afternoon bus is scheduled at 3.10 pm, but this is “Mexican time”, so it can show up either earlier or later.

Valladolid to Coba

• Bus – second class bus Oriente leaves several times a day from the ADO Terminal in Valladolid to Cobá . Unlike first class ADO buses, there’s no online schedule and I recommend going to the bus terminal to confirm the departure times. This is a bus, that goes all the way to Playa del Carmen, and Cobá is one of the stops. There’s no station or even a bus stop in Cobá and the driver will make a stop by the lagoon with no announcement whatsoever. So pay attention to the route and once you enter the town of Cobá and see the lagoon, get ready to get off the bus, as this is your stop. From there it’s about a 5 minute walk to the Cobá ruins entrance.

Best Coba Ruins Tours

If you’ve read all this and decided that visiting Coba Ruins with a guided tour is something you prefer, you’ll have plenty to choose from. You can find organized tours to Coba Ruins from Tulum, Cancún or Playa del Carmen. Most of them are a full day tours, that also include other stops like cenotes or Tulum ruins.

Here are some of the highest rated tours of Cobá:

• From Tulum – Tulum and Coba: Full-Day Archeological Tour with Lunch
• From Cancún – Coba, Cenote, Tulum and Playa del Carmen Tour
• Coba Ruins, Cenotes, and Mayan Experiences Full-Day Tour

Where to stay near Coba Ruins

Most people come to Coba just for the day, but if you’d like to spend the night. there are several hotels in town. Even though the town is small and there’s not much to do besides the ruins and Coba cenotes nearby, it is a great place to relax. Also, staying overnight means you’ll be able to get to Coba ruins right when they open and very likely be the only one there. That plan worked very well for me and I had the entire place to myself for a while ( except the little puppy, that followed me from town to the ruins and throughout the entire site ).

Jungla y Estrellas is where I stayed and if you are looking for a hotel in Coba, I cannot recommend it enough. It’s a small property with beautiful palapas, swimming pool and plenty of seating around to relax. The rooms are really spacious and comfortable. But where the hotel really shines is the hosts Alfredo, Hector and Pepe. They go way and beyond to make your stay amazing and you will feel right at home in no time. I actually wished I stayed an extra day, just to relax at this beautiful spot.

If you stay at Jungla y Estrellas, you are just a 20 minute walk away from the entrance to Coba ruins. They also have bikes for rent ( although you will not be able to use that bike to get around the ruins, they make you rent one at the site ).

Cenotes near Coba ruins

There isn’t a lot going on in Cobá, but there are three cenotes nearby, that are a great addition to visiting the ruins. They are perfect for cooling off after a couple of hours of walking or biking around in the heat.

All three cenotes are located about 6 km from town and are easiest to reach by car. You can also rent a bike and get there that way, or walk to town and get a taxi. Choo-Ha and Taankach-Ha are very close to each other, while Multun-Ha is about a 10 minute drive from the first two. They are open daily 8 am – 6 pm and the entrance fee is 100 MXN for each of them.

Choo-Ha, Taankach-Ha aand Multun-Ha are all underground cenotes and you access them while going through a small opening in the ground via a spiral and often slippery staircase. They offer a slightly different experience, so I highly recommend visiting at least two. Definitely Choo-Ha, as it’s absolutely stunning inside and then one of the two deeper ones. We chose Taankach-Ha because of the jumping platforms.

A great things about Coba cenotes is, that they are located off the beaten path, so you don’t have to worry about crazy crowds, especially compared to other more popular cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula. Most likely there will be just a handful of people there, if any at all.

Choo-Ha – this is a rather shallow cenote, which is perfect if you are visiting with kids. It’s the most picturesque one, with crystal clear water and lots of beautiful stalagmites and stalactites.

Taankach-Ha – this perfectly round shaped cenote is much deeper and has very high ceilings. If you are feeling brave, there are two jumping platforms, one at 5 meters and the other at 10 meters. If that sounds a bit scary, there is also a wooden platform with stairs. Depending on the amount of rain fall, it might be a bit underwater. You are also very likely to see a few bats flying around the cave.

Multum-Ha – at 32 meters ( 90 feet ), this is the deepest of the three Coba cenotes. Unlike Choo-Ha and Taankach-Ha, which are a 100% underground, this cenote has a small opening in the roof, which lets in some natural light. No jumping platforms here, but there’s a large wooden deck with railings. Again, if you are visiting after a significant rainfall, expect the deck to be underwater.

READ MORE:

• Chichen Itza in Mexico – how to plan the perfect visit
• How to visit the Pyramids of Teotihuacán from Mexico City on you own
• Valladolid in Mexico – the hidden gem in the Yucatan Peninsula

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