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Coba is about 40 miles (68 km) from Akumal and well worth the short trip. Opening time is usually 8am to 5pm. Allow at least half a day to see the main structures, getting an early start helps to avoid the heat of the day. It is advised to wear comfortable clothing - prepare for walking through the jungle with good shoes and lots of insect repellant. There is a collection of wooden stalls selling artifacts, regional handicrafts and refreshments around the entrance to the site, there are no other refreshments from this point on, so stock up here. As you make your way through the jungle you can expect to see a wide variety of birds and possibly a Howler monkey or two! The only toilet facilities are by the entrance and there is a small fee to use these.
Coba was once a stately city which controlled the economy of the entire Mayan region. Its name means "ruffled waters", derived from the five lakes in the vicinity, and it is one of the oldest Mayan settlements on the peninsula. Unlike most archeological sites on the Yucatan Peninsula, Coba is in the middle of the jungle. It prospered between AD 400 to 1100 and in its heyday 40,000 people lived in its confines. Large temple pyramids still stand above the jungle, one of which is 138 feet tall, the highest in northern Yucatan. Coba's urban sprawl covered a total area of at least 44 square miles. Within this vast territorial realm a number of monumental-size buildings were erected, as well as lesser structures and an extensive network of stone roads, called Sac be, connecting the various clusters of buildings. The stone roads are an interesting feature of Coba. The Sac be 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. 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.
The routes to the main structures are well signed, but if you want to explore some of the other smaller paths, it is advised that you hire one of the guides that hang out near the gate. The first group of structures (Groupo Coba) is visible from the entrance, and is where you will find La Iglesia, the second largest pyramid at Coba, rising up over 60 ft (20 meters) high. These steps are steep and deterioration has made it very dangerous, hence climbing is prohibited. Next if you continue down the main path (about 2 km away) you come upon the "big mound" pyramid - Nohoch Mul - the largest pyramid. Nohoch Mul is 136 ft (42 meters) high and can be seen far above the jungle foliage. The temple atop the pyramid was a later addition and is similar in style to those at Tulum. The Coba Cluster also has a ball court. It is located north of the Church pyramid and consists of two edifices built on a north-south axis. On the way back from Nohoch Mul, another smaller path leads to Conj unto Las Picturas (Temple of the Paintings) where fragments of color can be seen in some murals at the top of the four tiered pyramid.
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