Cobá is a large and sprawling site, actually a number of separate but connected sites, most of which are still " lost in the jungle." During the Late Classic Period, Cobá was the largest site of the northeastern Yucatan peninsula and had a dense population in an area of nearly 30 square miles.

The main area of restored and partially restored archaeological sites is located between the two largest of five lakes - Lake Macanox and Lake Cobá. The only sizable lakes in all of northern Yucatan, they are no doubt the reason why the Maya settled here. ( Cobá is Maya refers to "ruffled waters."

One of the most outstanding features of Cobá is the incredible number of sacbeoh (white roads) that connect parts of Cobá to each other, and link Cobá to outposts on the coast as well as cities many miles inland. More than 45 sacbeob have been discovered, including one that runs 62 miles to the west, connecting Cobá to the city of  Yaxuná. It has been proposed that this causeway was the last-ditch effort by Cobá to strengthen its trade relationship though the interior in the face of its rival, Chichen Itza, during the early Post Classic Period. 

There are several groups of interesting building such as the Iglesia, which includes a beautifully restored ball court and the Pinturas group with its remnant paintings. Bu far the most impressive is the Nohoch mul Group, with its massive temple pyramid of the same name. The view from the top is a bird's eye view of the surrounding jungle. At 138 feet it is the tallest ancient construction in all of the Yucatan. 

Forty-five stelae have been recovered from Cobá, with dates the range from A.D. 613-780. One, which has one of the longest hieroglyphic stelae texts known, portrays a queen. Some facilities, open from 8am to 5pm; Cobá is about a 30 minute ride northwest of Tulum.  

We have tours available for the Maya Ruins of Tulum

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