Cobá

Introducing Cobá

Though not as large as some of the more famous ruins, Cobá is ‘cool’ because you feel like you’re in an Indiana Jones flick. It’s set deep in the jungle, and many of the ruins have yet to be excavated. Walk along ancient sacbé pathways (stone-paved avenues; sacbeob is the plural in Maya), climb up vine-covered mounds, and ascend to the top of Nohoch Mul for a spectacular view of the surrounding jungle.

Be careful not to picnic beside the lake, as it has large crocodiles. If you want to snap a picture of a croc, try looking for them near the Club Med in early afternoon from the pier. From a sustainable tourism perspective, it’s great to stay the night in small communities like Cobá. The money you spend goes straight to the local economy, encouraging continued rural stewardship and minimizing the mass migration to tourist cities like Cancún. Hiring local guides, buying local crafts and simply stopping here for lunch also helps.

Last updated: Mar 2, 2009