| Some of the most popular activities in Cancun | | | | this steep stone temple is the second-tallest |
| are visits to the sites of ancient Mayan | | | | structure in Coba. About a mile down the main |
| ruins. While many visitors are aware of the | | | | road, you will encounter one of the Mayan |
| world-famous Chichen Itza and plenty of tours | | | | kingdom's greatest temples. Towering above |
| visit nearby Tulum, archeologists and those | | | | the jungle at 136 feet, Nohoch Mul is |
| in the know often recommend a forgotten Mayan | | | | certainly a sight to behold. Once you reach |
| city. Deep in the Mexican jungle rests the | | | | the top of the stone steps, however, you will |
| city of Coba, an expansive complex of stone | | | | be granted an even more impressive view of |
| structures and winding roads. Due to its | | | | the surrounding jungle and Coba's nearby |
| remote location, Coba wasn't explored by | | | | lagoons. Another favorite site along Coba's |
| archeologists until the 1920s and remains | | | | winding paths is the Conjunto Las Picturas |
| mostly unexcavated. However, realizing the | | | | (Temple of the Paintings), a multilevel |
| cultural value of the site, the local | | | | pyramid once crowned with colorful murals - |
| government constructed a modern road to the | | | | remnants of which can still be detected. If |
| site in the 1970s and tours have grown in | | | | you also visit Chichen Itza or Tulum while in |
| popularity ever since. Though known for | | | | Cancun, Coba will stand out for reasons other |
| its stone pyramids, the area of Coba was | | | | than its impressive architecture. As Coba has |
| populated and used for agricultural purposes | | | | only been accessible by modern roads for 30 |
| as far back as 600 BC. By the 1st century AD, | | | | years, the city hasn't received the attention |
| Coba began to show signs of its eventual | | | | paid to other Mayan sites. As a result, |
| prominence in the Mayan Kingdom, sustaining a | | | | development in and around the site has been |
| sizable population in a more concentrated | | | | kept to a minimum. For the most part, the |
| area. Much like the other great Mayan cities | | | | structures in Coba have been left in their |
| of Mexico, the majority of development took | | | | original state, many still uncovered. For the |
| place between the 6th and 10th centuries - | | | | tourist, this means that the site maintains |
| including the construction of the temples and | | | | the ancient allure that greeted the first |
| pyramids that can be seen today. It is | | | | archeologists nearly a century ago. |
| believed that Coba's population numbered at | | | | Furthermore, with the Mexican jungle |
| least 50,000 during this time - certainly no | | | | encroaching upon the city from all angles, |
| small number for an ancient city. Following | | | | Coba is bound to feel as exotic as any place |
| the initial decline of the Mayan | | | | you have ever visited. Most visitors to Coba |
| civilization, new temples were constructed in | | | | experience the site as a day trip from the |
| Coba as late as the 14th century, with many | | | | resorts of Cancun. While there are fewer |
| inhabitants remaining as late as the arrival | | | | tours to the site than either Chichen Itza or |
| of the Spanish conquistadores. One of the | | | | Tulum, it shouldn't be difficult to find |
| first things you will notice when you arrive | | | | reliable transportation to the ruins through |
| in Coba is the series of ancient stone roads | | | | your resort. Buses generally leave for Coba |
| known as sacbeob. In addition to supporting | | | | in the early morning, as the site is open |
| the belief that Coba was a large and | | | | daily from 8 am to 5 pm. When you arrive, you |
| influential city during its peak, these roads | | | | can view the site with the help of a tour |
| are the finest example of the Mayan mode of | | | | guide, stroll at your own pace or rent a |
| transportation anywhere in Mexico. While most | | | | bicycle and cruise the ancient roads of the |
| of the stones have since been misplaced, the | | | | city. When you've had your share of Coba and |
| well-defined paths are unmistakable. Some of | | | | the vibrant surrounding jungle, check out the |
| these roads lead to the Caribbean coast - | | | | modest gift stalls or grab a snack at one of |
| approximately 25 miles to the east - while | | | | the rustic cafes. If you want to explore |
| the longest pathway is connected to the | | | | the remnants of the Mayan kingdom, there are |
| smaller Mayan site of Yaxuna over 60 miles to | | | | plenty of fascinating sites within a short |
| the west. Within the city itself, these same | | | | ride of Cancun. However, you don't want to |
| roads connect the temples and other | | | | forget about the great city of the jungle - |
| structures within an ancient model of the | | | | the always exotic and captivating Coba. |
| urban grid system. The first structure you | | | | |
| will notice along the sacbeob is the pyramid | | | | Justin Burch writes articles about Travel in |
| known as La Iglesia. Standing over 65 feet, | | | | Cancun for the Marriott Resorts. |