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