It is definitely the main attraction of this place. There are three options to explore the city: on foot (but the distance between the monuments are quite big. I went back to climbing, hoping to reach the top, catch my breath, and descend before the bottom of those ominous clouds fell out. The biggest pyramid in Cobá is called Ixmoja and is a part of the Nohoch Mul group of buildings. USD 40–50 for a guide – I did not use this option but probably you can haggle. Copyright © 2018 Travel and Keep Fit. Sometimes it is worth to stop and think, if what people around us do is reasonable, is necessary and if they really know what is best for us. The drops began shortly after I reached the bottom. So in the end, after reviewing all the biggest pyramids the Great Pyramid of Khufu remains the largest pyramid ever built. It took me 2 minutes to walk down. It is located at the archaeological site of Cobá in Mexican state Quintana Roo. This will capture an amazing view of the surrounding forest and the two lagoons that are actually not open to the public. What the hell? What moral can be drawn from this lesson? In order to get to the top you have to walk 120 steep, stone steps. The main attraction at Coba is the Nohoch Mul Pyramid, the largest Mayan pyramid in the Yucatan. I, in disbelief (again), jumped over these people, walking upright on my feet, no problems at all. I’ve read that 2019 is going to be the last year you could climb this pyramid, because of the growing numbers of tourists and the deva… When comparing it to the largest structure at Coba we all liked it more. Stop along the way to admire "La Iglesia," the church, a small but lovely ruin resembling a beehive. All of the site seen, it was time to get back before this storm made for a wet ride home. A Castle with a View! This was the tallest manmade structure in the world for 3,800 years (the Lincoln Cathedral in England displaced it around 1300 AD). All around, in every direction there is a dense jungle, which looks from the top of the pyramid like a thick, green carpet. Would I be able to do it, if this is so hardcore? In 1881 Teobert Maler took the first known photography of Cobá. Although this is one of the largest cities from the Mayanage, the majority of it is still lies largely unexcavated, and like other Mayan history, questions and mystery still surround this area. It is remarkable, you have to admit that. To sum it up – it was not a hardcore place for courageous adventurers who climb mountains on the daily basis. You can get here by walk, rent a bike or hire a riksha. Still, I highly recommend finishing with a race. It was more magnificent and beautiful than Coba, in … The Coba ruins are UNESCO World Heritage site, full of ancient structures to explore, surrounded by lush jungle, and home of the tallest Mayan pyramid in Mexico. Created by GodzioLink. So I’d bet that the substantial majority of the tourists climbing up and down in Cobá did not suffer from appalling fear of heights (let’s be serious, it’s statistically impossible that 99% of the people there afraid of heights). Be prepared for a 120 steps that lead to an remarkable view of the Yucatan and non-public areas of Coba including both lagoons; Macanxoc Lagoon to the east and Cobá Lagoon to the southwest. Whatever the case, about mid-way, most of us were stopping for a breather, and my legs were performing that weird muscle twitching thing you get after a long run. The second tallest Mayan Pyramid in Yucatan’s Peninsula Cobá was also built in pre-Columbian period. Regardless of age and fitness, most of them are going up and down on all fours, slide down on their butts or crawl like a commando in the battlefield. Coba is a Maya site on the Yucatán Peninsula in México, and is just 40 kilometers from Tulum at the Riviera Maya. In its current state and environment, not the most beautiful pyramid in the world, but certainly the most famous. The biggest pyramid in Cobá is called Ixmoja and is a part of the Nohoch Mul group of buildings. Reaching Coba by car: ruins are situated around 44 kilometers (50 minutes) from Tulum and approx. You can then walk, rent a bicycle or hire a rickshaw-style contraption with the driver to travel the paths to the major temple, Nohoch Mul, which is around 130 feet tall and 120 steps to the top. Answer 1 of 6: I read in some of the reviews that climbing the pyramid may no longer be allowed soon, and one of the reviews even said it would end at the end of 2014, which is.. tomorrow. 3+mln blog readers The largest pyramid at Coba is called Nohoch Mul, which means "large hill". One of Coba's main attractions is the Ancient Pyramid which, unlike Chichen Itza's Kukulkan Pyramid, was still open for the public to climb its 130 steps up to the top of the site (prior to being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic). Stela 20 of Ruler D at Mayan Ruins in Coba, Mexico. Then you think again: where am I? Standing a tall 137 feet (42 meters), Nohoch Mul is the tallest Mayan castle as well as the primary temple of this pre-Columbian city. There were few visitors in the park and we meandered around until coming upon the main attraction. Coba Pyramid and Ruins Near Cancun - Traveling Back In Time https://www.inmexico.com/cancun/coba-home-tallest-ancient-pyramid-yucatan At 42 metres (138 feet) high Nohoch Mul pyramid (Big Mound in the Mayan language) is the second tallest pyramid in the Yucatan Peninsula. If you’ve been to other Mayan sites, this one is pretty similar, except that you get to climb the pyramid. One of the great features of Coba is that at the beginning of the trail touts offer wicked fun, either renting a bike to zip along the paths or hiring a “Mayan limousine”, a pedal-powered tuk-tuk. Why won’t these people do the same? Coba's "Nohoch-Mul" Mayan temple (Google) Visitors who brave the steep climb up the highest pyramid in Mexico’s Maya world reap the reward of a breathtaking vista. Weaving through trail traffic, everyone thinking with same stay-dry mindset, we got to see the ruins of Coba one last time in a swift blur through teary-eyed laughter. The additional awareness that somewhere there are more fragments of this mysterious town, hiding treasures and secrets not available to us, sends shivers down your spine…. My wife and I had rented bicycles, and her father had gone with the Mayan limousine. It is 42m high and is the tallest ancient Mayan structure in the Yucatan, taller even than the pyramid at Chichen Itza. Great for history buffs, families, people missing their stationery stair-climbers, and those seeking ruins near Quintana Roo, but with a little less crowd than Chichen Itza. And did the Mayans also crawl up like this, looking so stupid? Home to as many as 50,000 people, this incredible metropolis jam-packed with towering temples, ball courts, and also other buildings were deserted at the time the Spanish conquered the Yucatan peninsula. At the Coba Group you will find La Iglesia (the Church), Coba's second highest pyramid, along with a ball court and a ruin with the highly original name of 'Structure No.4'. Coba was thought to be an important trade center between Chichen Itzaand the Caribbean (near modern-day … 6.5k structures but only several dozen have been discovered. Z O. O. Ul. You look at them and think: what they are really doing? These ruins you can climb and enjoy a great view. Its uniqueness is also in the fact that – contrary to most of the Mayan monuments – you can climb this one. @.. The name “Cobá“ is translated as “water with moss”, “water moisture” or “water stirred by the wind”, because in the vicinity there are a few murky, muddy lakes. Towering above the jungle of Coba, the Nohoch Mul pyramid rises to 137 feet tall (42 meters). I walked gingerly around the platform, checking out the jungle on all sides, and willing myself to basically turn right around. I’ve read that 2019 is going to be the last year you could climb this pyramid, because of the growing numbers of tourists and the devastation that follows them. My legs were still killing me from climbing that pyramid. 109 km (1.5 h) from Playa del Carmen.I definitely recommend you to rent a car on the biggest portal: What I don’t recommend is wearing flip-flops, then you would really have to crawl your way up the pyramid ;). Other researchers of Mayan language suggest more translations, among which are, for instance, “water of the chachalacas” and “tooth of the corn leaf”. Coba ruins lie approx. In the distance you can hear sounds of animals and birds. Its uniqueness is also in the fact that – contrary to most of the Mayan monuments – you can climb this one. The pyramid is 230 meters (755 ft) in length and an awe-inspiring 139 meters (455 feet) high (originally 146.5 meters or 480.6 ft). Turning around, I discovered a lush, endless expanse of jungle treetops. The magic is gone and you want to scram off as fast as you can. Image of natural, mexico, branches - 181201749 The pyramid is 42 meters tall and is one of the tallest in Yucatan Peninsula. And then you get brutally slapped back to the reality, because next to you appear next tourists, who barely made it to the top. Certainly the most famous ancient Mayan structure in the Yucatan Peninsula on all sides, her... 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