Coba Pyramid & Mayan Ruins In Coba, Mexico (Price + Hours 2023)

The Mayan Ruins in Coba, Mexico and the Coba Pyramid are among the top attractions in the Yucatan Peninsula.

The archaeological site can easily be visited from Tulum and the Riviera Maya beach towns.

In our Coba Ruins Guide, we will give you useful information on how to visit the Coba Mayan Ruins in Mexico and see and hopefully climb the famous pyramid in Coba overlooking the surrounding lush jungle.

Best Tulum Activities

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Exploring The Coba Ruins In Mexico

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Coba Ruins Mexico

History Of Coba Ruins

Coba is an ancient Mayan city in the Yucatan Peninsula located between Tulum and Valladolid. First settlements date back to around 50 BC and 100 AD.

After 100 AD, Coba grew significantly. With its population growth grew Coba’s social and political status. Coba became one of the biggest and most powerful hubs in the northern part of the Yucatán Peninsula.

After 600 AD, the emergence of Chichén Itzá altered the political spectrum of the Yucatan Peninsula. Coba started to lose power to Chichén Itzá around 900 or 1000 AD. After 1000 AD, Coba lost much of its political power and only maintained some symbolic and religious importance.

At the time the Spanish conquered the Yucatan Peninsula around 1550 Coba was abandoned.

Today visitors can explore the archaeological zone as see the remaining structures and the famous Coba pyramid.

The Coba Pyramid & Other Mayan Ruins In Coba

La Iglesia

Xaibé Lookout Tower

Juego de Pelota

The Juego de Pelota (pok-ta-pok) is an ancient Mesoamerican/ Mayan ballgame. Coba has two of these ballgame structures.

Scabes

Sacbes are raised limestone pathways that connected the residential areas in Coba to the main center of the site and the nearby lagoons for water supply. They are unique to the Mayan town of Coba as it has the largest network of these “white roads” (scabes).

The scabes in Coba also connected to other Mayan towns for trade and commerce. 50 of these roads have been discovered, some are even as long as up to 100km.

Check out the Coba map below to see where the scabe roads run in Coba.

Nohoch Mul Pyramid In Coba

Coba Pyramid Height

The height of Coba Pyramid „El Castillo“ is 42 meters.

Coba Pyramid Steps

There are 120 steps up to the top of the main Coba pyramid. The steps are a lot steeper than what they seem from the bottom of the pyramid.

Climbing Coba Pyramid Nohoch Mul

One of the unique things for tourists at the Coba Araeological Zone was that people could climb atop of the main pyramid „Nohoch Mul“.

Can You Still Climb Coba?

Could? Yes, your read right! Unfortunately, since the beginning of 2021 the Coba Pyramid closed to climbing.

Coba Pyramid Closed To Climbing

Closing the Coba Ruins climb was said to be due to Covid-19, but it’s unlikely that it will ever be opened again for climbing up the 120 steps. This is most likely in order to preserve the already damaged pyramid from deteriorating even further.

Coba Pyramid Accidents

One other point could be that climbing the Coba pyramid is not without danger. The steps are pretty steep and uneven. There have been accidents at the Coba pyramid in the past and, very unfortunately, even a death due to climbing the pyramid.

We haven’t climbed up the Coba Pyramid, but can totally see why! One wrong step and down you fall!

Alternative To Climbing The Coba Pyramid

If you are still looking for a pyramid to climb up, check out the Ek Balam Archaeological Site which is close to Valladolid. We have climbed this one up and with caution made it down again safely.

If you decide to visit and climb the Ek Balam Pyramid be very careful. We wouldn’t recommend this to anyone who is afraid of heights or not physically up for the challenge, however.

Climbing The Ek Balam Ruins

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Is Coba Worth Visiting?

Yes, Coba is still worth visiting even though you can’t climb up the pyramid anymore. The archaeological site is still very interesting to explore, even without the climbing “Nohoch Mul“.

Where Is Coba Located?

Coba is located midway along the Tulum – Valladolid Highway 109. The pyramid and ruins are located in the town of Coba around two lagoons, Laguna Coba and Laguna Macanxoc.

How To Get To Coba Ruins?

Visiting The Coba Ruins From Tulum

It is super easy to visit the Coba Ruins from Tulum. It’s just a straight shot Northeast from the main cross-section in Tulum to Coba.

Visiting the Coba ruins is actually one of the top things to do in Tulum.

How To Get From Tulum To Coba Ruins?

The drive from Tulum to Coba is about 48 km / 30 mi and takes approx. 45 minutes by car. As mentioned, from the main cross-section in Tulum take the Tulum – Valladolid Highway 109 until you reach the town of Coba. Once in Coba you will see signs to the ruins.

Coba Ruins Tour From Tulum

➤ Mayan Expedition From Tulum – Visiting Coba Ruins, Punta Laguna & A Mayan Family

Playa del Carmen To Coba Ruins

To visit the Coba Ruins from Playa del Carmen is quite easy too. The drive from Playa del Carmen to Coba is approximately 110 km / 68 mi and takes about 1.5 hours by car. 

To get from Playa del Carmen to Coba you will drive the Chetumal – Cancun Highway 307 to Tulum. At the main intersection in Tulum, you will make a right and take the Tulum – Valladolid Highway 109 until you arrive in Coba. 

Coba Ruins Tour From Playa del Carmen

➤ Coba Ruins, Cho Ha Cenote & Tulum Beach Day Trip with Lunch From PdC

➤ Private Archaeological Tour To Coba & Tulum Ruins From Riviera Maya

Cancun To Coba Ruins

Visiting the Coba Ruins from Cancun will take you the longest. The drive from Cancun to Coba is about 135 km / 84 mi and takes approx. 2 hours by car. 

You will drive the paid Cuota Cancun – Valladolid Highway. At 2/3 of the way to Valladolid, you will take Highway 109 that leads to Tulum.

Coba Ruins Tour From Cancun

➤ Day Trip To Tulum & Coba Ruins Incl. Cenote & Lunch From Cancun

➤ Private Tour: Coba & Tulum Ruins From Cancun

Getting Around At The Mayan Ruins Of Coba

The Coba Archaeological Site is quite large. That’s why there are a few options to get around in Coba.

Walking

If you have the time and walking stamina, you can walk everything. Keep in mind you will be walking quite some kilometers.

Bicycles

But you can also rent bicycles on site, which makes exploring the ruins a lot faster.

Bicycle Taxi

If you want to be lazy or don’t have much time and like to have a guide that explains everything to you, you can hire a bicycle taxi that will bring you from site to site.

This is actually what we did, since we only had a very limited time frame. Getting chauffeured around was kinda funny and awkward at the same time (we are usually more active). But it was great to have a local around to tell us about the history of the Mayan pyramids and structures.

Coba Ruins Map

Coba Ruins Hours

The Coba Ruins open at 9am to 5pm every day from Monday to Sunday. The last entry to see the Coba Ruins is at 3pm.

Coba Entrance Fee

The entrance fee to Coba Ruins is currently 80 MXN. This only covers the Coba ruins admission price and nothing more. If you decide to rent bikes or get a ride on one of the taxi bikes this costs additionally.

Coba Parking Fee

Also not included in the Coba ruins entry fee is the parking for your car if you come by rental car. This was quite surprising! We haven’t seen a parking fee at any of the other Mayan ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula before.

However, the parking fee is not outrageously much, it costs 50 MXN to park your car for your visit.

Tours To Coba Ruins In Mexico

Since visiting the Coba pyramids is one of the top things to do from Tulum, there are plenty of day trips to Coba that you can choose from.

When visiting from the Riviera Maya the day trips include a Coba and Tulum tour, so you get to enjoy both on the same day. Some visit the beaches in Tulum and others the Mayan ruins. There are also some that visit both.

You can choose between private tours or small group tours.

In the following, we’ll show you some of the best-rated Coba and Tulum tours.

Private Coba Ruins Tours

The following day trips to Coba are premium and private tours for only your group.

Coba And Cenote Swim With Lunch Tour

The following Coba full-day trips include swimming in a cenote nearby Coba and lunch.

Summary: Coba Mayan Ruins

What To Pack For Visiting The Mayan Ruins At Coba

Useful things to pack for visiting the Coba Maya ruins are sunscreen, even though it is partially in the shaded jungle. Mosquito repellent for the same reason that you will be in the jungle. Loose, airy clothes as it gets hot there. Sunglasses and a sun hat.

If you decide to walk the ruins, wear some good shoes. Water is always useful to bring, but you can also buy water and snacks on site.

Swimming In Cenotes Near Coba Ruins

There is no one “Coba Cenote“. There are actually a handful of cenotes near Coba that you can visit on the same day trip. Cenote Choo-Ha, Cenote Tankach-Ha, and Cenote Multum-Ha are very close by. These cenotes are cave-like cenotes with impressive stalactites.

Cenote Muul ichi Ts’ono’ot or Ruina En Cenotes is a little bit further away than the others. It is also a cave cenote. You will climb down a winding staircase to get to the swimming hole.

Cenote Multum-Ha

Entrance fee to Centoe Multum-Ha: 100 MXN

Multum Ha Cenote Opening Hours: 8am – 6pm / daily

Cenote Choo Ha

Entrance fee to Cenote Choo-Ha: 100 MXN

Choo Ha Cenote Opening Hours: 9am – 6pm / daily

Cenote Tankach-Ha

Entrance fee to Cenote Tankach Ha: 100 MXN

Tankach Ha Cenote Opening Hours: 8am – 6pm / daily

Coba Restaurants

There is a restaurant inside the Coba archaeological zone called Nicte-Ha. Outside of the Coba Ruins you will find plenty of more restaurants to eat at after your visit.

Here’s a list of the best rated restaurants in Coba near the ruins. All restaurants serve Mexican food and are walking distance from the ruins.

Hotels In Coba To Spend The Night

The town of Coba is a lot less touristy than Tulum. There are some really nice boutique hotels in Coba to escape the crowds and just relax.

The top boutique hotel in Coba is the famous Coqui Coqui Coba Residence.

Coba Vs Chichen Itza

Which one is better, Coba Ruins or Chichen Itza? If you only have limited time and have to decide on one Mayan pyramid to visit we’d recommend visiting Chichen Itza, as it is the main and most popular pyramid in the Yucatan Peninsula. The Kukulcán Pyramid is simply majestic!

However, if you have time to visit both the Coba and Chichen Itza ruins we’d recommend visiting both.

Visiting Coba Vs Chichen Itza

Another aspect to take into account when comparing Coba vs Chichen Itza is that Chichen Itza is a lot more crowded since it is the most famous pyramid in Yucatan, Mexico. There will be a lot more people in Chichen Itza as opposed to Coba.

One more thing to also consider is where you visit the Mayan pyramids from. Visiting the Coba Ruins from Tulum is fairly quick, whereas the drive to Chichen Itza from Tulum is about 2 hours.

From Playa del Carmen to Chichen Itzá it is 2,5 hours as well as from Cancun. In general, the drive to Coba is shorter than to Chichen Itza no matter where you visit the ruins from. Unless you visit from Valladolid. Here the drive to either pyramid is the same.

So when comparing Coba Vs Chichen Itza, consider the crowds and take the way to get there into account as well.

The Best Mayan Ruins & Pyramids In Yucatan, Mexico

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Coba Ruins Vs Tulum Ruins

Which one is better, Coba Ruins or Tulum Ruins? This should be an easy one. When in Tulum you can’t miss seeing the Tulum ruins. They are breathtaking as they are located on top of a cliff right by the sea overlooking the incredibly blue Caribbean water. In addition, there is a beach at the Tulum Ruins with the bluest waters in Tulum – Playa Ruinas.

But again, if you have time to visit the Tulum Ruins and the Coba Ruins, do both. They are very different from each other and you won’t be disappointed.

Visiting Coba Ruins Vs Tulum Ruins

The Tulum Ruins are the most popular attraction in Tulum, so when comparing Coba Ruins vs Tulum Ruins take into account that you have to be at the Tulum Ruins very early in the morning to avoid the massive crowds.

The ruins in Tulum are also completely exposed to the sun, there is no shade whatsoever. This is another reason for visiting the ruins in Tulum very early. The Coba ruins are in the jungle and there will be a lot more shade.

Visiting Muyil Ruins Tulum & Floating The Mayan Canals

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Exploring Coba Maya Ruins & Climbing The Coba Pyramid

We hope you found our guide to the Coba Maya Ruins near Tulum helpful and got excited to visit and see the incredible Coba pyramid for yourself.

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