This grand Mayan site lies less than two hours from Playa del Carmen, and is different from the other big sites in the Yucatan. First of all, its situated by four natural lakes, which is a rare sight in the Yucatan. These lakes are believed to have given the city its name, which means Waters stirred by wind. Furthermore, it is not as excavated nor reconstructed as Chichen Itza or Tulum. Coba still has a number of big structures covered with the growth of the jungle, making it a wild place that truly triggers your imagination. It doesnt see nearly as many visitors as Chichen Itza or Tulum and if youre early you might be all by yourself with only birds, monkeys and the dense jungle to accompany you at these mystical ruins. The History of the City Coba dates from the Classic Period, 600 to 900 AD, after which it was abandoned for unknown reasons. At its height Coba supported up to 45,000 inhabitants. The city is thought to have been an important trading post and a commercial link between the cities on the coast and those inland. Coba was never found by the Spanish, thus being left covered by jungle until the 1890s, when it was rediscovered. Excavations started in the 1970s and many of the buildings are left pretty much as they were found. This site of 50 square km/80 square miles is in almost pristine condition. Coba is believed to contain up to 6,500 structures, of which only a small fraction have been restored. To see the complete site, you probably need about a week, but of course most of it is in deep jungle. Whats Special about Coba? Just because there are only a few restored buildings in Coba, dont think its not an interesting ruin. In fact, its a real favorite. Ruins share space with tropical hardwood, vines and jungle vegetation. Birds and butterflies inhabit the canopy. A number of elaborately carved stelae (vertical stone tablets) have been found on the site, and are still there for the visitor of today. Most of them are found at the Grupo Macanxob, one kilometer after the entrance. Its a beautiful walk, but many of the stelae are in bad shape, so if you need to save your strength, climbing the pyramid should be your priority. Few interesting points about where we were today. Enjoyed it all
Posted on: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 00:59:23 +0000
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