COBA. Co-ba. Co-BA. It’s a strong sounding name, isn’t it? Coba, say it with me, with an accent like you are Antonio Banderas. Co-Ba. Coba is a cool place. It is lush and green compared to some of the other local Yucatan Archaeological spots like Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Mayapan, and Tulum. The greenery provides some privacy for each structure lending excitement to each corner making one feel as though they are an early explorer.
Raised stone pathways (sacbes) that are present throughout the site setting it apart from other local Yucatan sites. They combined residential areas together and lead off in the direction of other neighboring sites.
An in-tact ball court makes me want to learn the game and play it or at the very least play a modern game there on the site of the ancients.
Nearby Lakes/Lagoons add to the rain forest charm…and the mosquitoes.
I really enjoyed this site primarily because it is not perfect. It is still somewhat in disrepair, the number of visitors is smaller, it is quieter…more wild. It’s hard to visualize 50,000+ inhabitants living in the area when it sometimes feels like I was the only one there. The site is dying for a murder mystery or an Indiana Jones/Dwayne Johnson-style adventure movie to be shot here…
It’s places like these that keep me wanting to go back to Mexico, Central America, and South America searching for more archaeological sites.
For more Mexican Archaeological Sites visit me here.
Very nice. Do they still allow people to climb up the pyramid? The latter one looks like it’s had enough foot traffic already.
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In Coba they do. Mayapan yes. Chichen Itza and Tulum no. My huz always has to climb to the top. I prefer nonarobic exercise mostly. Lol. I’ll be here at the bottom taking photos…
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Teotihuacan is quite the workout. I turned it into a spiritual/cardiovascular journey. This little smoker made it up in record time. There were bodies of the fallen all the way up.
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Yah. That’s a big mamajama. I recall your post now. Tikal allowed some climbing on some structures and not others. That was fun because the view was epic. Can’t believe I haven’t been to Mexico City yet…
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Me thinks you would like it. Very impressive architecture, albeit extremely soiled architecture. Pollution is a bastard.
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Yah. I’ve heard that. I’ll get there some day. It’s one of those places that I have been going to stop at on a layover a million times and then my plans get thwarted and I fly through Dallas or Houston (Use-stun) instead.
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Next time you go, may I sign on? What a great place!
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Sure thing!
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I suddenly have a memory failure. Can’t remember if we have indeed been to Coba. I think so. 🙂
And you, like my sister, seem to be mosquito-prone! 🙂
Some parts of South America are infested, especially at certain hours of the day.
Thank you for a very nice post.
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PS. Yaxchilan would be perfect for you.
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I’ll have to check that out! Thanks.
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My pleasure. It is a magical site. Accessible only by the river Usumacinta.
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Where is it?
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The mosquitos could be very nasty but that makes the adventure a memorable one 😀 I missed visiting this place when in Mexico..another reason to return to Mexico!!
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Hi Jenny, it’s been so long since I’ve visited your site but I just couldn’t stay away any longer! Sitting here, looking out the windows at a frozen December landscape, is a good time to read about steamy jungles and mosquitoes! How often do you get to go to Mexico and find more archaeological places to explore? I like how you explain that in Coba the main structures are separated with trees and greenery. It was probably all cleared and open when it was built, right? That is exciting to imagine. I also like that people can still walk on the structures. I know, it’s selfish of me, and it degrades the ancient ruins. Still, I love being able to get that close to fascinating history.
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I’m no archaeologist but it does seem to me like all the literature I read showed that the areas were cleared of trees within reason. It’s amazing to me how quickly the jungle takes this stuff back! We even saw a bunch of unescavated areas and it looked like hills with trees growing out of it unless you looked closely or knew what you were looking at. I should prob do a post on one site we visited that was completely unescavated. That was super interesting in its own way.
I like that you can climb on some of the structures too but do totally understand that they limit it at some of the more important and highly visited sites.
Thanks for visiting my site again. I’ve missed you. I haven’t been posting or traveling much because the baby came. Spending a lot of time walking in circles in my living room.
I dont get to Mexico very often. It’s still a bit of a journey even from California. Ive made it t Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala, and Yucatan. There are certainly lots of places I want to visit…
If I do t hear from you before then have a merry Xmas and happy new year.
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Yes, well, baby! I guess I have missed out on some news. Another blogger friend of mine became pregnant last year and commented, “Well, I guess we can’t do any more traveling or camping now for a few years.” I was so sad to hear she was ready to give it all up and I hope she and her husband have discovered that babies make it tougher, but not impossible. I *hope* that you merely slow down, but don’t stop your adventures. 🙂 How are things going in mommy-hood? Walking in circles is not that exciting, but babies are (for better and for worse, ha ha!).
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Oh. We plan on taking him on many adventures. I’m just going to try and get through the holidays and get him sleeping a little more before we venture out too far. I do have a short list of places I would like to take him while I’m on maternity leave. Wish me luck!
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I suspected you were that sort of chick! Good luck! (but you’ll be fine)
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Just stopped by to say Happy New Year!
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Thanks! Happy new year to you!
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Where have I been? Off the grid. Looks like you, too? I love this line: “It is still somewhat in disrepair, the number of visitors is smaller, it is quieter…more wild.” That’s my kinda place…much better than museums. If we could just do something about those skeeters?
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Hi there! Happy new year!
I’ve been quiet lately too. I had a baby so the focus has been on him! Hoping to get some small trips in with him while I am still on maternity leave. I have a few places in the gold country and the San Francisco area I have never been. Hoping to photograph and write about them soon.
As for the mosquitos I just try to cover up and spray! It rarely works for me though! They love me.
Did you ever choose where your mystery trip is going to be?
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A baby!! How cool. What’s his name? I can’t imagine traveling with kids. I have a hard enough time getting myself somewhere!
Mosquitos—here’s a hint. But you won’t like it, maybe. When I went to the Amazon, a friend brought along two full-body mosquito-net suits. I didn’t want to look like that, but I wore it. We were the only two who NEVER got bitten!!!
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Hey that works!
His name is Colin!
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worked like a charm, but goofy
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Jenny, this series you’ve been doing is just what we need. We’re hoping to go to the area this year and your posts are the perfect inspiration. Thanks! James and I want to wish you a happy and healthy New Year filled with love and adventure. All the very best, Terri
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Very excited to hear of your plans. Let me know if you have any questions. Do visit Merida as well.
Happy new year to both of you as well! And happy travels!
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Ancient ruins…cannot get enough of them especially when covered with jungle. Wishing you all the best in 2017. Happy travels, my friend!
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You too!
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Sigh. I would love to visit there. All the best for 2017.
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A very enjoyable cool post, my friend! Happy 2017 to you! I made my first E-book in December called Healthy Vegan Christmas! You can get it if you subscribe by email to my blog! It all has 10 unpublished vegan recipes & 8/10 are also gluten-free! https://sophiesfoodiefiles.wordpress.com/2016/12/24/i-just-made-my-1st-e-book-called-healthy-vegan-christmas-subscribe-to-my-blog-to-get-it/
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Congrats on your e-book. That’s great! Happy new year!
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Thanks sweety! 😉
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I said it like Antonio and it sounded cooler! Awesome photos!!!
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Yeah, I remembered the mosquito photo… 🙂 My wife is always a target. I’m lucky, mosquitoes leave me alone… 🙂
You were lucky, hardly anybody (can I borrow your pyramid picture with all due credits for comparison in a next post?). When we went, though early it was already full. And now they rent bikes! So you can easily get run over by bikers, some of whom seem to barely know how to ride… Oh well. Mass tourism.
What period were you there?
Cheers
B.
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Sucks about the bikes. Yes please use any photos you like. Flattered…
We were there during the swine flu. Must have been 2009 or so? Time is funny. I don’t remember.
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Thanks for the photo. I want to use it for contrast… 🙂
Swine flu was in in 2009. Beginning if I recall. I lost a bundle as I had to cancel may qualitative research projects. Couldn’t get people together in a room for focus groups… You win some you loose some…
Ten years ago. Oh my God.
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Oh she doesn’t seem like it was that long ago. But I guess it was. Time sure flies.
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