quintana roo

Coba

/ Bulldog Travels / 39 Comments

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.

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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.

Tulum

/ Bulldog Travels / 55 Comments

OK, so Tulum gets extra points for “Best location for an archaeological site in the Yucatan!”  It is a positively lovely place to visit, with seriously glorious Caribbean sea views, despite the crowds and less extensive/impressive archaeology.  It’s almost like the ancestors of the people who have created so many of the all inclusive oceanside Cancun resorts made the decision to locate Tulum on the coast as well.  Shoot why not live somewhere beautiful with a nice breeze, right?

Tulum stands out from other Mayan sites for being located on a bluff overlooking the sea. But, second it is a walled city partially protected by the bluff it sits upon.  It would have been an important city for trade being on the water and having access to a fresh water cenote.

Here is the downside though: Be ready to brave the crowds if you come to this site.  Folks from Cancun and Playa del Carmen will stomp all over you and whack you with their selfie sticks and stand in front of your photos.  Co-eds will show up in bathing suits probably still drunk from the night before.  But friends, take a deep breath and go anyway. It is too beautiful to miss.  And if you get lucky you will have a moment of solitude without a stroller rolling over your foot or a distracted wanderer from Kansas blindly walking in to your photos.

 

For more Archaeological sites in Yucatan clicky clicky here.