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Coba boasts the tallest pyramid on the Yucatán Peninsula

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
July 12th, 2011
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

While still in a poor state of preservation, much of it still unexcavated, the Coba Archaeological Park is notable for its extensive system of ceremonial roads, remote jungle landscape and several interesting pyramids - including the tallest pyramid on the Yucatán Peninsula. Located in the wild eastern half of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, Coba is an hour's drive or bus ride from Tulum.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Little historical facts are known about Coba. Archaeologists say it must have been inhabited well into Post-Classic Mayan times, as it has structures that are similar to those found at Tulum. There are references to Coba in late Maya legends, in which Coba is associated with the sun god.

The area around Coba was frequented only by Mayan hunters until the mid-20th Century. The hunters occasionally burned incense before the stelae scattered among the ruins.

Coba is a large group of sites connected to a central temple complex by a series of Mayan ceremonial "white roads," or sacbéob. There are more than 16 of these roads at Coba and their arrangement and purpose remains something of a mystery.

A sacbe that is miles long will sometimes reach a very tiny ruin. Sacbe 1 is travels west from Coba in a straight line for an astounding 62 miles to the site of Yaxuna, which is 12 miles south of the more prominent Chichen Itza.

The Coba complex was built among a small group of lakes Coba meaning "ruffled waters." There are still a number of interesting temple pyramids and palaces at Coba, which are constructed in the Peten style.

It takes about three to four miles of walking and at least that many hours to explore most of Coba. The temple near the entrance to the site is the Grupo Coba pyramid, which is worth climbing for the excellent views of the surrounding jungle landscape, with various temples and pyramids poking up through the canopy.

Nohoc Mul is the largest pyramid at Coba, standing at over 130 feet in height. This pyramid naturally provides even more spectacular views.

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