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| Cobá | ||
| State | Quintana Roo | |
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| Residents | unknown | |
no value for residents on Wikidata:  | ||
| height | unknown | |
| no value for height on Wikidata: | ||
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
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Cobá is a Mayan ruin site in the Mexican state Quintana Roo.
background
The first settlement activities here can be traced back to the 1st century BC. To be led back. Due to the location on several lakes, the basis for permanent agriculture was given here. This is very unusual for the Yucatán, as the rain usually seeps into the porous limestone and access to the underground water reservoir is only possible via so-called cenotes. From around 100 AD, there was a rapid population increase here, while in the southern rainforest there were rows of cities like El Mirador or Cerros went down. Cobá quickly became the center of a regional great power. The prevailing architectural style up to the late classical period and broken fragments suggest rather strong connections with the Peten in Guatemala. Many cities on the Yucatán peninsula soon came under the influence of Cobá. A road network unique in the Maya world with Coba as the center underlines this assumption. So were coastal cities like Xel Ha directly connected to Cobá by a road. The longest road led over 100 km into the Maya city Yaxunáwhich is only 20 km away from Chichen Itza lies. In this way, all trade routes could be reached quickly and the own area of domination could be secured militarily. Around 50,000 people lived here in Cobá at the time of the wedding. There were numerous political and economic contacts with Tikal, Calakmul or Teotihuacan be detected. A stele indicates the marriage into another royal house. After many powerful cities perished in the Classical era, Cobá continued to flourish. During this period all important structures were created or redesigned. The architectural influence can now also increasingly be seen here. From the 9th century onwards, there were increasing disputes with Chichen Itza. In 950 AD, Yaxuná became of Chichen Itza taken. In the course of this development, the influence of Cobá in the northern Yucatán waned. What remained was direct access to the coastal trade routes. Although the population and political influence decreased in the centuries that followed, new buildings were erected here until the 15th century. When the Spaniards conquered the Yucatán Peninsula, the city was not discovered. Probably this had already become relatively meaningless in the Maya world. However, settlement activities up to the 17th century have now been documented here. Then the city was abandoned for reasons unknown. Perhaps this city met the same fate as Lamanai and much of the population died from diseases brought in by Europeans. In 1893 the city was rediscovered for archeology by Teoberto Maler. At the beginning of the 20th century, many important archaeologists such as Dr. Thomas Gann, J. Eric S. Thompson or Sylvanus Morley discovered the ruins, but it was not until 1972 that the first excavations took place here. Cobá is now well connected to the road network and some pyramids have been exposed. In addition, the village of Cobá, which has around 1,500 inhabitants, can now offer a certain tourist infrastructure.
getting there
By plane
The nearest international airports can be found in Cancun, Chetumal and Mérida (Mexico). The one in Cancun is certainly the one with the best flight connections. From here it continues on the road.
By bus
The bus connections are now very good. For example, you can use ADO from Playa del Carmenwhich is very good from Cancun can be reached via Tulum drive to Cobá. There is also an ADO connection from Mérida (Mexico) above Chichen Itza to Cobá.
In the street
On the MEX307 you drive from Cancun or Chetumal until after Tulum. Here you turn on the 109 in the direction Valladolid. After 45 km enter the roundabout and take the third exit. After approx. 3 km you reach the place Cobá, which can be used as a starting point for sightseeing.
By boat
Who with the ship in Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Cozumel can make a day trip to Cobá by rental car or bus possible.
mobility
The groups that have so far been made accessible to tourism are partly widely scattered in the rainforest. These are best reached on foot. So you should think of good footwear. Alternatively, you can rent bicycles here (the rental is located at the entrance) or let yourself be driven by a cycle rickshaw.
Tourist Attractions
So far only a fraction has been excavated. So far, over 20 assemblies have been identified on an area of 70 km². The excavation work carried out so far is limited to five groups. But these are definitely worthwhile because the pyramids here are not all as in Chichen Itza, Uxmal or Tulum are closed and therefore offer a great view after the ascent.
building
- 1 Grupo Cobá. The group is located directly at the main entrance and covers an area of around 400 meters by 200 meters. To the south of the group lies Lago Macanxoc. There is one in the center of the group great plazathat is limited by platforms. Only in the east is an elaborate building complex, the most famous of which is the main pyramid La Iglesia. Undoubtedly one would have a fantastic view here if the pyramid were not blocked. The building was built over twice until it reached a height of 24 meters. On the basis of found offerings, the last construction stage is assigned to the end classical period (800 to 900 AD). The one is also worth seeing here Escalinta K’an, this staircase with 15 steps has the K’an hieroglyph (stands for corn) on each and a monkey's head on each side. South of La Iglesia is found Structure IVwhich is accessible via a flying staircase. There is a false vault under the 18 m wide staircase. The structure itself is essentially a 25x30 meter platform on which a building is located. On its back there are remains of the paneling on which remains of color from hieroglyphics can still be seen. One of the most important buildings from an archaeological point of view is the Ball playground which can be found north of La Iglesia. This was very well restored at the end of the nineties. The rings are complete and can be found in their position. Both sides of the ball court provide a platform that can be accessed via steps on the sides facing away from the actual ball court. The layout of this square goes back to the pre-classical period (around the birth of Christ) and was still in use until arrival. This could be proven here on the basis of broken fragments. One suspects, however, that the ball playground was only used as a living area in the end.
- 2 Grupo Chumuc Mul. This group has hardly been studied. Initial explorations have shown that the buildings are most likely the residential complexes of the elite of the time. Most of the buildings here are in the similar architectural style of the big cities in Peten (e.g. Tikal), but there are also constructions in the style of the east coast (e.g. Tulum).
- 3 Grupo Las Pinturas. This group includes the Conjunto Las Pinturas and the Templo del Señor Thompson. All of them correspond more to the post-classical architectural style in the northeast of Yucatán and are therefore more likely to be assigned to the later phase of settlement history.
- 4 Macanxoc Group
- 5 Nohoch Mul group. Here you will find the Nohoch Mul pyramid, the largest Mayan pyramid in the Yucatan with a height of 42 meters. So far (November 2018) it can still be climbed. But there are efforts to block these too. Other buildings are a ball playground and the Xaíbé pyramid.
Streets
- Sacbé. The Cobá road network is unique. Over 40 paved roads cut through the area. The lengths ranged from 600 meters to 100 km.
Lagoons
There are some lagoons here, but you shouldn't bathe here as crocodiles live in them.
- 6 Laguna Cobá
- 7 Laguna Macanxoc
- 8 Laguna Xkanhá
- 9 Laguna Sacakal
Cenotes
- 10 Cenote Choo-Ha
- 11 Cenote Tankach-Ha
- 12 Cenote Multum-Ha
miscellaneous
- 13 Zip line. Price: around € 10.
activities
shop
kitchen
Cheap
medium
Upscale
nightlife
accommodation
Cheap
medium
Upscale
- 2 Coqui Coqui cobaPapholchac, Lado Sur Laguna Coba, CP 87780. Q. Roo, Mexico. Tel.: 52 1 985 102 9000, Email: [email protected]. Price: Around € 250.00.
