The ruins here date from about 500-800 CE and are spread across many kilometers. The site contains several large temple pyramids, the tallest, known as Nohoch Mul, being 42 meters in height. The bulk of Coba's major construction seems to have been made in the middle and late Classic period, about 500 to 900, with most of the dated hieroglypic inscriptions from the 7th century. However Coba remained an important site in the Post-Classic era and new temples were built and old ones kept in repair until at least the 14th century, possibly as late as the arrival of the Spanish
Coba is a tiny village adjacent to the vast Coba Mayan Ruins.
Life in the village is very quiet and slow. I stayed in the little six-room hotelito ‘Sac-be’ for $16 a night (vs $78 at the near-by Club Med, shown in the final four photos below). My towel was arranged like a flower and the toilet paper was folded like a fan. A young girl, Mariana, about 7 years old checked me in and and showed me to my room, assisted by her 3 year old sister Sena. Then they ran off to play.
Richard Ammon
