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Major city · Mexico

CobaCobá

Go for one day from Tulum or Valladolid: ruins open at 08:00, M$100 entry cash, 2 km+ of trails, climb Nohoch Mul before 10:00.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
MXN
Best months
Nov–Apr
avoid Jun–Oct (heat, humidity, rain)
Airports
CUN · TQO
Nights
0–1
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
  • North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
  • North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
  • North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
  • Mexico ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Mexico's National Migration Institute (INM) or your nearest Mexican consulate; keep proof of your entry (stamp or digital record) until you leave.
  • Mexico ↗Security advice differs by state: some governments advise against travel to parts of several states. Check your own government's advice for each region on your route.
  • Mexico ↗Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water and ice from reliable places.
  • Mexico ↗Foreign visitors to Quintana Roo (Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar, Holbox) pay the state VISITAX online at visitax.gob.mx only; lookalike sites add fees.

Coba is a Maya ruin city in the Quintana Roo jungle, 44 km northwest of Tulum and about 90 km east of Chichen Itza. It peaked around 500–900 AD with a road network (sacbeob) and the 42 m Nohoch Mul pyramid, the tallest Maya structure in the Yucatan. Most travellers see it as a half-day trip; the site is large, hot and lightly developed, with three cenotes about 3 km away.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Coba, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeM$40–70 (≈ US$3–4)
  • Beerbottle at a restaurant / can at a shopM$50–90 (≈ US$3–5)M$25–40 (≈ US$2–3)
  • Museum or sight ticketRuins entryCash only; free for Mexican citizens on Sundays and national holidays.M$100 (≈ US$6)
  • Budget bedHostel or guesthouse bed, a night, per personMX$300 (≈ US$17)
  • Mid-range bedSimple hotel double room, a night, per roomMX$1,400 (≈ US$80)
  • High-end bedSimple hotel double room, a night, per roomMX$2,500 (≈ US$140)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget MX$700 (≈ US$40) · Mid MX$1,300 (≈ US$75) · High MX$2,500 (≈ US$140)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Nohoch Mul pyramidSacbeob (Maya raised roads)Jungle ruinsCenotes Multum-Ha, Tankach-Ha and Choo-Ha
Airports
CUN Cancún International (About 3 h by road via Highway 307 to Tulum, then inland; ADO bus about 3 h) · TQO Tulum Felipe Carrillo Puerto International (Closest airport; about 1 h by road)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Coba: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

29°C

19°C

5 rd

Feb

30°C

19°C

4 rd

Mar

32°C

21°C

3 rd

Apr

34°C

22°C

4 rd

May

35°C

24°C

7 rd

Jun

34°C

24°C

12 rd

Jul

33°C

24°C

13 rd

Aug

33°C

24°C

13 rd

Sep

33°C

24°C

15 rd

Oct

32°C

23°C

13 rd

Nov

30°C

21°C

8 rd

Dec

29°C

20°C

6 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The site is walk, bike or rickshaw only. The entrance to Nohoch Mul is over 2 km from the gate; bicycles rent for about M$80 and bicycle rickshaws with a driver are available. Trails are unpaved and uneven. Between towns, ADO buses and colectivos run on Highway 307; a car is easiest for combining ruins and cenotes.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Tulumgo

Door to door: About 1 h

ADO bus or colectivo on Highway 307, or car

Ruins, beach and cenotes; the usual base for a Coba day trip.

Valladolidgo

Door to door: About 1–1.5 h

Car or bus via Highway 307 and the interior road

Colonial town with cenotes and Chichen Itza nearby.

Cenotes Multum-Ha, Tankach-Ha and Choo-Ha

go

Door to door: About 15–20 min

Car, taxi or bike from Coba pueblo

Three cenotes about 3 km from the ruins; about M$130 each, shower required.

Chichen Itza

caution

Door to door: About 1.5 h

Car via Highway 180

A long day from Coba; better as an overnight in Valladolid.

Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve

overnight

Door to door: About 1.5–2 h

Car to the reserve entrance south of Tulum

Tours start early; sleep in Tulum the night before.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Coba pueblo

Small hotels and guesthouses within walking distance of the ruins; the practical base for one night.

Near the lake

A few upscale stays on the lagoon side; quieter, need a car or taxi to the site.

Tulum or Valladolid

Most travellers sleep here and visit Coba as a day trip; Tulum about 45 min, Valladolid about 1 h.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
M$600–1,000 (≈ US$35–55) excl. bed
Mid
M$1,000–1,800 (≈ US$55–100) excl. bed
High
M$1,800 (≈ US$100)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Simple hotel double room1 × 1 night × MX$1,400MX$1,400
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × MX$1,300MX$2,600
Ruins entry, per person2 × MX$100 · Cash onlyMX$200
Cenote entry, each2 × MX$130MX$260
Bicycle rental at the ruins2 × MX$80MX$160
ADO bus Tulum–Coba, one way2 × MX$61MX$122
eSIM, about a week of data2 × MX$250MX$500
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeMX$524
Trip total≈ MX$2,883 per person per day, bed includedMX$5,766≈ US$350

2026 estimate in pesos; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeM$40–70 (≈ US$3–4)
Simple local meal (El Bocadillo and pueblo restaurants)M$120–250 (≈ US$7–14)
Beer: bottle at a restaurant / can at a shopM$50–90 (≈ US$3–5) / M$25–40 (≈ US$2–3)
Ruins entryCash only; free for Mexican citizens on Sundays and national holidays.M$100 (≈ US$6)
Evening special visitM$225 (≈ US$13)
Cenote entryM$130 (≈ US$8) each
Bicycle rental at the ruinsM$80 (≈ US$5)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

The ruins and pueblo are calm and well-policed; the real risks are heat, dehydration, uneven trails and cash-only entry. Keep to the paths by the lake because of crocodiles.
  • Entry is cash only (M$100 (≈ US$6)); ATMs and exchange offices are on the square in front of the entrance.
  • Climbing Nohoch Mul was banned for years and INAH allowed it again in 2025; rules can change, so check at the gate.
  • Heat and humidity are high year-round: carry water, a hat, mosquito repellent and sturdy shoes.
  • Crocodiles live in the lake by the site; stay on the road and paths.
  • Cenotes require a shower before swimming and charge about M$130 (≈ US$8) each.

Emergency numbers

All emergencies
911
Tourist assistance (Angel Verde / 078)
078

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

CobaCobá

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • All emergencies911
  • Tourist assistance078

Embassy

No embassy in Coba; the US consular agency is in Playa del Carmen, most embassies are in Mexico City (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • ADO bus Tulum → Coba: about M$61 (≈ US$4), about 1 h
  • ADO bus Playa del Carmen → Coba: about 2 h
  • ADO bus Cancún → Coba: about 3 h
  • Ruins entry: M$100 (≈ US$6) cash only

Say or show

  • Disculpe — Excuse me / Sorry (dees-KOOL-peh)
  • Gracias — Thank you (GRAH-syahs)
  • ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it? (KWAN-toh KWES-tah)
  • ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? — Can I pay by card? (PWEH-doh pah-GAR kon tar-HEH-tah)
  • ¿Dónde está el baño? — Where is the toilet? (DON-deh es-TAH el BAH-nyoh)
  • Tengo una reservación — I have a reservation (TEN-goh OO-nah reh-ser-vah-SYON)

Entry is cash only; carry small pesos.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Coba. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Nov–Apr · avoid Jun–Oct (heat, humidity, rain) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 5 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for CUN and TQO: last ADO departures field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: entrance and lake, Grupo Coba, Grupo Nohoch Mul, Grupo las Pinturas.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (ruins, Nohoch Mul climb status, three cenotes) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Heat and cash-only arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Mexico

Sources