EASY DAY TRIPS FROM PLAYA – PART 2 COBÁ

Welcome back to Part 2 of this series of easy day trips.  This time we will look at making a day trip to the Cobá Ruins, the cenotes that are close to the ruins as well as stops in the Pueblos of Francisco Uh May and Manuel Antonio Ay.   From Playa del Carmen, the trip non-stop to the Cobá Ruins should take you about 1.5 hours.  Simply head south on the Carretera Federal (Mexico 307) to the junction of Mexico 109. The road is safe and in great condition.  Along the way you will pass through the 2 Pueblos mentioned above.  Watch you speed and the many topes entering and exiting each Pueblo as well as the ones in town.  You will see many Craft shops especially in Francisco Uh May.  Save them for the trip home.  This Mayan Pueblo is truly unique and still follows many of the Mayan Traditions.  

The Cobá Ruins cover a huge area.  There is a lot of walking involved so comfortable shoes are a must as well as insect repellent.  You will be heading into the selva (jungle) and it is a couple of kilometers from the Parking Area to the Pyramid of Nohoch Mul.  Unfortunately, you can no longer climb but the ruins are impressive and there are many sights to see along the way.  If you are lucky, many colorful birds and even Spider Monkeys can still be seen.

As with visiting the Tulum Ruins, an early start is best, 7:30 am to 8:00 am should get you there in the above-mentioned time frame.  As part of the whole experience, if you haven’t had breakfast, stop along the way as you enter Tulum at one of the many roadside food stands.  The food is fresh, authentic and you will see many Locals enjoying the homecooked foods.  Tacos, Tortas of Colchinita (Pork) as well as Pavo (turkey) and many other delicacies.

Once you arrive in Cobá, there is a small fee to park.  This money goes to the Pueblo itself.  There are ticket booths to pay your entry fee and if you are a Resident, there is a discount.  Again, I would strongly suggest a Local Guide.  The area is rich in history and learning about the importance of the city to the region, is extremely interesting. Guides are Certified, are local and possess great knowledge of the area. Travel light is the rule, and you may want to bring some water.  There are no services for bathrooms in the ruins and there is only one refreshment stand available and that is after a very long walk or bike ride to the Pyramid.

The first group of ruins is located not far from the entrance, your guide will explain the significance and lead you to the Ball Court.  After visiting the Ball Court, the Tour continues and to do that you will either need to rent a bicycle or hire a Mayan Taxi which is a tricycle that can carry 2 people plus your “Driver”.  If you listen closely, you will not hear English or Spanish spoken.  The language among the “Drivers” is Yucatecan Maya.  I won’t go into the history of the site; I will leave that to your Guide.  For the full experience and enjoy the local flora and fauna take your time in the site.  There will be plenty of day left for other adventures.  

Cobá Pueblo is very small, however there are several inexpensive options for lunch unless you have made other arrangements to bring snacks and drinks.  The Pesos you spend go to the Community.  If you have time, walk over to the Lagoon and from the shore sometimes you will find some lazy cocodrillos (crocodiles) hanging out in the reeds.

There are 4 Cenotes within a 5 kilometer drive of the Ruins.  As you exit the parking lot make a left and continue following the road along the perimeter of the Lagoon, there will be a sign directing you to make another left to head out to the Cenotes.  A few kilometers from the Lagoon there is a small Palapa where you can buy tickets to each of the 4 Cenotes.  You can purchase a ticket for one, two, three or all 4.  I suggest you select one or two from the brochure that they have available.  The cenotes are of varying types, open and completely enclosed.   Regardless of which one you choose; they are all interesting and refreshing.  The cenotes have changing rooms and showers.  Chalecos (lifevests) are not required, but available at an additional cost.  The number of cenotes you visit will be determined by how early you began your trek, how long you stayed at the Ruins, etc.  If you plan to visit the craft shops and see a little bit of the Pueblo Francisco Uh May, plan your time accordingly.  Chances are you will have these cenotes all to yourself or pretty much close to it.  The Tours going to Cobá usually don’t include these options and since they are somewhat off the beaten path a great alternative to some of the more commercially advertised cenotes closer to Tulum.

As you head back to Tulum, the second Pueblo which is closest to Tulum is Francisco Uh May.  Along the highway are many craft stores as well as Talavera.  In the larger stores, prices are fixed so negotiating prices unless you are buying in quantity will be difficult.  Time permitting, exit the highway and drive through the unseen part of town.  This is where the Local Maya and Artisans live and work.  

In the next part of this series, we will look at planning the best day at Chichén Itzá.