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Description
Coba is a huge ancient Maya city on the Yucatán Peninsula located around two lagoons, Lake Coba and Lake Macanxoc. One of the main attractions of Cobá is the ability to walk up the stairs to the top of the site’s tallest structure – the Nohoch Mul pyramid, some 42 metres in height. On top of the pyramid you have a great view over the surrounding lowland forest. The rest of the site is huge – it’s just over a mile to the pyramid from the gate, and there are miles of wide trails to walk or bike.
The birding at Cobá is great. Start as early as you can and head directly to the top of the pyramid before the crowds arrive. Enjoying the view and seeing and hearing many birds is a fantastic experience. You can see birds like Collared Aracari, Keel-billed Toucan and lots of woodcreepers, flycatchers and songbirds.
When the crowds arrive at the top, it's the time to leave the pyramid and explore the rest of the site. A good option is renting a bike at the entrance if you want to see all of the site. But for birding the lowland jungle walking is the best option. There are lots of wide trails to follow. Nice birds you can encounter hidden in the dense jungle are Ocellated Turkey, Lineated Woodpecker, Yucatan Woodpecker, Yucatan Jay, Green-backed Sparrow, Red-throated Ant Tanagers, Yellow-billed Cacique, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Barred Antshrike, and many more. If you also visit one of the lakes, your trip list will grow even further. Walking around Lake Coba (which is actually outside the archaeological site), you can observe birds such as Limpkin, Northern Jacana and Anhinga.
Details
Access
The ruins of Coba lie 47 km northwest of Tulum. The archaeological zone is reached by a two-kilometer branch from the asphalt road connecting Tulum with Nuevo Xcán on the Valladolid to Cancún highway. Cobá Archaeological Zone is a large site consisting of several groups of ruins. Be there when the site opens at 8:00am. You can park in the parking lot at the entrance. Click on the P in the map for directions or coordinates. From the parking head directly to the site’s premier feature – the pyramid of Nohoch Mul (see the star on the map).
Terrain and Habitat
Forest , LakeConditions
FlatCircular trail
YesIs a telescope useful?
NoGood birding season
All year roundBest time to visit
Spring , WinterRoute
Wide pathDifficulty walking trail
EasyAccessible by
Foot , BicycleBirdwatching hide / platform
NoExtra info
Photo Ocellated Turkey by Bernard DUPONT, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo Piramyd Coba by Андрей Бобровский, CC BY 3.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Photo view over forest from Piramyd Coba by Muñoz LC, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons