Coba ruins and cenote swimming

We were up early, and on the road by 9:00am. We had an hour and forty minute drive to the Coba ruins, and there was heavy traffic getting out of Playa del Carmen. In fact, it was heavy all the way to Tulum.

It's unbelievable how much this area has developed since the first time we were here in 2003. In fact, even since we were here in 2018 it seems a lot busier. Especially the Tulum area.

The Coba ruins are located about 40 minutes inland from the coast at Tulum. Ruth and I took the local bus there back in 2003. And then we were there again in December 2008 with our motorhome Sherman.

Like everything else, prices have gone up quite a lot. Partly because the local municipality of Coba charges a fee, and then you have to pay the federal fee as well. So now it's 195 pesos per person ($13.90 CAD, $9.70 USD) per person. And another 60 pesos for parking. Fortunately, Sadie was free.

We saw a couple of Ocellated Turkeys. 

They wouldn't stand still, so the photos are a little fuzzy!

It wasn't busy at all!

When we were here last time, we were able to enter that section behind Cameron.

But there were some tunnels to go through.

Sadie.

Mayan ruins.

Unfortunately, they have a lot of sections roped off that were accessible in the past.

Cameron caught a little lizard.

The ball court.

We pretty much had the place to ourselves, at the beginning.

A second ball court.

The main pyramid.

Really unfortunate that you are no longer able to climb the main pyramid. Apparently it was roped off at the beginning of Covid, and never re-opened. But that was part of the attraction of the place, and maybe that's a reason why things aren't so busy here anymore. Also, they are rebuilding and modernizing the entrance to that section, and I think it would have been better just leaving it the way it was. 

This gives you a better idea of how steep the steps are.

Modernizing the entrance. Somehow doesn't quite fit in.

We saw a monkey!

Hanging by its tail.

It was fun to watch.

Another structure.

Not sure what they're looking at!

Pretty fungus.

Sadie.

Sadie.

Lindsey and Sadie.

A saw a small false coral snake. 

Again, a little fuzzy because it wouldn't stop moving!

Taking a break... we did a lot of walking!

We thought we found a small structure that we could climb on.

But we got up there, and there was a sign that said no climbing!

It was fun wandering around, but not as good as it used to be. I mean, of course this is the third time Ruth and I had been there, but without being able to climb on the structures, it's not nearly as good as it once was. 

We exited the ruins site, and found a little Mayan taco stand that had delicious tacos for 20 pesos ($1.40 CAD, $0.99 USD) each.

It's taco time!

From there, we drove another 5 kms or so to a group of three cenotes. Cenotes are underground caves here in the Yucatan, and many have fresh water in them and have been transformed into natural swimming pools.

Of course there are a lot of iguanas around!

Heading down into the cenote.

The kids got a real kick out of this.

It didn't take Sadie long to get in!

For a while, we almost had the place to ourselves.

Lindsey is like me... she doesn't like getting into cold water!

Group photo!

Long drive back to Playa del Carmen. We took the back way to the main highway that runs between Cancun and Merida, then the relatively new toll road that runs from there down to Playa del Carmen. It cost 136 pesos ($9.70 CAD, $6.75 USD) for the 40 km (25 mile) toll section. Most toll roads in Mexico are quite expensive.

We relaxed for an hour, then went back to the El Fogon restaurant where the food was just as good on our second visit.

Where they cook the meat for the arrachera and the al pastor.

Sadie, Lindsey, Cameron, and Ruth.

It was a busy day! Afterwards, we stopped in at the Walmart and picked up a few things. The store hadn't seemed like it was overly busy, but we got to the cash and there were huge lineups. Just not enough cashiers I guess. It took us forty minutes to get through the checkout!

Just a relaxing day today though...we're heading back to the beach!

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