The once great city of Coba, one of the most beautiful Maya ruins, is nestled in the Yucatan's thick jungle and surrounded by exquisite lakes nearby. Its name means ''water stirred by wind'' and started to become a major independent community at the time Roman legions were on their way to building an empire.
The city flourished between 600-900 AD and by the end of the Classic period, it had become a major Maya city-state with a population of about 60,000 inhabitants.
Archeologists have discovered many links, including similar architectural carvings and decoration, to the great Maya city of Tikal (Guatemala) and it is believed that noble and royalty from both cities intermarried in order to strengthen political power. Its control over the Yucatecan trade routes gave the city a commercial sphere of influence aiding it to thrive.
During the Post-Classic (1000-1200 AD), Coba lost its dominance to cities like Tulum as its political and commercial influence crumbled. If you have the chance to visit Coba, you will discover what may have been one of the largest of all Maya cities.
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