Coba, Archaeological site in Quintana Roo, Mexico

Coba is an archaeological site in Quintana Roo, Mexico, that encompasses several settlements spread across roughly 70 square kilometers. The structures are linked by a network of raised white limestone pathways called sacbes that run between the different areas.

The settlement began around 100 CE and grew into a major urban center with roughly 50,000 people by the ninth century. It later lost influence to Chichén Itzá, which became the dominant power in the region.

The name's meaning is debated: Spanish sources propose "water with moss" or "cloudy water" from the nearby lakes, while INAH researchers suggest "water of the chachalacas" or "abundant water." In 2020 the names of fourteen rulers who governed between 500 and 780 AD were identified, including a woman named Yopaat. Stelae at the site record ceremonial life and events of the Late Classic Period.

Bicycles can be rented at the entrance to explore the grounds, as distances between structures are considerable. Guided tours in several languages are available, and a visit typically takes between three and five hours.

Ixmoja, the tallest of the Nohoch Mul group, rises 42 metres, but Calakmul exceeds it at 45 metres. The pyramid's upper face is split by a central recess running down the stonework. Coba's sacbeob, raised white roads of stone, sand, shell and plaster, include one running over 100 kilometres west to Yaxuná.