Questions about Coba.

Chupacabra · 01-28-2003

In search of some constructive activities to break up a stretch of laying on the beach, I think I'll be taking a side trip to Coba in a few weeks. It's closer and cheaper than Chitchen Itza and, by all accounts, just as historic.

An adventurous friend of mine has been there thinks it a great idea for us. He told me that he stayed in a hotel in Coba. It was once a Club Med or similar type built in the 30's or 40's but is pretty much the only hotel in the area nowadays. My research has come up with only one hotel in Coba and it's named the Hotel Arquiologico.

If any has stayed here, I would love any feedback on the place.

I'd also like to hear if anyone has any suggestions/reasons to stay overnight in Coba. It seems like a small town but one worth checking out for a day or two.

Thanks

01-28-2003

I was in Coba a few weeks ago and don't remember seeing any hotels. In fact, I don't remember seeing much of anything in town. Granted, I just rode through town in a tour van and may not have seen the entire city. If you're just wanting to see the ruins and looking for something different, I'd suggest the adventure tour through Altournatives. I read the review on the main page of this site and decided to give it a try. It's an all day tour and ends with a couple hours exploring Coba. The cost was $86 US per person, but includes lunch and well worth it in my opinion. Our guides name was Luna. Otherwise, Coba was only an hour and a half drive (at the most) from Playa, so a day trip would be easy. Watch out for the potholes!

Stacey · 01-28-2003

A co-worker and his family stayed there about a year ago and he had good things to say about it. In fact, it was one of the places he mentioned in particular as a suggested place to stay (others include Hotel Delores Alba near Chichen-Itza and in Merida, and La Tortuguita Hotel (next to La Tortuga) in Playa. They included a night there on their tour of the Yucatan.

Here's the info he had from his itinerary:

*Villa Arqueologicas Coba, Coba, Q. Roo
800/258-2633
$82 double, rate includes breakfast, AE/MC/V

I can ask more specifics if you'd like!

chaltun · 01-28-2003

not knowing what your budget is, or how adventurous you are, there is the Hotel El Bocadito, right in Coba village. This small hotel also serves as the bus station and restaurant. I think this is the only place in the village itself. Your other hotel is near the ruins. Around $11 a nite, no a/c, just ceiling fan. The place is clean and the food wasnt too bad. Outside of the ruins there really is nothing to do in this small hamlet. In between the ruins and the village by the lake you can hire a boat/guide to find some crocodiles

Starfiremel · 01-28-2003

These are great hotels, small, well run, good food and there are several...Coba, Uxmal, Teotihuacan, Cholula...They are a 'Club Med' owned chain but are not anything like the other Club Med places, just well run family hotels near the ruins. We stayed several days at the one at Uxmal, and ate lunch at the one near Coba. The design is the same for each of them. The pool is in the center of the courtyard. We had fun watching the birds sail in to grab a drink of water from the pool. It was clean and several of the group enjoyed a swim after a long day at the ruins. The one at Coba is located about 1/2 mile from the ruins, in a very nice setting. Good choice!

BC Boy · 01-28-2003

My wife and i have been through the Club Med in Coba . On the
entrance to Coba you will come to a "T" in the road and there will be a lake in front of you . Turn to the left to go to the "ruins" and turn right to
"the Club" . It was old fashioned but very clean . The lake looks very inviting to go for a swim at the Med ! I wouldn't suggest it ! Loaded with CROC's you know! Have a good time . The Coba ruins are very interesting . Don't miss the pyramid ! It's worth the 2 km walk!!

Peggy Sue · 01-29-2003

We've stayed there several times over the years and it's lovely. Now that the highway is quite good most of the way, Coba's an easy day trip from Playa, and I don't see much point in spending the night there. We do like to shop at the ruins and along the way, but that doesn't take much time.

Key buy: Rustic carved animals and masks with glass marble eyes and (when appropriate) real "whiskers" made of pig bristles, I think. Not your typical delicate and elaborate alebrijes, by any means. The glass eyes are very much a local touch; I haven't seen them many other places. This wonderful folk art is also sold in front of houses along the jungle road leading to Coba.

Even if we're spending the night at the Villas, we eat at the little Nicte Ha ("water lily" in Maya) palapa restaurant right next door -- good cheap food, and I prefer it to El Bocadito, which seems to have huge tourist buses descend on it daily. Also, there's a little dock between the Nicte Ha and the Villas, and if you stand on it and feed bread to the fish, the crocodiles sometimes come right over to check out the situation.

Our little secret (one that it seems Starfiremel's discovered): Go to the poolside bar at the Villas, act casual -- as if you might be staying there -- buy yourself a drink and go for a swim. You will want both (a drink and a swim) after a few hot and humid hours spent exploring the ruins! Bonus: It's got the nicest bathroom within 50 km. We've been on the receiving end of a few suspicious looks, but nobody's ever asked us to leave. I think it helps to tip well.

One other suggestion: This is definitely the place to break out your 100% DEET insect repellent.

Laura Map chick · 01-30-2003

we stayed one night at the Club Med in Chichen Itza, it was very nice, we had 2 adjoining rooms , so the kids had their own room for only $83.00
The hotel was alot more luxury than we're used to! It had just recently been remodled

I know the one at Coba has been there along time, it was there the first time we went to Coba, over 12 years ago.

01-28-2003	#1 (permalink)
Chupacabra sandflea Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 9	Questions about Coba. In search of some constructive activities to break up a stretch of laying on the beach, I think I'll be taking a side trip to Coba in a few weeks. It's closer and cheaper than Chitchen Itza and, by all accounts, just as historic. An adventurous friend of mine has been there thinks it a great idea for us. He told me that he stayed in a hotel in Coba. It was once a Club Med or similar type built in the 30's or 40's but is pretty much the only hotel in the area nowadays. My research has come up with only one hotel in Coba and it's named the Hotel Arquiologico. If any has stayed here, I would love any feedback on the place. I'd also like to hear if anyone has any suggestions/reasons to stay overnight in Coba. It seems like a small town but one worth checking out for a day or two. Thanks

01-28-2003	#4 (permalink)
chaltun into ruins Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: New York City Posts: 71	coba not knowing what your budget is, or how adventurous you are, there is the Hotel El Bocadito, right in Coba village. This small hotel also serves as the bus station and restaurant. I think this is the only place in the village itself. Your other hotel is near the ruins. Around $11 a nite, no a/c, just ceiling fan. The place is clean and the food wasnt too bad. Outside of the ruins there really is nothing to do in this small hamlet. In between the ruins and the village by the lake you can hire a boat/guide to find some crocodiles

01-28-2003	#5 (permalink)
Starfiremel into ruins Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: 4 Corners Colorado Posts: 67	Villa Arqueologicas These are great hotels, small, well run, good food and there are several...Coba, Uxmal, Teotihuacan, Cholula...They are a 'Club Med' owned chain but are not anything like the other Club Med places, just well run family hotels near the ruins. We stayed several days at the one at Uxmal, and ate lunch at the one near Coba. The design is the same for each of them. The pool is in the center of the courtyard. We had fun watching the birds sail in to grab a drink of water from the pool. It was clean and several of the group enjoyed a swim after a long day at the ruins. The one at Coba is located about 1/2 mile from the ruins, in a very nice setting. Good choice!

01-29-2003	#7 (permalink)
Peggy Sue way into it Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 194	Villas Arqueologicas in Coba We've stayed there several times over the years and it's lovely. Now that the highway is quite good most of the way, Coba's an easy day trip from Playa, and I don't see much point in spending the night there. We do like to shop at the ruins and along the way, but that doesn't take much time. Key buy: Rustic carved animals and masks with glass marble eyes and (when appropriate) real "whiskers" made of pig bristles, I think. Not your typical delicate and elaborate alebrijes, by any means. The glass eyes are very much a local touch; I haven't seen them many other places. This wonderful folk art is also sold in front of houses along the jungle road leading to Coba. Even if we're spending the night at the Villas, we eat at the little Nicte Ha ("water lily" in Maya) palapa restaurant right next door -- good cheap food, and I prefer it to El Bocadito, which seems to have huge tourist buses descend on it daily. Also, there's a little dock between the Nicte Ha and the Villas, and if you stand on it and feed bread to the fish, the crocodiles sometimes come right over to check out the situation. Our little secret (one that it seems Starfiremel's discovered): Go to the poolside bar at the Villas, act casual -- as if you might be staying there -- buy yourself a drink and go for a swim. You will want both (a drink and a swim) after a few hot and humid hours spent exploring the ruins! Bonus: It's got the nicest bathroom within 50 km. We've been on the receiving end of a few suspicious looks, but nobody's ever asked us to leave. I think it helps to tip well. One other suggestion: This is definitely the place to break out your 100% DEET insect repellent.

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01-28-2003	#2 (permalink)
Guest Posts: n/a	I was in Coba a few weeks ago and don't remember seeing any hotels. In fact, I don't remember seeing much of anything in town. Granted, I just rode through town in a tour van and may not have seen the entire city. If you're just wanting to see the ruins and looking for something different, I'd suggest the adventure tour through Altournatives. I read the review on the main page of this site and decided to give it a try. It's an all day tour and ends with a couple hours exploring Coba. The cost was $86 US per person, but includes lunch and well worth it in my opinion. Our guides name was Luna. Otherwise, Coba was only an hour and a half drive (at the most) from Playa, so a day trip would be easy. Watch out for the potholes!

01-28-2003	#3 (permalink)
Stacey very sparkly Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 32	A co-worker and his family stayed there about a year ago and he had good things to say about it. In fact, it was one of the places he mentioned in particular as a suggested place to stay (others include Hotel Delores Alba near Chichen-Itza and in Merida, and La Tortuguita Hotel (next to La Tortuga) in Playa. They included a night there on their tour of the Yucatan. Here's the info he had from his itinerary: *Villa Arqueologicas Coba, Coba, Q. Roo 800/258-2633 $82 double, rate includes breakfast, AE/MC/V I can ask more specifics if you'd like!

01-28-2003	#6 (permalink)
BC Boy toe in water Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 54	My wife and i have been through the Club Med in Coba . On the entrance to Coba you will come to a "T" in the road and there will be a lake in front of you . Turn to the left to go to the "ruins" and turn right to "the Club" . It was old fashioned but very clean . The lake looks very inviting to go for a swim at the Med ! I wouldn't suggest it ! Loaded with CROC's you know! Have a good time . The Coba ruins are very interesting . Don't miss the pyramid ! It's worth the 2 km walk!!

01-30-2003	#8 (permalink)
Laura Map chick lost on fifth Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 15	we stayed one night at the Club Med in Chichen Itza, it was very nice, we had 2 adjoining rooms , so the kids had their own room for only $83.00 The hotel was alot more luxury than we're used to! It had just recently been remodled I know the one at Coba has been there along time, it was there the first time we went to Coba, over 12 years ago.

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