Coba

Cobá was a major ancient Maya city in present-day Quintana Roo that grew from a modest settlement between about 50 BC and 100 AD into one of the most powerful centers in the northern Yucatán during the Classic period. Its strength rested on fertile farmland, water, trade, and especially its vast network of stone causeways linking nearby communities and distant sites, including Yaxuná. At its height, Cobá may have held around 50,000 people across about 80 square kilometers. Its stelae record ceremonies and rulers, including women. Though weakened after 600 AD by rising rivals such as Chichén Itzá, it remained an important religious center for centuries.

Quintana Roo · Mexico