Getting to Coba
 

Hi, we are staying in Tulum and while I had planned to see the Tulum ruins and then save Chitchen Itza for another trip, Coba sounds intriguing. We will be there at the end of July (I know, HOT!) Any advice? If possible does anyone know the particulars of getting there? We prefer to use taxis if possible. Is it a long ride? It would be 4 adults, two children. Thanks so much for any info!

Coba is less than an hour away from Tulum.
We'd planned to go but the kids had seen enough ruins after visiting Tulum!
We drove along the "Coba Road" for about 6km and visited a few cenotes instead.
We went to Chichen Itza on a previous trip and the kids loved it because they could climb the pyramid (no longer allowed I understand).

Tulum ruins are fairly easy to walk around, go early (8am) and don't forget the beautiful beach just below the ruins (great views!). Coba, I've heard is very spread out and bikes are recommended for touring the site. Again go early as tours arrive shortly after 9 or 10am.

Taking a taxi to Coba would be expensive. It will take about an hour to get there depending on traffic and I would arrive as close to 8 as possible which is when they open. From Tulum it is a straight drive west until you get to the traffic circle. In the circle go 3/4 of the way around and drive south to the ruins. There are bike rentals and pedicab rentals if you don't want to walk. It is a more covered, jungle atmosphere than Tulum or Chichen Itza but it can still be very humid and sticky. Take lots of water. The admission is fairly inexpensive (I think it was around 3.50 USD and the restrooms are 2 pesos to use them. The castillo is the tallest in the Yucatan and you can still climb it. I've always rented a car to go so I'm not sure of the taxi price. Also, with 4 adults and 2 kids you would need more than one taxi. The ruins at Tulum are not nearly as impressive as the site at Coba both for structural interest, size of the area and history. Another ruin that I absolutely loved was Ek Balam which is near Chichen Itza if you ever get out that way.

Thanks very much for the reply!

How much time would you say it would take to see Coba? Assuming you arrive at 8am primarily to beat the heat, when do you think that you'd be satisfied with what you saw? Thanks!

I would say two hours would do it but I've been back three times so I see different stuff that I missed the other times. I get there at 8 for the heat and crowds. It's not as crowded as Chichen Itza but it still gets a bunch of people. Plus that way I still have half a day to do something else.

Thanks for the responses!

Okay, so I am now thinking about renting a car. Any recommendations?
Thanks to all!

I've rented from Budget, Avis, Hertz, Easyway, Ace, Caribbean, and Executive. Executive has gone a little high in my opinion and Ace uses their services and are better priced. Avis is a bit hit with my friend who rents every two weeks or so down there at the airport. She really likes them and the cars are always new and clean. I rented from Caribbean/American a couple of week ago in Playa and Carlos came and brought the car right to the condo and then returned to pick it up a week later. My parents were in town so I needed to shuttle them around. I had not complaints about Caribbean at all and went with the 0%deductible. I've also had good luck with Hertz. I'm not sure who the car rentals are down Tulum way; maybe someone else can help you out with that. Be aware of the topes (speed bumps) in the road that you will have to slow down for; some are marked and some are not. They exist on the road to Coba and also on 307. Also, driving rules are a little different in MX such as not stopping in your travel lane to make a left hand turn but pull off to the shoulder to do so and be sure not to speed. If someone is trying to pass you which is frequent use the shoulder for your vehicle while they pass if possible. I drive there all the time so once you get used to it it's not a big deal. If you see a military checkpoint which have been around sometimes they will flag you over to look through the car. It's ok.

Thanks Colokid! I was tooling around on the web looking for rentals and it looks like the local rental agencies throw all of the insurance etc. in with their quote. The one that I was looking at is called car rental America, (I think) anyway, a local agency might be my best bet because I want to pick up at Cancun airport and drop in Tulum. Do you have any experience with this? I am a little nervous about driving in Mexico, but I will just drive like an old lady, and hope for the best. Thanks for all of you kind info. Much appreciated!

American and Caribbean car rental are the same people. Not all quotes include 0% deductible but I would recommend it if you've not driven there before. I dealt with Carlos in PDC and had no problems at all. Most car rental companies include some insurance but the 0% is more and usually works out costing more than the original rental. Read the fine print online and make sure you print off copies of anything once you've made a reservation. Also, booking online usually gives you a better rate than renting once you get there. I always pick up and drop off at the same place so I don't know about additional costs for that but I seem to remember American/Carib didn't charge extra for that.

We used Easyway. It was the cheapest inc. insurance for 8 days ($400). we were picked up at the airport and dropped at the airport on return. The car was clean but a little worn.
(Avis car was around $100 more and smaller).

We were glad we had the car the whole time as it made even short trips bearable (with the ac in the car blasting out). Without a car we'd have spent more time at the condo during the middle of the day.

Easyway was the only car I've ever had engine problems with.

Awesome info! Thanks!

There's a Budget desk at the reception of the Cabanas Copal in Tulum. I'm sure they can help you get to Coba for the day.

Even at 8am, it's going to be real hot there in July. Bring plenty of water and make sure you hire a guide.

We rented from Avis two weeks ago and got a good rate with all insurance - at least it was lots less than Hertz. It ran about $62 a day with 100 percent coverage of all insurance. We rented at the Avis desk at Dreams Tulum where we stayed but I had made the reservation on the web at Avis. The local rep indicated that this was a very good rate. The driving is easy. My main advice is be VERY alert to the topes (speed bumps), some are not well marked, and do not speed. If someone comes up on you and wants to pass pull over to the shoulder (they tend to be pretty wide on the roads around Tulum and on the way to Coba) and let them around. The road to Coba passes through several small villages and each one has many topes so go slow over them. Some are big enough to rip out the underside of the car if you hit them fast. Small parking fee at Coba but you can park right at the entrance area.
Parking was free at Tulum ruins.

I don't know...I think that's a bit high. I usually pay around $45 for full ins. and that's what I paid two weeks ago with Caribbean. My friend paid just about the same with Avis at the airport at the same time. It could be that you're renting at a resort.

That's funny... 10 days ago we paid to park at Tulum ruins. $3 or $4.

After fairly extensive research $50 a day was the cheapest rental we could find.(Easyway). Most were considerably more expensive.

$62 a day sounds around what we were quoted by Avis.

I don't know...but I did see her bill and it was $45. At the airport though so that could be a difference. I just paid $228 for the week from Caribbean with 0 deductible. In all the years I've been renting down there I've never paid more than $50 a day.

My apologies - there was a parking fee at Tulum parking lot. Not much but there was one. I did not think the $62 was out or reason since Hertz was quoting over $100 a day for same class of car and coverage. I agree that perhaps I could have gotten cheaper from local company but for peace of mind I prefer to use one of the big boys just in case I get into a dispute. I do the same in the islands as well. Might cost a bit more but I worry less.