Merida to Cenote Yokdzonot and Coba: Day trip

With a diameter of 40 meters, Cenote Yokdzonot is one of the largest in the Yucatan. Surrounded by lush jungle, the roots of ancient trees hang over the 18-meter-high walls of this “open” cenote, creating a waterfall of wood. Unlike many cenotes, the area around Yokdzonot hasn’t been built up. Rather, two women from the local community laid each stone in the walking path and cut the wooden railings by hand to preserve the site’s natural beauty. They only buildings here are the palapa-roofed bathrooms and a small restaurant cooking traditional local food. As usual with cenotes, don’t use sunblock or bug repellent before getting in the water!

Founded around the 1st century BC, the Mayan city of Coba was a regional powerhouse thanks to its agricultural holdings. At its peak around 900 AD, the 80 km² settlement was home to an estimated 50,000 inhabitants. While its importance dwindled following a power struggle with Chichén Itzá, Coba remained in use up until the arrival of the Spanish. Today, the excavated parts of the site have revealed the largest network of roads in the Mayan world. These ancient highways connected Coba with other Mayan cities, and all emanate from the central pyramid. The Ixmoja pyramid, located in the Nohuch Mul temple group, is the tallest in the Northern Yucatan at 42 meters (138 feet) high, and offers amazing views of the entire archaeological site for those who brave its steep set of 120 steps.