Best Ruins to see while in Cozumel

[scrappynancy]

Hi was wondering what would be the best Ruins to go see while in Cozumel. My DH wants to go to the ruins. I am a beach girl and will not be going. He would like opinions on which would be the best to go to. We are leaving from Miami on November 1, 2015. Any help or insight on this would be great. Thanks in advance.

[crewsweeper]

The best ruins to see are probably in Coba on the mainland, assuming your ship sponsors an excursion to the site. It's an all day trek and you may not have a lot of time there. 2nd best, and primarily for the setting, is Tulum. Again a ship excursion is probably the way to go, although you can do it on your own or through a private vendor. Close attention should be paid to time of ship departure and ferry return times. Again consider this an all day excursion.

 

On Cozumel, there is a smaller set of ruins, San Gervasio, about a 25 minute taxi ride from the south piers, 15 minutes from the downtown pier. Small entrance fee. These are the magnificent ruins you see in pictures but are representative of how some coastal oriented Mayans lived.

[Jen1000]

What are the options the cruise line offers? If Coba or Chichen Itza, those are the best. Tulum a far back third and then those on Cozumel in last place.

 

Hi was wondering what would be the best Ruins to go see while in Cozumel. My DH wants to go to the ruins. I am a beach girl and will not be going. He would like opinions on which would be the best to go to. We are leaving from Miami on November 1, 2015. Any help or insight on this would be great. Thanks in advance.

[scrappynancy]

Thanks i will look into all of them.

[ABQrobin]

Chichen Itza is FAR away from Cozumel. It would be a 10+ hour day with maybe 90 minutes at the ruins themselves. Don't do it from Cozumel. If you want to see Chichen Itza, which I HIGHLY recommend, do it from Progreso.

 

Tulum and Coba are on the Mainland, but much closer so a shorter trip. Tulum is a small site, very touristy and crowded at times, but pretty and on a beach cliffside. (this is the one you see in all the photos) Coba is in the jungle about 30 minutes inland from Tulum and is only partially excavated. It has some huge structures and is much more representative of Mayan cities.

 

San Gervasio is a small set of ruins ON Cozumel island. Small, not a real city but just a set of structures where women from the mainland would go to pray for fertility.

 

BETTER Mayan ruins tours are from Belize and Costa Maya, IMHO. If you are stopping at either of those ports, I would recommend you do a ruin tour there.

 

I have been to all 4 of those mentioned above, and enjoyed them all... but all 3 on the Mainland are long trips. It just depends what you want to do.

[msmayor]

We did the Coba ruins on our trip last year and certainly enjoyed them...despite the long day.

 

We took a ship excursion to be certain the ship would be there for us. We were escorted off the ship first to a waiting ferry for the ride to the mainland, then boarded buses for the drive to the ruins. Very informative guide on the bus who gave us a great history of the Mayans and explained what we would see.

 

We had about 90-100 minutes at the ruins. Our guide took us to a few of the sites and explained what we were seeing (really helpful, and gave us a great sense of what life was like there) and then we were able to be off on our own. The nice thing about Coba is you can get up close to the ruins and climb...my husband made the trek up the largest structure there and said the view was incredible.

 

We got back on the bus and stopped for a late lunch at a restaurant in a cave near the ferry. Very tasty!! Then we were off to catch the ferry, again skipping lines by arrangement. Pulled up to the dock, walked on to the ship and within 30 minutes the ship dropped lines and was off.

 

FULL day, but well worth it. I did this excursion because my husband really wanted to see the ruins, but I ended up liking it so much I can't wait to see more on a future trip.

[mrsfuzzmo]

Coba are by far my favorite ruins (of those that I've seen in the Riv Maya area). Loved climbing the pyramid, although it was very tiring! :) It was worth it!

 

Definitely go on a ship's tour if you are going to try and hit Coba from Cozumel. It will definitley be a long day. I recommend hiring the pedi-cabs in Coba as well if you want to see more in a shorter time. Worth the $20 or so.

[Kosmo1986]

Anyone who has been to San Gervasio, have any suggestions on transportation from the cruise ships? I want to go after we get off the ship and leave some beach/drinking in the afternoon.