Yes, you can climb Cobá's great jungle pyramid again. After six years closed to visitors, Mexico's national heritage institute INAH reopened the ascent of Nohoch Mul on December 8, 2025, fitting a new wooden staircase over the original 120 stone steps so travelers can once more stand on top of one of the tallest pyramids in the Maya world. If you missed your chance during the closure, 2026 is the year to make the trip back into the jungle. Here is what changed, what the new rules are, and how to build Cobá into your Tulum trip.
The reopening of Nohoch Mul and the new climbing rules
Nohoch Mul, which means "large mound" in Maya, rises 42 meters (137 feet) above the forest canopy, making it one of the tallest pyramids anywhere in the Maya world and taller than the more famous El Castillo at Chichén Itzá, which has been off-limits to climbers for years. During the six-year closure the structure was studied and stabilized, and the solution INAH chose is a new wooden staircase built directly over the 120 original steps, protecting the ancient stone while giving visitors a safer, more even climb to the summit.
The climb now runs on a managed schedule. Ascents are allowed between 8:00 and 15:30, visitors go up in groups of about 15 people at a time, and there is a limit of roughly 15 minutes at the top so everyone gets their turn at the view. The practical takeaway is simple: arrive early. Getting to the site near opening means shorter waits for your group slot, cooler temperatures for the steep climb, and the best light over the endless green canopy.
Explore the site by bike along the sacbeob
Cobá is not a compact plaza you stroll around in twenty minutes. It is a sprawling ancient city connected by sacbeob, the raised white limestone roads the Maya built to link temples and plazas across the jungle. That scale shapes how you visit: you can explore on foot, rent a bicycle, or hire a bici-taxi, a three-wheeled pedicab where a local driver pedals you between the main groups of ruins.
Renting a bike is the classic Cobá experience. Gliding down a shady sacbe with the forest closing in on both sides and the pyramid waiting at the end of the trail is something you simply cannot do at the more polished archaeological parks. Most visitors spend around two to three hours here, and biking lets you cover the distances and still have energy left for the climb up Nohoch Mul.
Cobá vs. Chichén Itzá and Tulum
If you are deciding which ruins to prioritize, each is different. Chichén Itzá is the grand, restored World Wonder, but it is crowded and its main pyramid cannot be climbed. Tulum is the postcard cliff-top ruin above a turquoise beach, stunning but small and roped off. Cobá is the wild one: a vast jungle city where you move by bike along ancient causeways and, as of December 2025, actually climb the tallest pyramid in the area. For travelers who want to feel the ruins rather than just photograph them, Cobá now offers something the other two cannot.
Cenotes near Cobá
One of the best reasons to linger is the cluster of cenotes just south of the ruins. Choo-Ha, Tankach-Ha, and Multum-Ha are three cave cenotes within easy reach, each a dramatic underground chamber of cool, clear freshwater ringed by stalactites. After a hot morning of biking and climbing, dropping into one is the perfect reward, turning Cobá into a full half-day rather than a quick photo stop.
How to get to Cobá from Tulum or Cancún
Cobá is easy to reach, which is part of why it pairs so well with a beach base. From Tulum it is only about 47 kilometers, roughly a 45-minute drive inland along a good road. From Cancún or Playa del Carmen you are looking at a longer but straightforward drive south and then west. Renting a car gives you the freedom to arrive right at opening, which matters more than ever now that climbing runs on timed groups. Colectivos and guided tours from Tulum are also common if you prefer not to drive. Bring water, sun protection, and shoes with grip for the wooden staircase, and carry cash for bike rentals, bici-taxis, and cenote entry.
FAQ
Can you climb the pyramid at Cobá in 2026? Yes. INAH reopened the ascent of Nohoch Mul on December 8, 2025, after six years closed, using a new wooden staircase over the original 120 steps.
What are the rules for climbing Nohoch Mul? Ascents run from 8:00 to 15:30, visitors climb in groups of about 15 people, and there is a limit of roughly 15 minutes at the summit.
How tall is the Cobá pyramid? Nohoch Mul stands 42 meters (137 feet), making it one of the tallest pyramids in the entire Maya world.
How far is Cobá from Tulum? About 47 kilometers, or roughly a 45-minute drive inland, which makes it an easy day trip from the coast.
As a local guide who lives and travels this region, Kev can help you time a Cobá visit around the new climbing schedule and fold it into a smooth Tulum itinerary. Explore more inbound guides and start planning your trip here.