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Nohoch Mul is recognized as one of the tallest Mayan pyramids in the Yucatán Peninsula, located within the archaeological site of Cobá.
Between 2019 and 2026, access to the Nohoch Mul pyramid remained restricted due to the wear caused by the constant flow of visitors. It is important to remember that this pyramid is one of the few in the Yucatán Peninsula that visitors are allowed to climb.
If you’re a traveler who loves adventure and learning about the ancient Maya civilization, then this is the perfect plan for your next visit to Quintana Roo.
As part of the efforts to protect the integrity of the Nohoch Mul structure, the Government of Quintana Roo developed a strategy that allows tourists to continue enjoying the experience while preserving the monument.
Since 2019, climbing the pyramid has been suspended due to the severe wear caused over the years by the large number of visitors walking on the original steps. To prevent further damage to the structure, specialists conducted a detailed topographic survey of each of its 120 steps in order to design a wooden stairway. This solution now allows visitors to ascend the pyramid while protecting the original structure underneath.
Standing 42 meters (137 feet) tall, Nohoch Mul (whose name in the Maya language literally means “great mound”) stands out as one of the tallest pyramids in the Yucatán Peninsula.
Cobá still preserves a unique physical connection to the past, allowing visitors to climb its main pyramid and reach the summit. In addition, this ancient Maya city offers an authentic atmosphere, making it ideal to explore by bicycle through the different areas of the archaeological site or to visit nearby cenotes hidden within the jungle.
To make your visit as smooth as possible, keep the following updated rules in mind. These measures were designed to protect the site while ensuring a quality experience for visitors:
Cobá is strategically located just 47 kilometers (29 miles) from Tulum, making it a perfect destination for a day trip.
Talking about Nohoch Mul inevitably leads to its great contemporary, and in some ways, rival, Chichén Itzá. Both cities were once connected through a vast network of ancient roads and complex commercial and political relationships. However, the visitor experience in each destination is very different and perfectly complementary.
At Chichén Itzá, the famous Temple of Kukulcán (also known as El Castillo) amazes visitors with its astronomical precision and the spectacular play of light and shadow that appears during each equinox, forming the image of the descending Feathered Serpent.
In Cobá, however, the magic is more tangible. At Chichén Itzá, we admire architectural perfection from the ground; in Cobá, we experience the grandeur from the top.
To put it into perspective, the Pyramid of Kukulcán stands about 30 meters (98 feet) tall to its upper platform. Nohoch Mul rises 12 meters higher, offering sweeping views over the surrounding jungle that its Yucatán counterpart cannot match.
It’s the difference between observing geometric and astronomical precision from a distance, as in Chichén Itzá, and feeling fully immersed in the jungle landscape from the highest point in Cobá.