For some reason, we had never visited Coba Ruinas, another Mayan archeological site located 40 kilometres from Tulum. Since we have a car, we decided to give it a shot.

The parking lot by the entrance was completely flooded and a sign warned of crocodiles in Laguna Coba. We felt like Indiana Jones already.

The three main structures were located several kilometres apart, so we walked in the jungle on a bumpy and rocky path. First, Grupo Coba and its huge “church” that, unfortunately, we were not allowed to climb, plus a couple of ball courts. Then Grupo Macanxoc with mystic stelae, glyphs and frescoes. Finally, we reached the main pyramid, the 42-meter-tall Nohoc Mul. This is where I had the brilliant idea to climb it with Mark.

We’ve climbed many pyramids over the years, in Mexico, Belize and Guatemala so I knew what to expect. First, structures are steeper than they seem. The steps are tiny and slippery and, of course, these pyramids are somewhat restored but they are still “ruinas” so it’s not a smooth climb.

Mark on my hip, I made my way up. I stopped a few metres short of the top as the steps were getting dangerously steep.

We looked down. Mark wasn’t so impressed.

That kid will kill me.

The fun part was going down. It’s usually hard on the knee but this time, with a twelve-kilo toddler on me, I had to use all my muscles and trust me, I felt it!

I left Mark at the bottom of the pyramid (unfazed, he resumed his favourite activity: playing hide and seek behind the trees) and climb it again, this time all the way to the top. The view on the surrounding jungle was pretty awesome.