Quintana Roo

Information and Tourism

Situated in the south-east of Mexico, on the Yucatán Peninsula, Quintana Roo is the youngest state in Mexico, being granted statehood as recently as 1974. It was around this time that Quintana Roo began to take off as a popular tourist destination. Since then, coastal hotels and resorts have risen up at a rapid pace, causing concerns about habitat loss for some of the state's most vulnerable ecosystems, including its tropical forests and coral reefs.

It is easy to see the attraction of the tropical coastline known as the Riviera Maya. Studded with sandy white beach resorts and sporting the second-largest coral reef in the world, it is most people's idea of paradise. This part of Quintana Roo has something of a reputation for being brash and busy, but avoid the beachfront clubs and the party city of Cancun, and peace and quiet can be yours to enjoy - all on your own.

As well as having the natural attractions of lush forests and beautiful beaches, Quintana Roo has close links with one of the earliest human civilisations in the region. Amidst the state's remote landscape, there are more archaeologically excavated sites dating back to Mayan times than anyone could ever hope to visit in the average summer holiday.

Established in the area as long ago as 2000 BC, the Mayan culture is a source of endless fascination. Archaeological sites like the one found at Coba, which is thought to have been home to around 50,000 people in its heyday, make interesting day trips. Many Mayan sites are relatively recent discoveries. Those that have been opened to the public are becoming more and more popular.

Quintana Roo is particularly susceptible to severe hurricanes between the months of July and October. In 1988, Hurricane Gilbert brought widespread destruction. One of the more recent, Hurricane Dean, struck the state in 2007.

Quintana Roo Information and Fast Facts

• Country: Mexico
• Main administrative town or city: Chetumal
• Biggest city: Cancun
• Population: approximately 1.4 million
• Language: Spanish
• Area: 16,350 square miles / 42,345 square kilometres

	WORLD GUIDES TO QUINTANA ROO
	World Guide to Cancun, Mexico Cancun is one of Mexico's newest coastal resorts and was developed to replicate some of the success of Acapulco. The city is divided into two main regions, Ciudad Cancun (downtown) and also the Hotel Zone (Zona Hotelera).
	World Guide to Cozumel, Mexico Located to the south of Cancun city and near to the Yucatan Peninsula, Cozumel is a scenic island and actually Mexico's largest island. Cozumel is home to incredible Mayan ruins and the neighbouring Caribbean Sea lends itself to scuba diving.

Map of Mexico