Ranked list of Mexican states
By area
Table:
Rank	State	Area

1	Chihuahua	247,087

2	Sonora	184,934

3	Coahuila	151,571

4	Durango	119,648

5	Oaxaca	95,364

6	Jalisco	80,137

7	Tamaulipas	79,829

8	Zacatecas	75,040

9	Chiapas	73,887

10	Baja California Sur	73,677

11	Veracruz	72,815

12	Baja California	70,113

13	Nuevo León	64,555

14	Guerrero	63,749

15	San Luis Potosí	62,848

16	Michoacán	59,864

17	Sinaloa	58,092

18	Campeche	51,833

19	Quintana Roo	50,350

20	Yucatán	39,340

Consulting the provided table along with the supplementary paragraphs listed at the end.

Respond to the question below: How much larger is the state with the capital of Saltillo than the state of Quintana Roo ? Output only the correct answer as {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Avoid adding external knowledge.

Chihuahua ( Spanish pronunciation : [ tʃiˈwawa ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Estado Libre y Soberano de Chihuahua ( English : Free and Sovereign State of Chihuahua ) , is one of the 32 states which comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico . It is located in Northwestern Mexico and is bordered by the states of Sonora to the west , Sinaloa to the southwest , Durango to the south , and Coahuila to the east . To the north and northeast , it has a long border with the U.S. adjacent to the U.S. states of New Mexico and Texas . Its capital city is Chihuahua City . Although Chihuahua is primarily identified with the Chihuahuan Desert for namesake , it has more forests than any other state in Mexico , with the exception of Durango . Due to its variant climate , the state has a large variety of fauna and flora . The state is mostly characterized by rugged mountainous terrain and wide river valleys . The Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range , part of the continental spine that also includes the Rocky Mountains , dominates the state 's terrain and is home to the state 's greatest attraction , Las Barrancas del Cobre , or Copper Canyon , a canyon system larger and deeper than the Grand Canyon . On the slope of the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains ( around the regions of Casas Grandes , Cuauhtémoc and Parral ) , there are vast prairies of short yellow grass , the source of the bulk of the state 's agricultural production . Most of the inhabitants live along the Rio Grande Valley and the Conchos River Valley . The etymology of the name Chihuahua has long been disputed by historians and linguists . The most accepted theory explains that the name was derived from the Nahuatl language meaning The place where the water of the rivers meet ( i.e. , confluence , cf .
Sonora ( Spanish pronunciation : [ soˈnoɾa ] ( listen ) ) , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora ( English : Free and Sovereign State of Sonora ) , is one of 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico . It is divided into 72 municipalities ; the capital city is Hermosillo . Sonora is bordered by the states of Chihuahua to the east , Baja California to the northwest and Sinaloa to the south . To the north , it shares the U.S.-Mexico border primarily with the state of Arizona with a small length with New Mexico , and on the west has a significant share of the coastline of the Gulf of California . Sonora 's natural geography is divided into three parts : the Sierra Madre Occidental in the east of the state ; plains and rolling hills in the center ; and the coast on the Gulf of California . It is primarily arid or semiarid deserts and grasslands , with only the highest elevations having sufficient rainfall to support other types of vegetation . Sonora is home to eight indigenous peoples , including the Mayo , the Oodham , the Yaqui , and Seri . It has been economically important for its agriculture , livestock ( especially beef ) , and mining since the colonial period , and for its status as a border state since the Mexican-American War . With the Gadsden Purchase , Sonora lost more than a quarter of its territory . From the 20th century to the present , industry , tourism , and agribusiness have dominated the economy , attracting migration from other parts of Mexico .
Coahuila ( Spanish pronunciation : [ koaˈwila ] ( listen ) ) , formally Coahuila de Zaragoza ( American Spanish : [ koaˈwila ðe saɾaˈɣosa ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Free and Sovereign State of Coahuila de Zaragoza ( Spanish : Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zaragoza ) , is one of the 32 states which comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico . Coahuila borders the Mexican states of Nuevo León to the east , Zacatecas to the south , and Durango and Chihuahua to the west . To the north , Coahuila accounts for a 512 kilometres ( 318 mi ) stretch of the Mexico-United States border , adjacent to the U.S. state of Texas along the course of the Rio Grande ( Río Bravo del Norte ) . With an area of 151,563 square kilometres ( 58,519 sq mi ) , it is the nation 's third-largest state . It comprises 38 municipalities ( municipios ) . In 2010 , Coahuila 's population is 2,748,391 inhabitants . The five largest cities in Coahuila are the state capital city of Saltillo ; the second largest is Torreón ( largest metropolitan area in Coahuila and 9th largest in Mexico ) ; the third largest is Monclova ( a former state capital ) ; the fourth largest is Ciudad Acuña ; and the fifth largest is Piedras Negras .
Durango ( Spanish pronunciation : [ duˈɾaŋɡo ] ( listen ) ) , officially named Estado Libre y Soberano de Durango ( English : Free and Sovereign State of Durango ) ( Tepehuán : Korian ) ( Nahuatl : Tepēhuahcān ) , is one of the 32 states which make up the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico , situated in the northwest of the country . With a population of 1,632,934 , Durango has Mexico 's second-lowest population density , after Baja California Sur . The capital city , Victoria de Durango , is named after the first president of Mexico , Guadalupe Victoria .
Oaxaca ( English : /wəˈhɑːkə/ wə-HAH-kə , also US : /wɑːˈhɑːkɑː/ wah-HAH-kah , Spanish : [ waˈxaka ] ( listen ) ; from Nahuatl : Huāxyacac [ waːʃˈjakak ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca ( Spanish : Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca ) , is one of the 32 states which compose the Federative Entities of Mexico . It is divided into 570 municipalities , of which 418 ( almost three quarters ) are governed by the system of usos y costumbres ( customs and traditions ) with recognized local forms of self-governance . Its capital city is Oaxaca de Juárez . Oaxaca is located in Southwestern Mexico . It is bordered by the states of Guerrero to the west , Puebla to the northwest , Veracruz to the north , and Chiapas to the east . To the south , Oaxaca has a significant coastline on the Pacific Ocean . The state is best known for its indigenous peoples and cultures . The most numerous and best known are the Zapotecs and the Mixtecs , but there are sixteen that are officially recognized . These cultures have survived better than most others in México due to the state 's rugged and isolating terrain . Most live in the Central Valleys region , which is also an economically important area for tourism , with people attracted for its archeological sites such as Monte Albán , and Mitla , and its various native cultures and crafts . Another important tourist area is the coast , which has the major resort of Huatulco and sandy beaches of Puerto Escondido , Puerto Ángel , Zipolite , Bahia de Tembo , and Mazunte . Oaxaca is also one of the most biologically diverse states in Mexico , ranking in the top three , along with Chiapas and Veracruz , for numbers of reptiles , amphibians , mammals and plants .
Jalisco ( UK : /həˈliːskoʊ/ , US : /hɑːˈ- , həˈlɪskoʊ/ , Spanish : [ xaˈlisko ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Free and Sovereign State of Jalisco ( Spanish : Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco [ esˈtaðo ˈliβɾe i soβeˈɾano ðe xaˈlisko ] ) , is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico . It is located in Western Mexico and is bordered by six states which are Nayarit , Zacatecas , Aguascalientes , Guanajuato , Michoacán and Colima . Jalisco is divided into 125 municipalities , and its capital city is Guadalajara . Jalisco is one of the most important states in Mexico because of its natural resources as well as its history . Many of the characteristic traits of Mexican culture , particularly outside Mexico City , are originally from Jalisco , such as mariachi , ranchera music , birria , tequila , jaripeo , etc. , hence the state 's motto : Jalisco es México . Economically , it is ranked third in the country , with industries centered in the Guadalajara metropolitan area , the second largest metropolitan area in Mexico . The state is home to two significant indigenous populations , the Huichols and the Nahuas . There is also a significant foreign population , mostly from the United States and Canada , living in the Lake Chapala and Puerto Vallarta areas . [ citation needed ]
Tamaulipas ( Spanish pronunciation : [ tamau̯ˈlipas ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas ( English : Free and Sovereign State of Tamaulipas ) , is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico . It is divided into 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria . Located in northeastern Mexico , it is bordered by the states of Veracruz to the southeast , San Luis Potosí to the southwest , and Nuevo León to the west . To the north , it has a 370 km ( 230 mi ) stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border along the state of Texas , and to the east it is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico . The name Tamaulipas is derived from Tamaholipa , a Huastec term in which the tam- prefix signifies place ( where ) . No scholarly agreement exists on the meaning of holipa , but high hills is a common interpretation . Another explanation of the state name is that it is derived from Ta ma ho'lipam ( place where the Lipan prey ) . In addition to the capital city , Ciudad Victoria , the state 's largest cities include Reynosa , Matamoros , Nuevo Laredo , Tampico , and Mante .
Zacatecas ( American Spanish : [ sakaˈtekas ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Free and Sovereign State of Zacatecas ( Spanish : Estado Libre y Soberano de Zacatecas ) , is one of the 32 states of Mexico . It is divided into 58 municipalities and its capital city is Zacatecas City . Zacatecas is located in North-Central Mexico . It is bordered by the states of Durango to the northwest , Coahuila to the north , Nayarit to the west , San Luis Potosí and Nuevo León to the east , and Jalisco , Guanajuato and Aguascalientes to the south . The state is best known for its rich deposits of silver and other minerals , its colonial architecture and its importance during the Mexican Revolution . Its main economic activities are mining , agriculture and tourism .
Chiapas ( Spanish pronunciation : [ ˈtʃjapas ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Free and Sovereign State of Chiapas ( Spanish : Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas ) , is one of the 32 states that make up the 32 federal entities of Mexico . It is divided into 124 municipalities as of September 2017 and its capital city is Tuxtla Gutiérrez . Other important population centers in Chiapas include Ocosingo , Tapachula , San Cristóbal de las Casas , Comitán and Arriaga . It is the southernmost state in Mexico . It is located in Southeastern Mexico , and it borders the states of Oaxaca to the west , Veracruz to the northwest and Tabasco to the north , and by the Petén , Quiché , Huehuetenango and San Marcos departments of Guatemala to the east and southeast . Chiapas has a coastline along the Pacific Ocean to the south . In general , Chiapas has a humid , tropical climate . In the north , in the area bordering Tabasco , near Teapa , rainfall can average more than 3,000 mm ( 120 in ) per year . In the past , natural vegetation in this region was lowland , tall perennial rainforest , but this vegetation has been almost completely cleared to allow agriculture and ranching . Rainfall decreases moving towards the Pacific Ocean , but it is still abundant enough to allow the farming of bananas and many other tropical crops near Tapachula . On the several parallel sierras or mountain ranges running along the center of Chiapas , climate can be quite temperate and foggy , allowing the development of cloud forests like those of the Reserva de la Biosfera el Triunfo , home to a handful of resplendent quetzals and horned guans . Chiapas is home to the ancient Mayan ruins of Palenque , Yaxchilán , Bonampak , Chinkultic and Toniná .
Baja California Sur ( Spanish pronunciation : [ ˈbaxa kaliˈfoɾnja ˈsuɾ ] ( listen ) ; English : South Lower California ) , officially the Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California Sur ( English : Free and Sovereign State of South Lower California ) , is the second-smallest Mexican state by population and the 31st admitted state of the 32 states which make up the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico . Before becoming a state on October 8 , 1974 , the area was known as the El Territorio Sur de Baja California ( South Territory of Lower California ) . It has an area of 73,909 km2 ( 28,536 sq mi ) , or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico , and occupies the southern half of the Baja California Peninsula , south of the 28th parallel , plus the uninhabited Rocas Alijos in the Pacific Ocean . It is bordered to the north by the state of Baja California , to the west by the Pacific Ocean , and to the east by the Gulf of California . The state has maritime borders with Sonora and Sinaloa to the east , across the Gulf of California . The state is home to the tourist resorts of Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo . Its largest city and capital is La Paz .
Veracruz ( American Spanish : [ beɾaˈkɾus ] ( listen ) ) , formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave ( American Spanish : [ beɾaˈkɾuz ðe iɣˈnasjo ðe la ˈʝaβe ] ) , officially the Free and Sovereign State of Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave ( Spanish : Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave ) , is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico . It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is Xalapa-Enríquez . Veracruz is bordered by the states of Tamaulipas to the north , San Luis Potosí and ( Richard ) Hidalgo to the west , Puebla to the southwest , Oaxaca and Chiapas to the south , and Tabasco to the southeast . On its east , Veracruz has a significant share of the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico . The state is noted for its mixed ethnic and indigenous populations . Its cuisine reflects the many cultural influences that have come through the state because of the importance of the port of Veracruz . In addition to the capital city , the state 's largest cities include Veracruz , Coatzacoalcos , Córdoba , Minatitlán , Poza Rica , Boca Del Río and Orizaba .
Baja California [ note 1 ] ( Spanish pronunciation : [ ˈbaxa kaliˈfoɾnja ] ( listen ) ; English : Lower California ) , officially the Free and Sovereign State of Baja California ( Spanish : Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California ) , is a state in Mexico . It is the northernmost and westernmost of the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico . Before becoming a state in 1952 , the area was known as the North Territory of Baja California ( El Territorio Norte de Baja California ) . It has an area of 70,113 km2 ( 27,071 sq mi ) , or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises the northern half of the Baja California Peninsula , north of the 28th parallel , plus oceanic Guadalupe Island . The mainland portion of the state is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean , on the east by Sonora , the U.S. state of Arizona , and the Gulf of California ( also known as the Sea of Cortez ) , and on the south by Baja California Sur . Its northern limit is the U.S. state of California . The state has an estimated population of 3,315,766 ( 2015 ) much more than the sparsely populated Baja California Sur to the south , and similar to San Diego County , California on its north . Over 75% of the population lives in the capital city , Mexicali , in Ensenada , or in Tijuana . Other important cities include San Felipe , Rosarito and Tecate . The population of the state is composed of Mestizos , mostly immigrants from other parts of Mexico , and , as with most northern Mexican states , a large population of Mexicans of Spanish ancestry , and also a large minority group of East Asian , Middle Eastern and indigenous descent . Additionally , there is a large immigrant population from the United States due to its proximity to San Diego and the lower cost of living compared to San Diego . There is also a significant population from Central America .
Nuevo León ( Spanish pronunciation : [ ˈnweβo leˈon ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Free and Sovereign State of Nuevo León ( Spanish : Estado Libre y Soberano de Nuevo León ) , is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico . It is divided into 51 municipalities and its capital city is Monterrey . It is located in Northeastern Mexico . It is bordered by the states of Tamaulipas to the north and east , San Luis Potosí to the south , and Coahuila to the west . To the north , Nuevo León has a 15 kilometer ( 9 mi ) stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to the U.S. state of Texas . The state was named after the New Kingdom of León , an administrative territory of the Viceroyalty of New Spain , which was itself named after the historic Spanish Kingdom of León . Besides its capital , other important cities are Guadalupe , Santa Catarina , San Nicolás de los Garza , and San Pedro Garza García , all of which are part of the Monterrey Metropolitan area .
Guerrero ( Spanish pronunciation : [ ɡeˈreɾo ] ) , officially the Free and Sovereign State of Guerrero ( Spanish : Estado Libre y Soberano de Guerrero ) , is one of the 32 states which comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico . It is divided in 81 municipalities and its capital city is Chilpancingo and its largest city is Acapulco . It is located in Southwestern Mexico . It is bordered by the states of Michoacán to the north and west , México and Morelos to the north , Puebla to the northeast and Oaxaca to the east . The state was named after Vicente Guerrero , one of the most prominent leaders in the Mexican War of Independence and the second President of Mexico . It is the only Mexican state named after a president . The modern entity did not exist until 1849 , when it was carved out of territories from the states of Mexico , Puebla and Michoacán . In addition to the capital city , the state 's largest cities include Acapulco , Petatlan , Ciudad Altamirano , Taxco , Iguala , Ixtapa , Zihuatanejo , and Santo Domingo . Today , it is home to a number of indigenous communities , including the Nahuas , Mixtecs and Amuzgos . It is also home to communities of Afro-Mexicans in the Costa Chica region . Geographically , the state is mountainous and rugged with flat areas limited to small mesas and the coast line . This coastline has been important economically for the area , first as the port of Acapulco in colonial and post-Independence area and today for the tourist destinations of Acapulco , Zihuatanejo and Ixtapa .
San Luis Potosí ( Spanish pronunciation : [ san ˈlwis potoˈsi ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Free and Sovereign State of San Luis Potosí ( Spanish : Estado Libre y Soberano de San Luis Potosí ) , is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico . It is divided in 58 municipalities and its capital city is San Luis Potosí City . It is located in North-Central Mexico and is bordered by seven other Mexican states : Nuevo León to the north ; Tamaulipas to the north-east ; Veracruz to the east ; Hidalgo , Querétaro and Guanajuato to the south ; and Zacatecas to north-west . In addition to the capital city , the state 's largest cities include Ciudad Valles , Matehuala , Rioverde , and Tamazunchale .
Michoacán , formally Michoacán de Ocampo ( Spanish pronunciation : [ mitʃoaˈkan de oˈkampo ] ( listen ) ) , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo ( English : Free and Sovereign State of Michoacán de Ocampo ) , is one of the 32 states which compose the Federal Entities of Mexico . The state is divided into 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia ( formerly called Valladolid ) . The city was named after José María Morelos , one of the main heroes of the Mexican War of Independence . Michoacán is located in Western Mexico , and has a stretch of coastline on the Pacific Ocean to the southwest . It is bordered by the states of Colima and Jalisco to the west and northwest , Guanajuato to the north , Querétaro to the northeast , the State of México to the east , and Guerrero to the southeast . The name Michoacán is from Nahuatl : Michhuahcān [ mit͡ʃˈwaʔkaːn ] from michhuah [ ˈmit͡ʃwaʔ ] ( possessor of fish ) and -cān [ kaːn ] ( place of ) and means place of the fishermen referring to those who fish on Lake Pátzcuaro . In pre-Hispanic times , the area was the home of the Purépecha Empire , which rivaled the Aztec Empire at the time of Spanish encounter . After the Spanish conquest , the empire became a separate province which became smaller over the colonial period . The state and several of its residents played a major role in the Mexican War of Independence . Today , the state is still home to a sizable population of Purépecha people as well as minor populations of Otomi and Nahua . The economy is based on agriculture , fishing , mining and some industry . The major tourism draw for the state is the Lake Pátzcuaro-Tzintzuntzan-Quiroga area , which was the center of the Purépecha Empire , also the national or state parks which include the winter grounds of the monarch butterflies ( Mariposas Monarca ) and the park where the Cupatitzio River has its main source .
Sinaloa ( Spanish pronunciation : [ sinaˈloa ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Estado Libre y Soberano de Sinaloa ( English : Free and Sovereign State of Sinaloa ) , is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico . It is divided into 18 municipalities and its capital city is Culiacán Rosales . It is located in Northwestern Mexico . It is bordered by the states of Sonora to the north , Chihuahua and Durango to the east ( separated from them by the Sierra Madre Occidental ) and Nayarit to the south . To the west , Sinaloa faces Baja California Sur across the Gulf of California . The state covers an area of 58,328 square kilometers ( 22,521 sq mi ) , and includes the Islands of Palmito Verde , Palmito de la Virgen , Altamura , Santa María , Saliaca , Macapule and San Ignacio . In addition to the capital city , the state 's important cities include Mazatlán and Los Mochis .
Campeche ( Spanish pronunciation : [ kamˈpe.tʃe ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Free and Sovereign State of Campeche ( Spanish : Estado Libre y Soberano de Campeche ) , is one of the 32 states which make up the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico . Located in southeast Mexico , it is bordered by the states of Tabasco to the southwest , Yucatán to the northeast , and Quintana Roo to the east ; to the southeast by the Orange Walk district of Belize , and by the Petén department of Guatemala to the south . It has a coastline to the west with the Gulf of Mexico . The state capital , also called Campeche , was declared a World Heritage Site in 1997 . The formation of the state began with the city , which was founded in 1540 as the Spanish began the conquest of the Yucatán Peninsula . During the colonial period , the city was a rich and important port , but declined after Mexico 's independence . Campeche was part of the province of Yucatán but split off in the mid-19th century , mostly due to political friction with the city of Mérida . Much of the state 's recent economic revival is due to the finding of petroleum offshore in the 1970s , which has made the coastal cities of Campeche and Ciudad del Carmen important economic centers . The state has important Mayan and colonial sites ; however , these are not as well-known or visited as others in the Yucatán . The state 's executive power rests in the governor of Campeche and the legislative power rests in the Congress of Campeche which is a unicameral legislature composed of 35 deputies .
Quintana Roo ( /kɪnˌtɑːnə ˈroʊ ( oʊ ) / kin-TAH-nə ROH ( -oh ) , Spanish : [ kinˈtana ˈroo ] ) , officially the Free and Sovereign State of Quintana Roo ( Spanish : Estado Libre y Soberano de Quintana Roo ) , is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico . It is divided into 11 municipalities and its capital city is Chetumal . Quintana Roo is located on the eastern part of the Yucatán Peninsula and is bordered by the states of Campeche to the west and Yucatán to the northwest , and by the Orange Walk and Corozal districts of Belize , along with an offshore borderline with Belize District to the south . As Mexico 's easternmost state , Quintana Roo has a coastline to the east with the Caribbean Sea and to the north with the Gulf of Mexico . The state previously covered 44,705 square kilometers ( 17,261 sq mi ) and shared a small border with Guatemala in the southwest of the state . However , in 2013 , Mexico 's Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation resolved the boundary dispute between Quintana Roo , Campeche , and Yucatán stemming from the creation of the Calakmul municipality by Campeche in 1997 , siding with Campeche and thereby benefiting Yucatán . Quintana Roo is the home of the city of Cancún , the islands of Cozumel and Isla Mujeres , and the towns of Bacalar , Playa del Carmen and Akumal , as well as the ancient Maya ruins of Chacchoben , Cobá , Kohunlich , Muyil , Tulum , Xel-Há , and Xcaret . The Sian Ka'an biosphere reserve is also located in the state . The statewide population is expanding at a rapid rate due to the construction of hotels and the demand for workers . Many migrants come from Yucatán , Campeche , Tabasco , and Veracruz . The state is frequently hit by severe hurricanes due to its exposed location , the most recent and severe being Hurricane Dean in 2007 , which made landfall with sustained winds of 280 km/h ( 170 mph ) , with gusts up to 320 km/h ( 200 mph ) .
Yucatán ( /ˌjuːkəˈtɑːn/ , also UK : /ˌjʊk-/ , US : /-ˈtæn , ˌjuːkɑːˈtɑːn/ , Spanish : [ ɟʝukaˈtan ] ( listen ) ) , officially the Free and Sovereign State of Yucatán , [ c ] is one of the 32 states which comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico . It is divided into 106 municipalities , and its capital city is Mérida . It is located on the north part of the Yucatán Peninsula . It is bordered by the states of Campeche to the southwest and Quintana Roo to the southeast , with the Gulf of Mexico off its north coast . Before the arrival of Spaniards to the Yucatán Peninsula , the name of this region was Mayab . In the Mayan language , ma ' ya'ab is translated as a few . It was a very important region for the Mayan civilization , which reached the peak of its development here , where the Mayans founded the cities of Chichen Itza , Izamal , Motul , Mayapan , Ek ' Balam and Ichcaanzihóo ( also called T'ho ) , now Mérida . After the Spanish conquest of Yucatán , the Peninsula was a single administrative and political entity , the Captaincy General of Yucatán . Following independence and the breakup of the Mexican Empire in 1823 , the first Republic of Yucatán was proclaimed , which was then voluntarily annexed to the Federal Republic of United Mexican States on December 21 , 1823 . On March 16 , 1841 , as a result of cultural and political conflicts around the federal pact , Yucatán declared its independence from Mexico . forming a second Republic of Yucatán . Eventually on July 14 , 1848 , Yucatán was forced to rejoin Mexico .