Quintana Roo became a state in 1974, shortly after the Mexican government baptized Cancun. It didn’t take long for both entities to swell beyond all expectations. The state contains wildly popular vacation destinations, significant Maya ruins, and a coastline that exceeds all superlatives.

The semitropical climate is perfect most times of year, though hurricanes do blow through between September and November. Scrubby jungle covers most of the limestone terrain. Subterranean rivers flow through caves and into cenotes, enormous wells of cool, dark water. Tropical fish swim in underwater reserves, while sea turtles lumber ashore on summer nights to lay their eggs.

The second longest chain of coral reefs in the world runs between Quintana Roo’s mainland coast and the islands of Cozumel and Isla Mujeres. Cozumel has become a major cruise port, much to the dismay of marine biologists and scuba dives.