How well do you know Quintana Roo?

Quintana Roo is the corner of Mexico that everyone wants to visit: its beaches, its culture, its food and, above all, its people make it the favorite place of millions of travelers every year. If you are one of them, this trivia is the proof you need to show that you are an expert on our land. Answer the nine questions and check the solutions at the end.

The questions

1. What is the capital of Quintana Roo?
a) Cancun · b) Playa del Carmen · c) Chetumal · d) Tulum

2. In what year did Quintana Roo become a state?
a) 1821 · b) 1917 · c) 1974 · d) 2000

3. Which lagoon is famous for its “seven colors”?
a) Nichupte · b) Bacalar · c) Chunyaxche · d) Kaan Luum

4. Which of these biosphere reserves in Quintana Roo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
a) Sian Ka’an · b) Banco Chinchorro · c) Caribe Mexicano · d) Tiburon Ballena

5. What is the largest island in the Mexican Caribbean?
a) Isla Mujeres · b) Holbox · c) Cozumel · d) Isla Contoy

6. Which Mayan archaeological site stands on a cliff overlooking the sea?
a) Tulum · b) Coba · c) Kohunlich · d) Muyil

7. On which island, famous for having no cars, can you swim with whale sharks in season?
a) Cozumel · b) Holbox · c) Isla Mujeres · d) Isla Blanca

8. Which country does Quintana Roo border?
a) Guatemala · b) Cuba · c) Honduras · d) Belize

9. What time is it in Quintana Roo compared to Mexico City?
a) The same · b) One hour ahead · c) One hour behind · d) Two hours ahead

The answers

1. c) Chetumal. Although Cancun is the largest city, the capital lies to the south, by the bay. Discover it on our trip to Chetumal.
2. c) 1974. Quintana Roo was a federal territory for decades and became a state on October 8, 1974, on the same day as Baja California Sur.
3. b) Bacalar. Its blues change with the depth and the bottom. We tell you all about it in do you already know Bacalar Lagoon?
4. a) Sian Ka’an. Its Mayan name is usually translated as “origin of the sky”, and it brings together jungle, mangroves, lagoons and reef.
5. c) Cozumel. It is the largest island in the Mexican Caribbean and a paradise for divers. Read Cozumel, the must-visit island.
6. a) Tulum. One of Mexico’s most famous postcards. Here is everything about the ruins of Tulum.
7. b) Holbox. People get around the island in golf carts, and whale shark season usually runs from June to September. More in Holbox Island.
8. d) Belize. The Hondo River marks much of the border, very close to Chetumal.
9. b) One hour ahead. Quintana Roo uses the Southeast time zone. We explain it in the time change in Quintana Roo.

Your result

• 8 to 9 correct: you are a Quintana Roo local at heart!
• 5 to 7 correct: you know the state well; now it is time to explore the corners you are missing.
• 0 to 4 correct: you have the perfect excuse for a road trip through the Mexican Caribbean. Start with our guide to tourism in Quintana Roo.