Yucatan Peninsula

North of Guatemala and Belize in the easternmost part of MEXICO, the Yucatán Peninsula is notable for successful tourism industries in cities like Cancún and Chetumal. The three Mexican states on the peninsula are Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Yucatán. A plethora of ancient pyramids and other structures built by the Aztecs and Mayans are scattered across the peninsula. One of the most famous pyramids in the area is Chichen Itzá, located in the center of the peninsula in the state of Yucatán. The Gulf of Mexico lies north and west of the Yucatan Peninsula while the Caribbean Sea is off the eastern coast. Off the northern coast of the Yucatan, the large Campeche Bank in the Gulf of Mexico features small islands, shoals, and reefs.