Quintana Roo is located on the Yucatan Peninsula's east side shoreline along the Caribbean coast. In the southernmost part of the Yucatan Peninsula, the Rio Hondo cuts a natural boundary between Quintana Roo and Belize.
Quintana Roo's wet season runs from May to October and the dry season from November to April. During the dry season, it's normally hot with periodic brief cold storms called "nortes"; the wet season is marked by regular rains and hot, muggy air.
Quintana Roo's forests are laden with bamboo, mangroves, swamp cypresses, ferns and vines, creating dense jungles. Sweet and sour oranges, limes, grapefruit and an abundance of avocado can also be found.
Common animals found in Quintana Roo are anteaters, spider monkeys, white-tailed deer and manatees. Birds such as herons, pelicans, ducks, turkeys, doves and parrots also populate the area. Lobster, shrimp, snails and varieties of fish are found on the limestone reef running along the coast.
Seventy-five to 80 percent of the Mexican population is considered to be "mestizo" (i.e. of mixed blood)--mainly Indian and Spanish, and 10 to 15 percent of the population is considered pure Indian. While most of Quintana Roo's citizens speak Spanish, there is still a significant percentage that speak indigenous languages.
Tourism is the most important economic activity in Quintana Roo. It accounts for 80 to 90 percent of the economy. Cancun is one of the most successful tourist cities in Quintana Roo. The oil business is another leading industry on the Yucatan Peninsula since the discovery of offshore oil.
