Guerrero

Guerrero, officially the Estado Libre y Soberano de Guerrero, is a state in southwestern Mexico on the Pacific coast. It covers a substantial portion of the southern littoral and has a population of about 3.5 million. The state capital is Chilpancingo de los Bravo, while Acapulco is its best-known coastal city and a major tourism center.

Named after Vicente Guerrero, a leader in the Mexican War of Independence and a former president, Guerrero was established as a state in the 19th century. It borders Michoacán to the north, Puebla and Oaxaca to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south.

Geography includes the Sierra Madre del Sur running through much of the terrain and a long Pacific coastline. The landscape ranges from tropical coastal plains to cooler highland valleys. The state is divided into distinct coastal zones, notably the Costa Grande and Costa Chica, along with the Tierra Caliente region. Climate varies from tropical along the coast to temperate in the highlands.

Demographically Guerrero is culturally and linguistically diverse, with significant Indigenous communities, including Nahua, Mixtec, Tlapanec, and Amuzgo peoples. Indigenous languages are spoken alongside Spanish. The historic town of Taxco is renowned for its colonial architecture and silver craftsmanship.

Economy and tourism are central to Guerrero’s development. Key sectors include agriculture (notably cacao, coffee, and sugarcane), fishing, and mining, complemented by a growing tourism industry. Major destinations such as Acapulco and the Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo area attract national and international visitors.

History and cultural heritage reflect a long pre-Columbian presence, followed by Spanish colonial rule and incorporation into Mexico. Guerrero achieved state status in the 19th century. In recent decades it has faced social and security challenges and remains exposed to natural hazards such as hurricanes and earthquakes.