Mexico Word Search Printable

A Mexico grid of 16 words, Yucatán, Cenote, Tortilla and Maya among them, to solve or print with its key.

Name Date

Mexico Word Search

Find every word hidden in the grid. Words go across and down.

0 of 16 words found

GUACAMOLELHRAET

URRCHIHUAHUACIP

ATEOTIHUACANAIN

DXOPEXNCWTQLPVE

AAQPSDMTLFLBUER

LVMEXICOCITYLRM

ATORTILLAESTCAA

JYUCATANEKISOCR

ADIADEMUERTOSRI

RTRNFEAEJEDRCUG

APEYMMFLEOAOEZO

POPOCATEPETLNAL

ULRNEYEHZMAMOTD

WIORKAYMOINETRF

MEAPGHFXIHTCEES

This grid is wider and taller than its box. Slide it to see every letter.To drag, hold the first letter for a moment, then slide.Keyboard: Tab to the grid, arrow keys to move, Enter on the first and last letter.

ChihuahuaCHIHUAHUA
VeracruzVERACRUZ
YucatánYUCATÁN
Mexico CityMEXICO CITY
GuadalajaraGUADALAJARA
AcapulcoACAPULCO
PopocatépetlPOPOCATÉPETL
Copper CanyonCOPPER CANYON
CenoteCENOTE
TortillaTORTILLA
GuacamoleGUACAMOLE
Día de MuertosDÍA DE MUERTOS
MarigoldMARIGOLD
TeotihuacánTEOTIHUACÁN
MayaMAYA
OlmecOLMEC

16 of 28 words from the Mexico Favorites list.

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Answer key: Mexico Word Search

GUACAMOLELHRAET

URRCHIHUAHUACIP

ATEOTIHUACANAIN

DXOPEXNCWTQLPVE

AAQPSDMTLFLBUER

LVMEXICOCITYLRM

ATORTILLAESTCAA

JYUCATANEKISOCR

ADIADEMUERTOSRI

RTRNFEAEJEDRCUG

APEYMMFLEOAOEZO

POPOCATEPETLNAL

ULRNEYEHZMAMOTD

WIORKAYMOINETRF

MEAPGHFXIHTCEES

CHIHUAHUA, VERACRUZ, YUCATÁN, MEXICO CITY, GUADALAJARA, ACAPULCO, POPOCATÉPETL, COPPER CANYON, CENOTE, TORTILLA, GUACAMOLE, DÍA DE MUERTOS, MARIGOLD, TEOTIHUACÁN, MAYA, OLMEC

Next step Print the food word search Make a word search from your own Mexico unit words

All 186 words

States of Mexico 30

Aguascalientes Small central state named for its hot springs.
Baja California State at the northern end of a long peninsula; its capital is Mexicali.
Campeche Gulf state on the Yucatán Peninsula with a walled colonial capital.
Chiapas State on the Guatemalan border, home of the ruins of Palenque.
Chihuahua Big northern state that holds the Copper Canyon and shares its name with a tiny breed of dog.
Coahuila Northern state on the Texas border; its capital is Saltillo.
Colima Small Pacific state below an active volcano of the same name.
Durango Northern state in the Sierra Madre Occidental whose capital has the same name.
Guanajuato Central state of old silver-mining towns, where the fight for independence began at Dolores.
Guerrero Pacific state of Acapulco and the silver town of Taxco.
Hidalgo Central state named for the priest who began the fight for independence; its capital is Pachuca.
Jalisco Western state whose capital is Guadalajara, the home of mariachi music.
Mexico State Region that surrounds the national capital on the north, east and west; Toluca is its seat.
Michoacán Western state where monarch butterflies spend the winter; its capital is Morelia.

Show all 186 words (172 more)

States of Mexico, continued

Morelos Small state south of the capital, named for an independence leader; its capital is Cuernavaca.
Nayarit Pacific state whose capital is Tepic.
Nuevo León Industrial northern state whose capital is Monterrey.
Oaxaca Southern state of many Indigenous peoples, known for its moles and the ruins of Monte Albán.
Puebla State east of the capital known for Talavera pottery.
Querétaro Central state with a long stone aqueduct in its capital.
Quintana Roo Caribbean state of Cancún, Cozumel and Tulum.
San Luis Potosí North-central state named for a saintly king and for a rich silver mountain in Bolivia.
Sinaloa Pacific state of Mazatlán and Culiacán.
Sonora Northwestern desert state on the Arizona border; its capital is Hermosillo.
Tabasco Hot, wet Gulf state crossed by the Grijalva and the Usumacinta; its capital is Villahermosa.
Tamaulipas Northeastern state on the Gulf and the Texas border, with the port of Tampico.
Tlaxcala Tiny state east of the capital whose people allied with Cortés.
Veracruz Long, green state on the Gulf whose port city was the gateway from Spain.
Yucatán State on the northern tip of a peninsula; its capital is Mérida and Chichén Itzá lies in it.
Zacatecas North-central state of silver mines whose capital is built of pink stone.

Cities of Mexico 26

Acapulco Pacific resort on a deep bay, known for cliff divers.
Cabo San Lucas Resort on the Baja California Peninsula's southern tip, known for a sea arch.
Cancún Resort city on the Caribbean coast of the Yucatán Peninsula.
Ciudad Juárez Border city on the Rio Grande across from El Paso, named for a president.
Cuernavaca Capital of Morelos, called the city of eternal spring.
Culiacán Capital of Sinaloa.
Ensenada Pacific port south of Tijuana.
Guadalajara Capital of Jalisco, the big city of the west.
Hermosillo Capital of Sonora, in the desert.
La Paz Capital of Baja California Sur, on the Sea of Cortez.
León City in Guanajuato famous for shoes and leather.
Mazatlán Pacific port and resort in Sinaloa.
Mérida Capital of Yucatán, nicknamed the White City.
Mexico City National capital, built on the ruins of Tenochtitlan in a high valley.
Monterrey Capital of Nuevo León, an industrial city below Saddle Hill.
Morelia Capital of Michoacán, built of pink stone.
Playa del Carmen Beach city on the Caribbean coast facing the island of Cozumel.
Puerto Vallarta Resort on Banderas Bay in Jalisco.
Saltillo Capital of Coahuila, known for bright woven blankets.
Tampico Gulf port in Tamaulipas.
Taxco Hill town in Guerrero known for silverwork.
Tijuana Border city in the northwest corner, across from San Diego.
Toluca High, cool capital of the state that surrounds the national capital.
Villahermosa Capital of Tabasco.
Xalapa Capital of Veracruz, in the cool hills above the coast.
Zihuatanejo Fishing town turned resort on the Pacific coast of Guerrero.

Mexico Mountains, Deserts and Coasts 24

Altiplano High central plateau between the eastern and western mountains.
Caribbean Sea that washes the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula.
Cenote Natural well of clear water in the limestone of the Yucatán Peninsula.
Chapala Name of the largest lake in Mexico, near Guadalajara.
Cloud Forest Misty mountain woodland where trees are hung with mosses and orchids.
Copper Canyon Group of huge gorges in the Sierra Madre of Chihuahua, crossed by a scenic railway.
Coral Reef Ridge built by tiny sea animals; a long one lies off the Caribbean coast.
Cozumel Island off the Caribbean coast known for diving.
Grijalva River that flows through the Sumidero Canyon in Chiapas.
Iztaccíhuatl Dormant volcano beside Popocatépetl whose snowy outline looks like a sleeping woman.
Lacandon Name of the rainforest of eastern Chiapas.
Mangrove Tree that grows on stilt roots along tropical shores and lagoons.
Naica Mine in Chihuahua where a cave of giant crystals was found.
Paricutín Volcano that grew out of a farmer's cornfield in Michoacán.
Pico de Orizaba Highest mountain in Mexico, a snow-capped volcano also called Citlaltépetl.
Popocatépetl Active volcano within sight of the capital; its name means smoking mountain.
Rio Grande Longest river of the country, which forms the border with Texas; Mexicans call it the Río Bravo.
Sea of Cortez Long gulf between the Baja California Peninsula and the mainland.
Sierra Madre Name of the great mountain chains that wall in the central plateau on the east and west.
Sonoran Name of the desert of giant cacti in the northwest.
Sumidero Name of a canyon with towering walls in Chiapas.
Tehuantepec Name of the isthmus where the country narrows between the Gulf and the Pacific.
Tropic of Cancer Line of latitude that crosses the middle of the country.
Usumacinta River of the southern rainforest that forms part of the border with Guatemala.

Food of Mexico 27

Barbacoa Meat cooked slowly in a pit.
Burrito Wheat tortilla rolled around a filling, a food of the north.
Cajeta Caramel of goat's milk from Celaya.
Carnitas Pork simmered until tender, a specialty of Michoacán.
Ceviche Raw fish cured in lime juice.
Chicle Sap of the sapodilla tree, the original chewing gum.
Chilaquiles Fried tortilla pieces simmered in salsa for breakfast.
Chocolate Sweet made from cacao; its name comes from a Nahuatl word.
Churro Crunchy fried pastry piped through a star tip and dipped in sugar.
Elote Corn on the cob sold from street carts.
Flan Caramel-topped custard.
Frijoles Beans, a daily staple.
Guacamole Avocado crushed with lime, onion and chili; its name comes from Nahuatl.
Habanero Small, very hot chili of the Yucatán.
Jícama Crisp white root eaten raw with lime and chili.
Masa Dough of ground corn.
Molcajete Bowl of volcanic stone for grinding salsa.
Pan Dulce Sweet bread from the bakery.
Pozole Soup of hominy and meat served on holidays.
Taco Folded tortilla with a filling.
Tamale Steamed packet of masa around a savory or sweet center, unwrapped from its leaf at the table.
Tlayuda Large crisp tortilla with toppings from Oaxaca.
Torta Sandwich on a crusty roll.
Tortilla Flatbread pressed from masa and cooked on a hot griddle, eaten at almost every meal.
Tostada Crisp flat tortilla piled with toppings.
Tres Leches Sponge cake soaked in sweet milks.
Vanilla Sweet-smelling seed pod of a climbing orchid long grown by the Totonac people of Veracruz.

Festivals and Traditions of Mexico 26

Ahuehuete National tree, a giant cypress.
Alebrije Brightly painted carving of a fantastic creature.
Charreada Rodeo of horsemanship and roping, the national sport.
Día de Muertos Holiday at the start of November when families remember relatives with altars and flowers.
Diego Rivera Painter of huge murals about the history of the country.
Folklórico Style of staged regional dance in swirling skirts.
Frida Kahlo Painter known for vivid self-portraits and her blue house in Coyoacán.
Fútbol Soccer, the favorite game of the country.
Grito The Cry of Dolores, shouted again each September on the eve of the national holiday.
Guelaguetza Festival of regional dance and music held each July in Oaxaca.
Huipil Embroidered tunic worn by Indigenous women.
Lotería Picture card game like bingo.
Mariachi Band of violins, trumpets and guitars in charro suits.
Marigold Orange flower whose petals mark a path on the November holiday.
Marimba Wooden-keyed instrument of Chiapas.
Ofrenda Home altar set with photos, candles and favorite foods.
Papel Picado Tissue paper cut into lacy banners.
Piñata Decorated container broken open at parties to spill candy.
Posadas Evenings of candlelit processions before Christmas that act out a search for lodging.
Quinceañera Celebration of a girl's fifteenth birthday.
Rebozo Long woven shawl.
Rosca Wreath-like loaf topped with candied fruit for the feast of the Epiphany.
Tianguis Open-air market set up on certain days.
Voladores Flyers who spin down on ropes from a tall pole, a ritual of Papantla.
Xoloitzcuintli Ancient hairless breed, the national dog.
Zócalo Main square of a city, above all the vast one in the capital.

Ancient Cities and Peoples of Mexico 27

Chapultepec Great park of the capital with a castle on a hill.
Chichén Itzá Maya city in Yucatán with a stepped pyramid called El Castillo.
Chinampa Garden plot built up in a shallow lake.
Cortés Family name of the Spanish commander who took Tenochtitlan.
El Tajín Ancient city in Veracruz with a pyramid of many niches.
Maya People of the Yucatán and Chiapas who built stone cities and still live there today.
Mexica Name the Aztecs used for themselves.
Mixtec People of Oaxaca and Puebla known for fine goldwork and painted books.
Moctezuma Ruler of the Mexica when the Spanish arrived.
Monte Albán Zapotec city on a leveled mountaintop above Oaxaca.
Olmec Early people of the Gulf coast who carved colossal stone heads.
Palenque Maya city in the forest of Chiapas.
Pancho Villa Nickname of a general of the Revolution from the north.
Purépecha People of Michoacán around Lake Pátzcuaro.
Rarámuri People of the Copper Canyon famous as long-distance runners.
Revolution Upheaval that began in 1910 and led to a new constitution.
Sor Juana Poet and scholar of the colonial era who lived as a nun.
Sun Stone Huge carved disk of the Mexica kept in the national museum.
Templo Mayor Great temple of the Mexica, uncovered beside the main square of the capital.
Tenochtitlan Island capital of the Mexica, destroyed in 1521.
Teotihuacán Ancient city near the capital with the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon.
Toltec People whose capital was Tula.
Tulum Walled Maya town on a cliff above the Caribbean.
Uxmal Maya city in Yucatán with a rounded pyramid.
Xochimilco District of the capital where boats glide along old canals.
Zapata Family name of Emiliano, a leader of the Revolution who fought for land for farmers.
Zapotec People of Oaxaca, ancient and living.

Animals and Plants of Mexico 26

Agave Spiky plant whose leaves yield fiber and whose sap gives a syrup.
Axolotl Rare amphibian of the canals of Xochimilco that stays in its water-breathing form for life.
Ceiba Towering tropical tree held sacred by the Maya.
Coati Long-nosed, ring-tailed relative of the raccoon.
Coyote Wild dog whose name comes from Nahuatl.
Flamingo Rosy bird that feeds in the salty lagoons of Yucatán.
Golden Eagle Bird of prey shown on the national flag.
Howler Monkey whose roar carries through the forest.
Hummingbird Jewel-bright nectar feeder with whirring wings.
Iguana Large lizard of warm coasts and forests.
Jaguar Powerful spotted cat of the southern forests, honored in ancient art.
Lobo Spanish for wolf; the Mexican kind is small and rare.
Macaw Large, long-tailed parrot; the scarlet kind lives in the southern rainforest.
Mesquite Thorny desert tree with sweet pods.
Monarch Butterfly that flies from the north to winter in the fir forests of Michoacán.
Ocelot Small spotted wild cat whose name comes from Nahuatl.
Olive Ridley Sea turtle that nests in great crowds on Pacific beaches.
Poinsettia Red-leaved winter plant native to Mexico, called Nochebuena there.
Quetzal Green bird with long tail plumes of the southern cloud forests.
Saguaro Giant cactus with arms that grows in Sonora.
Scorpion Stinging relative of spiders found in dry country.
Spider Monkey Long-limbed tree dweller that swings by its tail.
Tapir Stout plant eater with a short trunk.
Toucan Fruit eater of the southern rainforest with an oversized rainbow beak.
Vaquita Tiny, very rare porpoise of the upper Sea of Cortez.
Whale Shark Spotted giant fish that feeds on plankton off the Yucatán.

How this list was compiled: Own work. Words and names about Mexico, chosen and described for children: seven themed lists (states, cities, mountains, deserts and coasts, food, festivals and traditions, ancient cities and peoples, animals and plants), Mexico Favorites, an easy list of every word of 3 to 5 letters and a hard list of every word of 8 letters or more. Names keep their Spanish spelling in the word list (Yucatán, Querétaro, Piñata, Día de Muertos); the grid keeps only the letters A to Z, so they are hidden as YUCATAN, QUERETARO, PINATA and DIADEMUERTOS. Entries have 3 to 14 letters once marks and spaces are dropped, and inside one list no word sits inside another, forwards or backwards. States of Mexico has 30 of the 31 states; Baja California Sur is longer than an entry may be. Clues are our own wording; no clue repeats a word of four letters or more from its own entry. No brand, team, living person or drink is listed. States, cities, places, foods, traditions, peoples and animals were checked on 3 October 2026 against the English Wikipedia article Mexico and the article for each entry (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico, license CC BY-SA 4.0). The highest mountain, the longest river, the largest lake, the count of states and the years 1521 and 1910 were checked the same day in a second work, Store norske leksikon (https://snl.no/Mexico). Where no second work gave a figure or a record, the clue leaves it out. An educational puzzle, not an official list; check an official source before you rely on a fact. Licence: own work

How it works

This Mexico word search opens with Mexico City, Popocatépetl, Guacamole, Día de Muertos and 12 more favorites. Start from a list has seven themed lists: states, cities, mountains and coasts, food, festivals, ancient cities and peoples, animals and plants.

Read the full guide

Thirty states in one list

States of Mexico has 30 of the 31 states: Baja California Sur is too long for the grid, so its capital, La Paz, stands in under Cities of Mexico. The state that surrounds the capital is entered as Mexico State. Each clue gives a capital or one thing the state is known for.

Accents print, the grid drops them

The word list keeps Spanish spelling: Yucatán, Querétaro, Piñata, Día de Muertos. The grid uses plain A to Z, so pupils hunt for YUCATAN, QUERETARO, PINATA and DIADEMUERTOS. Xoloitzcuintli, the national dog, fills all 14 letters an entry may have.

Easy Mexico has the words of 3 to 5 letters, such as Taco, Masa, Flan, Maya, Olmec, Tulum, Agave and Lobo.
Tick Show clues, not words, on Food of Mexico: Chicle is "Sap of the sapodilla tree, the original chewing gum."

Questions and answers

Are the Mexico word search puzzles printable?

Yes, and free. Press Print or save as PDF for the puzzle with a Name and Date line and the answer key on its own page. Press New puzzle first and every table gets a different grid.

Which Mexican holidays and traditions are in it?

Festivals and Traditions of Mexico has Día de Muertos, Ofrenda, Marigold, Papel Picado, Posadas, Piñata, Grito, Guelaguetza and Quinceañera, then Mariachi, Folklórico, Voladores, Charreada and Lotería. Each is named with a plain one-line clue.

What food words does the Mexico word search have?

Taco, Tortilla, Tamale, Guacamole, Burrito, Tostada, Pozole, Chilaquiles, Elote, Churro, Flan and Tres Leches, with ingredients that come from Mexico, such as Vanilla, Chocolate and Chicle.

Does it include the Maya and Aztec cities?

Yes. Ancient Cities and Peoples of Mexico has Teotihuacán, Chichén Itzá, Tenochtitlan, Palenque, Tulum, Uxmal and Monte Albán, with Maya, Olmec, Zapotec, Mixtec, Toltec and Mexica, the name the Aztecs used for themselves.

All 186 words

States of Mexico 30

States of Mexico, continued

Cities of Mexico 26

Mexico Mountains, Deserts and Coasts 24

Food of Mexico 27

Festivals and Traditions of Mexico 26

Ancient Cities and Peoples of Mexico 27

Animals and Plants of Mexico 26

How it works

Thirty states in one list

Accents print, the grid drops them

Questions and answers

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