Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Which present-day countries are included in the Mesoamerican cultural region?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Mesoamerican Indian
Distribution of Meso-American Indians.
The Mesoamerican cultural region encompasses parts of Mexico and Central America. Specifically, the region includes the following present-day countries:
- Mexico: Approximately the southern half of the country.1
- Guatemala: The entire country.1
- Belize: The entire country.1
- Honduras: Parts of the country.1
- El Salvador: Parts of the country.1
- Nicaragua: Areas along the Pacific coast.2
- Costa Rica: Areas along the Pacific coast.2
The region is defined as a culture area characterized by shared traits among pre-Columbian civilizations, extending geographically from the Pánuco River in northern Mexico to the Lempa River in El Salvador and further along the Pacific coast of Nicaragua and Costa Rica. While the term is sometimes conflated with "Middle America," that designation is broader and includes the entirety of Mexico and Central America.12