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Coahuila
Overview
Coahuila, formally Coahuila de Zaragoza, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Coahuila de Zaragoza, is one of the 31 states of Mexico. The largest city and state capital is the city of Saltillo; the second largest is Torreón and the third largest is Monclova (a former state capital); the fourth largest is Piedras Negras; and the fifth largest is Ciudad Acuña. Coahuila borders the Mexican states of Nuevo León to the east, Zacatecas to the south, and Durango and Chihuahua to the west. To the north, Coahuila accounts for a 512-kilometre (318 mi) stretch of the Mexico–United States border, adjacent to the U.S. state of Texas along the course of the Rio Grande (Río Bravo del Norte). With an area of 151,563 square kilometres (58,519 sq mi), it is the nation's third-largest state. It comprises 38 municipalities (municipios). In the 2020 Census, Coahuila had a population of 3,146,771.
Facts
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Source
WBP almanac
External sources
Media
From Wikipedia2,344 words
WBP editorial3
Beyond the capital’s museums
While Saltillo’s colonial façades draw the casual visitor, the surrounding high‑desert towns offer a quieter lens on regional life. In the morning, head east to the Vinícola Saucito vineyard near Arteaga; the modest tasting rooms serve wines made from grapes nurtured in mineral‑rich soils, a practice revived by local families in the 1990s. Later, venture to the silver‑strewn hills of Sierra de Arteaga for a brief trek; the trails intersect ancient mining routes, and the occasional shepherd still uses traditional cantina‑style blankets to protect livestock from the sun. These small‑scale experiences reveal a side of Coahuila rarely captured in guidebooks, where agriculture and legacy industry intersect.
Seasonal rhythms for the road‑tripper
Travelers timing their road trip across Coahuila should align with the state’s climatic swing. Late autumn brings a crisp, dry air that sharpens the colours of the desert flora, ideal for photographing the iconic monoliths near Cuatro Ciénegas. Conversely, the summer monsoon can turn unpaved stretches into fleeting rivers; a well‑stocked water bottle and a sturdy high‑clearance vehicle become essentials. The transitional months of March and April also host the local “Feria de la Flor” in Monclova, where floral arrangements are displayed alongside regional crafts—a subtle reminder that cultural celebrations often accompany, rather than dictate, the weather.