Mexico is a federal constitutional republic located in North America. It is bordered by Caribbean Sea on the East, Pacific Ocean on the West and South and United States on the North. The Gulf of Mexico lies to its East. Juan de Grijalva is credited to be one of the earliest to explore the shores of Mexico in 1518, but it is believed that it was first discovered in 1517 by Spanish explorer, Francisco Fernandez (Hernandez) de Cordoba. He was the first European to travel to this area.