The Cuban archipelago, a tourist destination par excellence in the Caribbean region, is visited by thousands of foreign vacationers every year, who spend their vacations in Havana, the island's major city.

The City of Havana offers a wide range of tourist and recreational programs that allow visitors to be in direct contact with local people and the island's cultural wealth, and to take a refreshing swim in the Caribbean Sea.

Precisely, Santa María del Mar beach, which is at about a 20-minute drive east of Havana, is a major complement to the tourist industry in the Cuban capital.

In fact, that tempting strip of a dozen kilometers of white sand and crystal-clear water that many call the Blue Circuit is a traditional refuge for Havana residents and foreign visitors in summer.

Among the most demanded hotels along the Blue Circuit is Tropicoco, which is a few meters from the beach in an attractive Caribbean atmosphere characterized by large outdoor and indoor gardens.

Owned by the Cuban chain Cubanacán, the hotel is run by the Spanish group Hoteles C.

Experts say the hotel's main attraction is its location in one of the best beach areas on Santa María del Mar, as well as its proximity to the Cuban capital.

Hoteles C operates in all tourist-sending markets, as it has signed contracts with major European tour operators, mainly from Spain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Russia.

The Tropicoco Hotel, inaugurated more than three decades ago, offers 188 air-conditioned rooms (double, triple and special) equipped with all modern amenities in today's tourist industry.

The sand area near the shore runs to the edge of the insular platform and is inhabited by corals and several species of fish, so it is an excellent place for scuba diving and snorkeling.

Other beaches in the Blue Circuit visited by both Cuban and foreign tourists are Bacuranao, El Mégano, Boca Ciega and Guanabo.