The tourism in the Cuban archipelago, one of the fastest-growing destinations in the Caribbean, is on the first line of economic development.

Exuberant nature, centuries-old traditions and history go hand in hand in a territory that covers an area of more than 110,000 square kilometers and has nearly 5,800 kilometers of coastline, including 600 kilometers of beautiful beaches.

Cuban beaches, which are complemented by a tropical climate, fine white sand and warm crystal-clear water, are a major option that tourists cannot refuse.

As an example, in western Cuba, the world-famous Varadero beach, which runs along 22 kilometers on the Hicacos peninsula, is one of the most visited destinations by foreign vacationers.

The Cuban capital offers excellent beaches as part of the so-called Circuito Azul (Blue Circuit), which runs along 15 kilometers on the north coast and where Santa María del Mar stands out as one of the most beautiful beaches in the region.

In addition, Bibijagua beach, on Isla de la Juventud (Isle of Youth), is famous for its black sand, while Marea del Portillo, in eastern Granma province, is characterized by its brown sand.

Eastern Cuba is another major tourist region, especially Holguín, where Bariay, the place where Admiral Christopher Columbus first arrived in 1492, is located. The world-known beaches of Guardalavaca, Esmeralda and Pesquero are the main tourist destinations in the province.

Cuba's fauna consists of 16,500 species, including some zoological groups whose endemism exceeds 90 percent. The native flora is made up of more than 6,300 species of different colors and shapes.

Natural and biosphere reserves, natural landscapes, national parks and protected areas make up a broad network of one-of-a-kind well-preserved options.

Diving can be practiced in more than 70,000 kilometers of Cuban insular platform, which has some 5,000 kilometers of coast bathed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

As a singular element, Cuba also promotes tourist programs that combine leisure with medical treatments to improve the quality of life, including thalassotherapy, a medical modality benefits from the island's marine environment – air, water and climate – and other natural resources such as mud, sand and algae.