Summer in Cuba, characterized by a tropical climate that is complemented by warm crystal-clear waters around the archipelago, is the favorite season for those who love the sun and beaches.

Summer is an incentive for thousands of domestic and foreign vacationers who visit Cuba's tourist destinations to enjoy the high temperatures during that period.

Some 5,800 kilometers of shores, including 600 kilometers of excellent beaches, are taken into consideration by tourists.

As a particular element, summer is also the favorite season for Cuban tourists as it coincides with school and labor vacations in most parts of the country.

Add to this a wide range of festivities that take place during the summer season in Cuba.

Furthermore, domestic tourism has increased over the past few years, so many hotel chains, travel agencies and tour operators have designed one-of-a-kind options for Cuban vacationers.

Concerts in major squares, recreational events at beaches and tourist centers, and sporting festivals throughout the country are some of the main options during the summer.

Nature tourism also gains ground at facilities run by the entrepreneurial group Campismo Popular during the summer season, when children, adolescents and youths are the focus of attention.

Havana is also under the influence of beaches, as the so-called Circuito Azul (Blue Circuit) is east of the Cuban capital, running along more than 15 kilometers of coastline, where Santa María Beach stands out.

Diving enthusiasts can enjoy more than 70,000 kilometers of Cuba's insular platform and the facilities provided by internationally-certified diving centers.

Three dozen such centers operate in Cuba to provide beginners' courses and diving excursions in coral reefs and caverns under strict international standards for that kind of activity.

Diving in Cuba also benefits from an average water temperature of more than 24 degrees Celsius (75.2 degrees Fahrenheit) and horizontal visibility that often exceeds 30 meters (98.5 feet).

Several visitors also enjoy the fresh atmosphere provided by many gastronomic establishments that serve both Cuban and international dishes and where they can enjoy the best Cuban cuisine.