Cuba, which benefits from a privileged location in the Caribbean region, offers its unique natural attractions and historic and cultural wealth to thousands of vacationers who visit the island nation every year.

Over five centuries of Cuban history are complemented by dozens of kilometers of pristine beaches and a broad infrastructure of cultural institutions.

In addition to excellent beaches of white sand and crystal-clear water, Cuba offers its mountains to nature lovers.

Cuba's mountain ecosystems are also influenced by the fast-growing tourism sector, so many options include excursions and overnight stays in those areas.

The Caribbean Island has four mountain ranges that cover about 21 percent of the country's territory, 37 percent of which is covered by forests.

In the western part of the country, in Pinar del Río province, is the Guaniguanico Mountain Range, which is made up of Sierra de los Organos and Sierra del Rosario. The highest mountain in Guaniguanico is Pan de Guajaibón (Guajaibón Bread), whose top is 669 meters above sea level.

The Topes de Collantes National Park is the main tourist site in the Guamuaya Mountain Range, also known as Escambray, where the Caburní waterfall is the main attraction.

The other two mountain ranges – Sierra Maestra and Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa – are in eastern Cuba and hold the country's highest mountains: the Turquino (1,974 meters above sea level), Cuba (1,872 meters) and Suecia (1,734 meters) peaks.

On the other hand, caverns are major underground attractions for foreign tourists interested in learning about the peculiarities of Cuba's nature.

More than 60 percent of Cuba's territory is made up of calcareous rocks. The strong influence from glacial periods and the weather have created the largest caverns in the region.

Experts say that there are more than 10,000 caves in Cuba, many of which are 25 million years old.

Two of the most famous caves are the 45-km-long Santo Tomás, in western Sierra de Quemados, and Cueva del Indio, through which the San Juan River runs.

Another site that is visited by thousands of tourists every year is the Bellamar Cave, in western Matanzas province.

Bellamar, which is 23 kilometers long and 300,000 years old, is made up of three caverns that were a single cave in ancient times: Bellamar, El Jarrito and Soto Jíbaro.