Cuba, a tourist destination par excellence in the Caribbean, faces competition in the region's tourism industry, which is characterized by great diversity.

The Cuban archipelago offers dozens of kilometers of excellent beaches of fine white sand and crystal-clear water, and its unique traditions, nature, culture and history.

In addition, the Cuban archipelago also offers more than 70,000 square kilometers of insular platform and some 5,000 kilometers of coasts, which are bathed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

In addition, nearly 6,500 varieties of fish, crustaceans, sponges and mollusks, and an 850-kilometer coral reef in perfect state of preservation turn the island into one of the best-preserved underwater ecosystems in the region.

The archipelago's natural assets can be found in more than 4,000 keys and islets where vacationers can enjoy a wide range of options, including bird watching.

In that regard, 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.

Cities with a well-preserved Spanish colonial architecture, hotels linked to plastic arts, patrimonial sites and a busy schedule of celebrations and festivities make up Cuba's tourist offer.

Cuba has about 120 art galleries, antique shops and art exhibition halls, in addition to nearly 260 museums and more than 80 theaters, which are excellent options for those looking for more than beach and sun in the Caribbean Island.

One of Cuba's major destinations is Havana, which has a complex of fortresses made up of nine large castles that among the most relevant constructions of its kind in the Spanish-speaking Americas.

In addition, Old Havana, which was declared Humankind's Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), holds more than 100 buildings from the 16th and 17th centuries, and about 200 houses from the 18th century.

In central Cuba, the major historic attractions are in Sancti Spiritus, the only Cuban province that holds two of the first villages founded by Spanish Governor Diego Velázquez in the 16th century: Villa del Espíritu Santo (Holy Spirit) y Villa de la Santísima Trinidad (Holy Trinity).