Cuba, a tourist destination par excellence in the Caribbean, is ready for the beginning of the summer season, when most people take their vacations on the island.

Excellent beaches, centuries-old traditions, culture and history are part of the country's tourist options during the hottest months of the year.

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.

Nearly 6,500 species of fish, crustaceans, sponges and mollusks, as well as many varieties of corals, turn the island into one of the best-preserved ecosystems in the region.

Cuban tourism also favors direct contact with nature, either through traditional options or under new program that prioritize ecotourism.

Cuba is home to 16,500 species, some of which show an endemism of more than 90 percent. In addition, the autochthonous flora consists of more than 6,300 varieties.

Cuba's tourist industry is also complemented by the country's geography, which offers its mountains, flora, fauna and caverns.

Precisely, caves are a major attraction for foreign vacationers interested in enjoying Cuban nature.

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

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.

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 addition, Natural and biosphere reserves, natural landscapes and protected areas make up a wide range of offers that are well preserved and are unique in the region.