Cuba, full of attractions, offers a wide range of options for domestic and international tourism.

Traditional sun and beach options are complemented by new alternatives linked to culture, history and traditions.

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.

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 western Matanzas province, the world-famous Varadero beach, which runs along 22 kilometers on the Hicacos peninsula, is one of the most visited destinations by foreign vacationers.

Fusions of races and customs in a centuries-old process gave way to Cuban culture, which is made up of African, aboriginal, Chinese, French and, of course, Spanish elements, creating a unique and rich combination at the same time.

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) and Villa de la Santísima Trinidad (Holy Trinity), founded in 1514.

According to statistics, 48 percent of Cuba's historic sites are located in eastern Granma province, including the provincial capital, Bayamo, which was declared a National Monument and was capital of the Republic in Arms during the first war of independence in 1868.

Natural and biosphere reserves, natural landscapes, national parks and protected areas create a varied offer characterized by its excellent preservation and unique features in the region.

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 there are more than 10,000 caves in Cuba, many of which are more than 25 million years old, especially the Santo Tomas cavern system, in western Cuba, which is about 45 kilometers long under the Quemados Mountain Range, and Cueva del Indio, which is crossed by the San Juan River.

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.