The Cuban archipelago, a tourist destination par excellence in the Caribbean, has in its nature a special component of its large portfolio of tourist options which are preferred by thousands of domestic and foreign visitors.

Precisely, the country’s natural beauty, with dozens of kilometers of excellent beaches of crystal clear waters and white sands, is complemented by a rich culture and history.

In addition, the Cuban tourist industry promotes specialized events in order to increase the tourist potential, including those options of nature tourism which are supported by several attractions located in the eastern and western areas of the country.

The province of Granma holds in its territory one of the most preferred sites, the Desembarco del Granma National Park, the first place in Cuba to be declared as World Natural Heritage by UNESCO.

The park is located on the westernmost part of the Sierra Maestra mountain range and it covers an area of 25,000 hectares which are characterized by beautiful crags and well-preserved vertical scarps of panoramic beauty, which shelter an endemic flora and fauna.

The most important natural values of the area include the second largest and best preserved system of marine terraces, both undersea and above the surface.

Likewise, there are fabulous vertical caves like the Hoyo de Morlotte and areas where traces of the indigenous population of the island can be watched in places where they settled and in pictographs.

The mountain ecosystems in the country are also involved in the dynamic growth of the sector, and many options already feature excursions and stays in these areas.

The Cuban relief has a great potential for these activities since the nation has four mountain ranges which extend over 21 percent of the island’s surface, also including 37 percent of all wooded zones.

Likewise, protected areas, biosphere reserves, swamps and regions of endemic flora and fauna can be fully enjoyed, through accesses provided by specialized paths designed for those visitors who arrive in the island, with an interest in nature.

Cuban nature can also be enjoyed in the depths of caverns located in the territory; over 60 percent of the soil is composed of calcareous rocks that with the action and influence of the glacial periods, as well as the characteristics of the climate, have contributed to the formation of the largest caverns in the region.

The Cuban avifauna is very diverse with a high level of endemism, including more than 350 species distributed through the country, where seabirds and those which live in the woods can be watched.

In addition, those who prefer nautical activities can enjoy more than 70,000 kilometers of island shelf, with about 5,000 kilometers of coastline bathed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

Close to 6,500 varieties of fish, crustacean, sponges and mollusks can be found in the Cuban seas, accompanied by up to 850 kilometers of coral reefs which provide one of the best preserved submarine ecosystems in the region.