Cuba, whose tourist sector has grown steadily over the past few years, promotes alternatives to consolidate its position on the international market, with one-of-a-kind options for nature, cultural and historic tourism.

In that background, adventure tourism is part of the diversification of Cuba's tourism industry, which bets on that kind of options to attract more vacationers.

Among those alternatives is the practice of kite surf, as a result of which three international schools were established in Jardines del Rey (King's Gardens).

Experts noted that there is potential for that modality on Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo, due to the air currents.

In addition, tourists can practice scuba diving and snorkeling in Cuba's marine ecosystems, which are famous for their extension, variety, endemism and good preservation.

Some 1,000 species of fish, 58 of corals, 160 of sponges, mollusks and crustaceans, and a great variety of plants coexist in the coral reef that surrounds Cuba's broad and relatively shallow submarine platform, which is submerged in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean to the north, and the Caribbean Sea to the south.

Cuba's coral reef, one of the largest, richest and best preserved in the world, is full of caves, tunnels, channels and sunken ships, among other attractions.

In addition to traditional sun and beach options, Cuba also offers variants linked to the environment, with programs that are true adventures for those who choose the Caribbean island to spend their vacations.

The country's mountain ecosystem is also influenced by the dynamic growth of the tourism sector, so many offers include tours and stays in those areas.

The potential of that activity lies in Cuba's relief, as the island has four major mountains ranges that cover approximately 21 percent of the total surface, in addition to 37 percent of the country's forest areas.

Cuba's mountains, particularly those in the east, are among the most important centers of evolution, dispersion and endemism in the Antilles.

Precisely, that peculiarity of Cuba's mountain ecosystems results from the fact that they were the first regions that emerged from the sea during the creation of the archipelago, so they benefited from a long evolution of the flora and fauna.

More than 6,700 plant species, 51 percent of which are endemic, can be found in Cuba's mountains, where up to 3,400 varieties of mushrooms grow.

The diversity of Cuba's fauna, represented by more than 14,000 species, is especially high in arthropods, mollusk, amphibians, reptiles and birds, and is characterized by its high endemism.

Natural and biosphere reserves, natural landscapes, national parks and protected areas provide a wide range of options, marked by their richness, excellent preservation and unique characteristics.

Bird watching is another special option that attracts thousands of visitors to Cuba every year.