The largest Antillean island, one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations in the Caribbean, boasts unique attractions that, as a whole, make up an extraordinary offer to meet the needs of the most demanding vacationers.

A traditional destination for tourists looking for sun and beaches, Cuba complements the beauty of its coasts and exuberant nature with the richness of its culture and traditions, essential components of the Island's tourist product.

The blend of races and customs, a process that lasted several centuries, created a unique culture with an extraordinary mixture of African, aboriginal, Chinese, French and, of course, Spanish characteristics.

That rich cultural heritage, forged for many years, attracts thousands of visitors who bet on the Caribbean island to spend their leisure time.

Cities with well-preserved exponents of colonial architecture, hotels linked to plastic exhibits, patrimonial sites, and a tight schedule of celebrations and festivities make up Cuba's offer for the leisure industry.

Cuba's nightlife has its maximum exponent in the cabarets Tropicana - in the City of Havana, Varadero and Santiago de Cuba - or facilities that recreate the atmosphere of the 1950s.

The tourist offer also includes popular festivities such as the summer carnivals in the capital and eastern Cuba, whose origin dates back to colonial times.

Other similar festivities are the "parrandas" in Remedios - which are nearly 180 years old - and Bejucal (Havana), in which most residents in those towns participate.

Cuba also has 120 art galleries, antique shops and exhibition halls, in addition to 260 museums and more than 80 theaters.

The Island's cultural schedule includes many meetings, workshops, festivals, congresses and specialized courses, designed for those interested in the most varied artistic expressions.

Among the most important activities are annual meetings organized by ballet academies, festivals such as "La Huella de España", "Boleros de Oro", "Cubadisco", the "Festival of Ibero-American Culture" and the International Festival "Jazz Plaza", as well as the much expected "Fiesta del Fuego", which is held in Santiago de Cuba and is closely linked to the Caribbean.

All this is an invitation to vacationers to share the country's cultural life and traditions, which are characterized by their authenticity, professional rigor and honesty.

The different options provided by the Cuban culture, which are supported by its richness and history, turn art into a key element in Cuba's tourist product, and one of the major attractions of the leisure industry at present.