The Cuban archipelago, which has a privileged location in the Caribbean region, offers a wide range of recreational options to thousands of foreign vacationers who visit the island nation every year.

The warm waters that surround the island offer visitor the possibility of enjoying nautical sports.

Tourists can scuba dive and snorkel along more than 70,000 kilometers of Cuba's insular platform, including 5,000 kilometers of coastline bathed by both the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

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

Three dozen dive centers operate throughout the country, offering initiation courses and diving excursions in coral reefs and caverns under strict international standards for that activity.

In addition, Cuba hosts fairs and specialized events on a wide range of topics, meeting the growing demand for that kind of activities from entrepreneurs interested in exploring the country's business opportunities.

Cuba complements the beauty of its coasts and exuberant nature with its rich culture and centuries-old traditions, which are a key element in the island's tourist product.

Cities that hold well-preserved exponents of Spanish-colonial architecture, hotels that promote plastic art, patrimonial sites and a busy timetable of celebrations and festivities make up Cuba's tourist offer.

One of the most visited destinations in Cuba is precisely its capital, which is characterized by a system of nine fortresses that represent one of the most relevant complexes of its kind in the Spanish-speaking Americas.

In addition, Havana's historic heart, which was designated a Humankind Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), holds more than 100 buildings from the 16th and 17th centuries, and more than 200 edifices from the 18th century.

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) y Villa de la Santísima Trinidad (Holy Trinity).

However, the second largest historic site in Cuba is in the eastern city of Camagüey, formerly known as Santa María del Puerto del Príncipe and also called the city of "tinajones", due to the abundance of those large earthenware jars that were used to collect rainwater.

For its part, Santiago de Cuba treasures traditions and culture that are more than 480 years old, including its defense system, which is considered the best exponent of European Renaissance military engineering in the Caribbean. The system is made up of the castles of San Pedro de La Roca and La Estrella, and the Battery of La Socapa.

The Caribbean Island has more than 260 museums that treasure valuable elements of Cuban history and provide visitors with knowledge of the country's history, culture and traditions, as an alternative to traditional sun and beach options.