Cuba, considered a true paradise for leisure in the Caribbean, features a wide range of world-renowned attractions and welcomes thousands of vacationers from many countries every year.

For that reason, international tourism chains bet on the Caribbean Island to do business, confident in the success of the country's natural beauties.

Based on that concept, the Spanish chain Barceló recently opened the Barceló Solymar Beach Resort, which is the first establishment of the group in Cuba and is located in the best area of the beach resort of Varadero, in western Matanzas province.

The new hotel is considered an ideal place for families and honeymooners, as well as for diving enthusiasts and those who love water sports in general.

Barceló, which is among the most important Spanish consortiums, contributes its conception of Beach Resort, which has been very successful in the group's establishments in Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.

The Barceló Solymar Beach Resort has 525 rooms - including 328 standard rooms, four suites, 120 bungalows and 73 bungalow suites - equipped with air conditioning, satellite TV, safety deposit box, minibar and a breathtaking view of the sea and the gardens.

Cuban cuisine lovers can enjoy a delicious meal at the Tropimar Restaurant, which provides a la carte services, an offer that is complemented by two other restaurants serving Italian food (Los Corales) and seafood (Sol y Arena).

The hotel's varied gastronomic offer also includes two smorgasbords (Lindamar and Ranchón Tropicana), two snack bars (Horizontes and Las Dunas) and five bars (Solymar, Los Grumetes, Los Delfines, Las Redes and Sala de Fiestas Solymar).

Other facilities are two swimming pools for adults and one for children, game arcade, gymnasium, sauna, massage parlor, post office, beauty parlor, babysitting and children's park.

Hotel services grant special attention to water sports activities, including surfing, catamaran rides and diving.

Nautical activities are not the only specialty at the Barceló Solymar Beach Resort, where guests can also practice other sports, including archery, beach volleyball and tennis. They can go to Varadero's nearby 18-hole golf course, which is considered the best in the country.

The Barceló Solymar Beach Resort also has room for business in two 380-seat meeting halls equipped with overhead projectors, video players, computers and Internet access.

The hotel operates under the "Barceló All Inclusive" program, which is a characteristic of the hotels run by the Spanish group in the Caribbean, with the goal of satisfying the most demanding guests.