Central Cuba, characterized by its well-preserved nature, contributes its ecological wealth as an ideal complement to a wide range of tourist options.

In that regard, the provinces of Villa Clara, Cienfuegos and Sancti Spiritus have a huge potential for nature tourism, in addition to dozens of kilometers of excellent beaches.

The Hanabanilla Lake, in Villa Clara, the only lake in the mountains in the country, into which the rivers Negro, Hanabanilla and Guanayara flow, is an ideal place for nature tourism.

The reservoir, which covers an area of 14.9 square kilometers and is 30-40 meters deep, is located at 364 meters above sea level and can store about 300 million cubic meters of water.

Tourists can take El Nicho trail on the mountain, parallel to the Hanabanilla River and its many waterfalls, which create a breathtakingly beautiful landscape.

In addition, boating on the Negro River allows vacationers to enjoy the one-of-a-kind beauty of the region and its countryside environment. At the end of the excursion, they can have lunch at a thatch-roof restaurant serving exquisite Cuban food.

There is an underground museum, the only one of its kind in the American continent, in La Maravillosa Cave, where the life of aborigines and human evolution in the region are recreated.

Another site that combines nature and health is Topes de Collantes, which is 800 meters above sea level and is a safe haven for many endemic plant and animal species in its 110 square kilometers.

Topes de Collantes is a score of kilometers from the former village of Santísima Trinidad (Holy Trinity) and benefits from an annual average temperature of 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit). It is paradise for nature lovers.

The region has an excellent hotel infrastructure, so that visitors can stay there as they walk on several interpretative trails and enjoy the tropical jungle.

The mountain trails will undoubtedly surprise many vacationers, who will find waterfalls that are up to 60 meters high (the highest in Cuba) and ponds of crystal-clear water from nearby springs.

South of the city of Santa Clara, the provincial capital, is the Cubanacán Protected Area, a true natural paradise and a safe haven for amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds, including ten species in the list of endemic groups in the country.

Also in the region is the Escambray Mountain Range, characterized by steep slopes, winding roads and thick forests, in addition to being the habitat of the last flocks of parrots living in the province.

As a result of the appropriate handling of natural resources, the communities in seven municipalities in Villa Clara contribute to the protection of coastal environments, including the execution of the Sabana-Camagüey project.