The Cuban archipelago, which benefits from a strategic location in the Caribbean, has become one of the favorite destinations for recreation and leisure in the region.

Exuberant nature, centuries-old traditions and history go hand in hand in a territory that covers an area of more than 110,000 square kilometers and has nearly 5,800 kilometers of coastline, including 600 kilometers of beautiful beaches.

Summer in Cuba, which has an average temperature of 24.6 degrees Celsius (76.2 degrees Fahrenheit), is a great incentive for both national and foreign tourists.

Summertime coincides with Cubans' school and work vacations, as well as many festivities that complement the country's recreational options.

In western Cuba is Cayo Levisa, off the north coast of Pinar del Río province and accessed from the big island by boat, which departs from Palma Rubia.

Three kilometers of excellent beaches and 23 dive spots turn Cayo Levisa into an excellent place for diving enthusiasts, who can enjoy the surrounding crystal-clear water and one of the world's largest coral reefs.

Another major destination in Cuba is the coastal resort of Varadero, which offers 22 kilometers of excellent beaches, characterized by white fine sand and crystal-clear water.

Cuba's tourist growth goes beyond the so-called big island, as it has spread to the northern keys, which boast dozens of kilometers of excellent beaches and a pristine environment.

A 48-kilometer causeway connects the largest island in the Cuban archipelago with the keys Santa María, Las Brujas, Ensenachos, Cobos, Majá, Fragoso, Francés, Las Picúas and Español de Adentro, among others.

In addition, Cayo Largo del Sur, which is exclusively devoted to tourism, offers 24 kilometers of excellent beaches of white fine sand.

Eastern Cuba is another major tourist region, especially Holguín, where Bariay, the place where Admiral Christopher Columbus first arrived in 1492, is located. The world-known beaches of Guardalavaca, Esmeralda and Pesquero are the main tourist destinations in the province.

In Holguín is Cayo Saetía, which is at the entrance of the Nipe Bay and is considered the country's largest game preserve, where tourists can hunt a wide range of species.

Santa Lucía beach – in Camagüey province – is known as a hidden Eden and is considered one of the best beaches in Cuba and the world where vacationers can practice all kinds of nautical sports.

Off Santa Lucía is a huge coral reef that many have described as the world's second largest. The reef runs along 400 kilometers parallel to the coast of the keys Sabinal, Guajaba, Romano and Cruz.