Cuba, a key player in the Caribbean tourist sector, prioritizes an environmental approach on the leisure industry.

In Cuba's strategy, it is essential to balance the protection of the environment and the exploitation of protected areas in favor of nature and adventure tourism.

It is worth mentioning that Cuba has 200 protected areas and most of them can be used in different types of tourism, such as national parks, ecological reserves and wildlife refuges.

Cuba's protected areas are forest or forested zones, marine and fluvial areas, selected for the conservation and protection of ecosystems, biological and genetic diversity.

The Cuban fauna contributes some 16,500 described species, in a context where some zoological groups show an endemism higher than 90 percent.

In terms of ecology, diversity is huge and an example is central Cuba, where the provinces of Villa Clara, Cienfuegos and Sancti Spíritus have an enormous potential for the practice of nature tourism.

Cuban birds are very diverse, with more than 350 species on the islands and cays that make up the archipelago, especially the marine and forested regions, which are marked by a high degree of endemism.

Coupled with this, the country's location makes it an obligatory route for migratory birds that travel long distances in search of food and a safe haven from North to South America and on their itinerary.

Mountain ecosystems do not escape the dynamic growth of the sector, and many of the offers include tours and stays in those areas.

The potential of this activity lies on Cuba's relief, since the nation has four major mountain ranges that occupy approximately 21 percent of the total surface of the island, in addition to holding 37 percent of the forest areas.

Together with this, specialized institutions account for more than 10,000 caves throughout the island, many of which have some 25 million years of evolution.

Although authorities estimate that many of these areas can allow tourists to encourage hiking, a form of great acceptance, they should always be monitored by experts to prevent them from being damaged.

Meanwhile, diving enthusiasts has access to more than 70,000 kilometers of the Cuban insular platform, with about 5,000 kilometers of coastline, bathed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

Nearly 6,500 varieties of fish, crustaceans, sponges and mollusks, accompanied by up to 850 kilometers of coral reefs in perfect condition, make the island one of the best preserved underwater ecosystems in the region.