Things to do in Cuba

Covering a total land area of some 42,000 sq miles, Cuba is the biggest nation in the Caribbean. Along with an abundance of places to see, this country also offers tourists who come here a wealth of things to do and activities to enjoy. One of the best things to do in Cuba is snorkeling and diving. With 5746 km of coastline, it is no wonder that Cuba offers some of the best snorkeling and diving in the region. There are over 3 dozen dive centers throughout Cuba offering various certification courses and dive excursions and tours.

One of the best places to go diving and snorkeling in Cuba has to be Varadero. There are over 30 dive sites to be found here, however most of them are offshore. The waters here are home an abundance of marine life and there are dives available for beginners as well as experts. You can also enjoy some wreck and cave dives in this area. Maria La Gorda is also an excellent dive location with over two dozen dive sites to enjoy. Here you can see an incredible variety of tropical fish swimming among the vibrant coral reefs located here. The El Valley de Coral Negro is a 100 meter long black coral wall, while the El Salon de Maria is a 20 meter deep cave, home to many stunning coral varieties. Another excellent place to come diving in Cuba is Cienfuegos. Here at the Rancho Luna beach you can find some 32 dive sites filled with a vast array of marine life and spectacular coral gardens. Wreck dives and cave dives are also available here, with shark dives on hand from August to November.

Hiking is another popular activity in Cuba with numerous hiking trails all over the country. In Maria la Gorda you can find some excellent hiking trails at the Estacion Ecologica Guanahacabibes, the most famous of which is the Cueva las Perlas trail. This trek takes you through some dense forestation and through the Pearl Cave offering some wonderful sights to enjoy. Some excellent hiking is also on hand in Baracoa, where you can hike up to the summit of the El Yunque waterfalls. The Parque Nacional Alejandro de Humboldt near Baracoa also offers some great hiking and trekking opportunities. There are three challangin trails to be found here, which pass through some of the most diverse plant habitats in the Caribbean.

If you enjoy rock climbing, then visit the Vinales valley, where you can find some world class climbing opportunities. There are over 150 climbing routes located out here making it a must place for any climbing enthusiast.

In Cuba you can enjoy a variety of things to do including numerous water base sports at nearly all the beaches here, skydiving at Varadero, caving in Vinales and Baracoa and sport fishing at a number of locations offshore.