CubaPLUS Magazine

Nature tourism has become a global trend, driven largely by humanity’s growing need to reconnect with a world that provides peace, spirituality, and well-being. In this regard, Cuba is especially well positioned, offering privileged conditions for this kind of travel.

Every year, families and individual travelers seeking these experiences are welcomed across the island’s diverse destinations. This phenomenon became even more pronounced internationally after the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced isolation and social distancing.

According to various reports from the UN Tourism agency, more and more people are now choosing active vacations centered on nature, adventure, and rural life.
Cuba treasures 230 protected areas, covering more than 20% of the national territory.

Dr. Omar Cantillo, Director of the National Center for Protected Areas (CNAP), told CubaPLUS  that the country is home to six biosphere reserves, two UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites, and several other territories with prestigious international recognition.

“No country this small,” he stressed, “concentrates so much diversity and natural value. Cuba is the fifth most biodiverse island in the world and boasts one of the most advanced national conservation systems in the Americas, backed by highly trained professionals and a strong integration of science, technology, and innovation.”

The Cuban archipelago’s tropical, humid, and semi-continental climate nurtures extraordinary natural diversity across every region of the country, from east to west.

Its landscapes range from coastal and mountain ecosystems to wetlands, semideserts, plains, rivers, caves, valleys, and the iconic rounded limestone mogotes that shape Cuba’s geography.

Visitors can enjoy a wide array of activities: birdwatching and wildlife observation, hiking, diving, sport fishing, horseback riding, speleotourism, cycling, and rural tourism.

Beyond the island’s world-renowned beaches and marine treasures, Cuba’s “green” nature offers just as much to discover. In eastern Cuba, travelers find the Caribbean’s highest mountain range, home to Pico Turquino—the island’s tallest peak at 1,974 meters—as well as the striking Yunque de Baracoa, a limestone plateau resembling a blacksmith’s anvil, with exceptional natural and scenic values.

Also in the east, the provinces of Holguín and Guantánamo feature the Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, which shelters 2% of the planet’s biodiversity and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with Desembarco del Granma National Park, celebrated for its unique system of submerged and elevated marine terraces and numerous archaeological sites.

Central Cuba is equally rich in natural wonders, such as the Topes de Collantes Protected Natural Landscape (Sancti Spíritus), known for its waterfalls, caves, and valleys; the Buena Vista Biosphere Reserve (Villa Clara), home to more than 800 endemic plant and animal species; and the Northern Wetlands (Ciego de Ávila), which include Laguna de la Leche, Cuba’s largest natural lake, with its whitish waters caused by limestone sediments, and Laguna La Redonda, headquarters of the International Fishing Center.

Western Cuba also abounds in treasures. At the island’s far western tip lies the Guanahacabibes Peninsula Biosphere Reserve (Pinar del Río), a karst plain and one of the Caribbean’s largest migratory bird corridors, as well as a vital nesting site for four of the planet’s seven endangered marine turtle species.

In the same province, the Viñales Valley Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, features one of Latin America’s most beautiful and extensive cave systems, unique flora and fauna, and towering mogotes reaching 400 meters.

The Zapata Swamp National Park (Matanzas), a Biosphere Reserve and Ramsar Site, is another jewel of western Cuba. As the Caribbean’s largest wetland, it is among the country’s most visited ecotourism destinations, famed for its biodiversity and its well-known crocodile breeding center.

Trends may come and go, but in Cuba, connecting with nature remains a timeless and enriching experience—offering knowledge, relaxation, and active rest, while fostering personal growth for both visitors and locals alike.