About Cuba
Photo Gallery
Hotel Playa Varadero 1920
Lateral view
Introduction
Cuba Is an Archipelago
The Cuban archipelago consists of the island of Cuba, the Isle of Youth and around 4195 cays and islets which have a combined land area of 42,827 square miles (110,992 square kilometers).
Population, Language and Location
More than 11,120,000 inhabitants, whose official language is Spanish, live in this Caribbean nation at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico, around 48 miles (77 kilometers) from Haiti, 87 miles (140 kilometers) from the Bahamas, 90.5 miles (146 kilometers) from Jamaica, 112 miles (180 kilometers) from Florida and 130 miles (210 kilometers) from Cancún.
Political-Administrative Division
Politically and administratively, the Republic of Cuba consists of 14 provinces (from west to east): Pinar del Río, Havana, City of Havana, Matanzas, Cienfuegos, Villa Clara, Sancti Spíritus, Ciego de Avila, Camagüey, Las Tunas, Granma, Santiago de Cuba, Holguín and Guantánamo. The special municipality of the Isle of Youth lies south of the mainland of Cuba, nearest Havana Province.
Length and Geographic Features
The largest island in the archipelago is Cuba. Long and thin, it measures 744 miles (1200 kilometers) between San Antonio Cape, the westernmost tip of the island, and Maisí Point, its easternmost tip. Plains predominate, though there are some important mountain groups, including the Sierra Maestra, which includes the highest point in the country: Turquino Peak, 6476 feet (1974 meters) above sea level.
Scenery
Cuba’s colorful scenery is of a wide diversity, running from semidesert to damp tropical forests. It also has great biodiversity, and its land and sea ecosystems are well preserved.
Climate
It has a pleasant moderate subtropical climate, with warm temperatures prevailing and two seasons: rainy (from May through October) and dry (from November through April). Average air temperature is 77.9º F. (25.5° C.), and average water temperature along the coast is 77º F. (25° C.). Average annual relative humidity is nearly 80 percent. There are an average of around 330 sunny days a year.
Natural Beaches
Cuba is known for its more than 300 natural beaches, which are unique for the varied tones of their calm, clear water; the beauty of their seabeds; the natural state of the cays that bound them; and their good hotels—more than 240 of them, with close to 40,000 rooms. Sixty-eight percent of these installations are of four or five stars and were built in the last ten years.
Main Attractions
Many people come to Cuba to enjoy its rich cultural offerings; see its cities and areas that UNESCO has declared to be a part of world cultural heritage; savor its excellent cooking; participate in some of the many international conferences and congresses that are held here; have a memorable wedding or honeymoon; or, simply, have a vacation in peace and safety.)
Destinations and hotels
