Ecoturism has turned into one of the practices mostly demanded in the world for the interest human beings have shown in reconciling with nature. That is why the number of travelers visiting Cuba is increasing, interested in seeing its virgin sites.

Every passing day, Cuba is aimed at encouraging practices such as ecotourism, by virtue of its cherished virgin nature. Several tourism companies offer in their trips, a list of active relaxation in the largest island of the Antilles, where hiking, excursions in the midst of hills or simply birdwatching, are the activities mostly enjoyed. The island has 42 types of ecosystems and landscapes that accommodate 6,700 vascular plants which are endemic in over 50% and 19,600 species of a well-preserved fauna. Among these species one can see 612 types of vertebrate animals, of which 15 species of mammalians are endemic, 43 amphibious, 23 fishes and 22 birds. Terms as trekking, hiking, rafting o birdwatching, are repeated more and more everyday by tour operators, depending on the type of hiking, longer or shorter, rides along the rapids on rivers or birdwatching activities in highly demand by vacationers. Interesting landscapes as Sierra del Rosario in Pinar del Río province, a Biosphere Reserve can be admired in Cuba as well as national parks as those of Escambray in the very heart of the island or that of Turquino in Oriente (easternmost region of the island) where the highest peak of Cuba is located, also bearing the same name and with an altitude of 1,974 m. Other attractive places are Viñales Valley, Zapata Peninsula or Swamp, Guamuhaya Cordillera and Baracoa, near the course of Toa River, an ideal place for a ride on raffles or canoes, or the northern cays where Jardines del Rey tourism resort is found. Another charms found in Cuba are its caverns. Experts consider that the island show 60% of this formation, this means the existence of 26,000 natural caves and many of them are interesting natural museums. In Matanzas province where Varadero, the most important beach of the island is located, there are sea run-ups extending up to 4 km on the northern shore. This is favorable for the 350 caves found in the area, of which some 20 can be exploited for tourism purposes. Of these caverns, those of Bellamar are the most famous ones, or that of Saturno, with ideal tunnels for underwater speleology. Cubatur and other travel agencies organize excursions to watch birds and animals in their habitat. ECOTUR S.A., linked to the Empresa Nacional para la Conservación de la Flora y la Fauna (National Enterprise for the Flora and Fauna Conservation), as well as other related entities, is a sui generis travel company of tourism which comprises over 31 facilities, distributed along the island and covered by some 100 experts, among geographers, biologists, veterinary doctors, forestry technicians, architects, historians and journalists. The firm has wide options as hiking, excursions to cays, diving, fishing, horse riding and some championships or national tournaments of absolute creativity. To travel to Cuba in an ecotourism plan is one of the most wonderful options that can be chosen, since virgin sites are well preserved, thank to which visitors have the opportunity of discovering by themselves the particular charms found in these spots.