Sailing from Cienfuegos to Cayo Largo

The Cuban archipelago comprises a surface area of 110, 992 km² and is situated in the westernmost part of the insular

Caribbean, at the entrance of the Gulf of Mexico. More than 4000 keys and islets form part of the Cuban island, including the

special municipality Isle of Youth (Isla de la Juventud), with a surface area of 2200 km². Also known as the key to the Gulf,

Cuba is the largest of the West Indies and one of the largest in the world. Cuba has more than 300 natural beaches of fine

white sand and crystal clear waters. The most famous of these is Varadero; however, there are others to the east of the

capital city in Holguín and Cayo Largo del Sur, as well as in the northern keys of Ciego de Ávila and Villa Clara. Warm,

gentle, crystal clear waters surround the Cuban archipelago. The mild tides and no strong currents, their

virgin condition, the non-polluted and well-preserved bottoms and the diversity of its underwater flora and fauna may be some

of the reasons why so many diving lovers come to Cuba. The Cuban reef forms an underwater string of coral around the entire

archipelago, both north and south of the island. It is made up mainly of full-grown corals. Rocky buttresses of different

structures are shaped by these corals, some incredibly resembling gothic pillars or majestic castles. They are the habitat

and shelter of other marine species like sponges in the guise of cups, tubes or branches; sumptuous gorgonians that sway with

the waves; algae of capricious growth, and in the crevices and pits: octopus, sea urchins, starfish, polychetes and

crustaceans. To complete the wonderful underwater world, astounding caves, vertical walls, tunnels and cliffs join this sea

party, along with many other attractions of this submerged tropical garden.

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