Western Cuba, a stronghold for nature tourism, also features unique attractions for leisure on the several islets and keys that make up the Los Colorados archipelago.
Western Pinar del Río province boasts a wide range of options linked to the environment, including excellent Cuban beaches and many spots to practice scuba diving and snorkeling.
That wide range of alternatives includes Cayo Levisa, off Pinar del Río's northern coast, where travelers arrive after a 30-minute boat trip from Palma Rubia.
Three kilometers of excellent beaches and 23 diving sites turn Cayo Levisa into an excellent destination for diving enthusiasts, who can enjoy crystal-clear waters and one of the world's largest coral reefs.
The coral reef is inhabited by 500 species of fish, 200 species of sponges and large populations of mollusks, crustaceans and other marine animals.
Many kinds of corals, gorgonias, sea fans, and several species of fish, including stone bass and red snapper, as well as crustaceans like lobsters, also live in the region.
A particular attraction in the area is the existence of trigonias, which are considered the oldest living fossils in Cuba.
For those who want to spend their leisure time surrounded by quietness and silence, Cayo Levisa offers 40 air-conditioned cabins equipped with private bathroom and satellite TV, as well as a restaurant, bar, barbeque and a commercial center, in addition to the possibility of taking a refreshing swim at the beach.
However, diving is the main option among vacationers who stay on Cayo Levisa, where expert divers bearing international certificates on Reef Monitoring guarantee the safety of diving enthusiasts.
In addition, the islet hosts several international courses for expert divers from all over the world, thus contributing to promoting the region's attractions for the tourism industry.
Cayo Levisa, with its comfortable cabins, coconut trees and white-sand beaches keeps a natural treasure in its surrounding sea. The key is also close to Mégano de Casiguas, which used to be a refuge for US writer Ernest Hemingway, who named the islet Paraíso (Paradise).
The stay on Cayo Levisa can be combined with tours of places of tourist interest in Pinar del Río, including the Guanahacabibes Peninsula, declared a Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Sierra del Rosario and the Viñales Valley. The latter was designated a World's Cultural Landscape.