The Republic of Cuba is made up of the island of Cuba and the Isle of Youth, and about 4,195 keys and islets. Cuba's coastline is 5,746 kilometers (3,570 miles) long and has 200 bays and more than 280 beaches (nearly 588 kilometers - 365 miles - of excellent beaches), characterized by crystal-clear waters, white sand and an average temperature of 28-30 degrees Celsius (82.4-86 degrees Fahrenheit).
Some the most important beaches on the northern coast are:

Cayo Levisa: This key forms part of the Los Colorados insular group, in the western Pinar del Río Province. It sits 225 kilometers (140 miles) along the northern coast and stands out mainly for its coral reefs and pristine beaches. One of Cuba's largest coral reefs, in which black corals proliferate, is near this key.

Eastern Havana Beaches - Bacuranao, Mégano, Santa María del Mar, Boca Ciega and Guanabo: They are 24-30 kilometers (15-19 miles) east of Havana, forming the so-called "Blue Circuit", a 14-km (9 miles) long strip of thin white sand, with remains of shells and corals. Its shallow waters are crystal-clear and show different shades of color, ranging from light blue to green. Their underwater landscapes, of an incomparable beauty, are rich in flora
and fauna, with coral reefs, crustaceans and fish of vivid colors. These beaches are very popular among Havana dwellers, since they are very close to the Cuban capital.

Varadero: It is the beach par excellence in Cuba, and the second major tourist destination in the largest Antillean island, after Havana, the capital of the country. Located in the province of Matanzas, Varadero is a long and narrow peninsula separated from the main island by a canal that links the Straits of Florida with the Bay of Cárdenas. Its 22 kilometers (14 miles) of beaches are characterized by white sand and a mild descend of the platform towards the sea, with warm, crystal-clear waters that show different shades of blue. Other attractions of this beach are its caves and escarpments, its closeness to several virgin keys, and cultural and historic values related to the cities of Cárdenas and Matanzas. Varadero has the only professional golf course (18 holes) in Cuba.
Cayo Santa María: It is located in the central province of Villa Clara, and it is linked to the main island by a 48-km (30 miles) causeway. It has 11 kilometers (7 miles) of excellent beaches.

Cayo Coco-Cayo Guillermo: These two islets form part of the Jardines del Rey archipelago, in the central Ciego de Avila Province. They can be easily accessed by a causeway (a trip of more than 30 kilometers – 19 miles – during which travelers can enjoy a beautiful landscape with fish coming out of the water, swallows and flamingos), by plane (they are 15 kilometers – 10 miles – away from an international airport), or by sea. Green natural forests cover some 90 percent of their territory, in contrast to cream white beaches of coral origin. Cayo Coco, which has an area of 372 km² (231 square miles), is the fourth largest key of the Cuban archipelago. Its landscape shows the balance and good preservation of the ecosystem. It is inhabited by large populations of “coco” (coconut) birds (after which the islet was named) and a big colony of pink flamingos, which form part of the largest reserve of such birds in the world, in addition to woodpeckers, pelicans, swallows, several species of ducks, and other endemic and migratory birds. It has 22 kilometers (14 miles) of beautiful white-sanded beaches, one of which, Las Coloradas, is an excellent attraction for nautical sports, while La Jaula and Los Flamenco are famous for their clean waters and sandy coastline. Beaches with crystal-clear and tranquil waters, whose average temperature ranges from 26 to 30 degrees Celsius (79-86 degrees Fahrenheit) all year around, and are excellent to take a swim and practice nautical sports. Less than one kilometer off the coast sits a 20-kilometer coral reef with a rich and varied marine fauna and beautiful seascapes. Fishing fans can sail a little to the north, where the sea is rougher and dark blue, the so-called “Blue River” of the Gulf’s current, where you can find “the best and most abundant fish one has seen in life”, according to Literature Nobel Prizewinner Ernest Hemingway, an experience sailor himself. Cayo Guillermo, for its part, has 6 kilometers (3.5 miles) of sandy beaches, including El Paso, Playa del Medio and Pilar. Its underwater landscape is rich in sponges, coral reefs and caves of incomparable beauty.

Santa Lucía Beach: It is located in the central-eastern province of Camagüey and is over-20 kilometers (12 miles) long. It has no rocks or reefs. An international diving center, with 11 immersion spots, operates there. The largest coral reef in Cuba and the second largest in the world – it is 36 kilometers (22 miles) long – runs off its coast with tunnels and caverns, tubular sponges, black corals and sunken ships, which have become a safe haven for many marine species.

Covarrubias Beach: It is a virgin area in the eastern province of Las Tunas, where tourist activity is still incipient. It is 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) long, with green-blue waters and colorful vegetation.

Guardalavaca Beach: It is the most visited beach in the eastern province of Holguín. It is 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) long, with abundant vegetation and green-blue waters. Rock formations resembling a horseshoe give this beach a special touch of withdrawal. Guardalavaca is famous for its 900-m-long coral reef, which is rich in mollusks and crustaceans.
Esmeralda Beach (Estero Ciego): It is also located in the province of Holguín, very close to the place where Admiral Christopher Columbus landed on his first discovery voyage. About this place, he said that it was the most beautiful that eyes have ever seen. It is 900 meters long and its waters are emerald green. The beach is beautiful ornamented by an extensive strip of dunes.

Some the most important beaches on the southern coast are:

The beaches in Cayo Largo del Sur (an islet south of Cuba): Its 24 kilometers (15 miles) of white-sanded beaches are rich in marine species. It is an excellent place for diving and underwater photography. The key has an international diving center and a marina.

Rancho Luna: It is the beach par excellence in Cienfuegos (central Cuba). Its 18 kilometers (11 miles) of beaches are excellent to practice nautical sports, such as diving, snorkeling, underwater photography and fishing. Diving is practiced in Cable Inglés, where the largest coral column in Latin America, known as Notre Dame, stands up four meters tall. It has an international diving center and a marina.

Marea del Portillo (Granma Province): With its crystal-clear and warm water, it is the perfect place for those seeking exotic landscapes. It has very thin and brownish-gray sand and it is the limit of a cove between the Sierra Maestra mountains. It is an excellent place for diving in its famous coral reefs, which are rich in crustaceans and colorful fish.

In the province of Santiago de Cuba, there are excellent beaches with crystal-clear waters, such as Siboney, Daiquirí, Juraguá, Verraco, Sigua, Cazonal and Baconao, all of them of an extraordinary natural beauty.