Cuba's Alejandro de Humboldt National Park boasts many accolades for its natural wonders. It achieved UNESCO World Heritage status in 2001, Cuba's longest river runs through it, and it is also one of the rainiest places in the country. Most important of all, it is one of the most biodiverse places in all of the Caribbean. Named after German adventurer and naturalist, Alexander von Humboldt, the National Park lies just north of the remote town of Baracoa and covers almost 70,000 hectares (approximately172,974 acres). Pristine pine forests in the hills make way for tropical mangroves as you approach the lagoons and bays, all home to unique species of birds, reptiles, and mammals found nowhere else in Cuba. A trek through the humid forests of Alejandro de Humboldt National Park in search of native species of flora and fauna will usually end with a refreshing swim in the North Atlantic Ocean.

If the perfect adventure for you is exploring the wild habitats of our planet's creatures, then look no further than Cienaga de Zapata National Park. This peninsula on the south central coast of Cuba is just a few hours from Havana. With a striking resemblance to Florida's Everglades, the swamps, mangroves, and lagoons of Cienaga de Zapata are home to over 900 plants, 171 species of birds, 31 species of reptiles, and 12 species of mammals. Manatees and caimans are two of the biggest stars, while bird-watchers will be impressed at every turn and tree. Little-visited before Cuba opened up to tourism, this National Park is virtually untouched, and its lagoons and lakes are teeming with fish. As such, it is considered one of the best places in the world to go fishing.