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Isla de la Juventud (Isle of Youth), is situated about 100km off the south coast of mainland Cuba, is home to some of Cuba's most important agricultural farmland and is a key producer of citrus fruits for export. The standard of living is generally higher, largely due to the preponderance of well cultivated, arable land which makes the problem of food shortages less pronounced than on the mainland.

The island is split into two fairly distinct topographical sections, north and south, and is dissected by a large swamp which runs from the southeast coast to the southwest coast. The north is generally flat and dry although there are a few marble hills near Nueva Gerona and the area is heavily farmed for citrus fruits.

The harvesting of the grapefruit in January is marked by one of the country's biggest and best festivals.

The beaches in the north are black sand and generally disappointing, in the south there are some superb white sand beaches, so if you want a holiday centred around palmfringed beaches and calm crystal-blue seas then the south coast of the Isle of Youth is a good a place as any.

NUEVA GERONA
It is the capital of the island and the only thing that constitutes anything remotely resembling a town, It is a busy and relatively prosperous town and the small but colourful streets have a provinvial Latin America, rather than distinctly Cuban, feel about them. Many of the African students who study on the island are based here and the town has a more cosmopolitan atmosphere than most other towns and cities outside Havana. Also they contribute towards the island's citrus fruit industry.

Parque Central on Calle 39 is the place where many of Nueva Gerona's young congregate. At weekends it is also home to some excellent live salsa and if you are visiting the city this is a good place to start, it is also home to the local tourist information office and to the most of the town's cafes and restaurants.

Outside Nueva Gerona you can find Model Prison, El Abra Museum, Beach of Black Sand and Punta del Este Caves....

CAYO LARGO
Although only a relatively small island it is blessed with an almost continuous stretch of pretty beach, notably along its south coast, there are six beaches all of which will be able to satisfy your sun and sand lust: Playa Sirena, Playa Lindaman, Playa Blanca, Playa los Cocos, Playa Tortuga and Playa Luna.

There is also an abundance of natural wildlife including iguanas and giant sea turtles. Staying here, however, is about as much a Cuban experience as lying under a sunbed with a bottle of rum at your side.

Close by is a small group of islets, the best known of which is Cayo Iguana. The protected coral reef around the island makes for good diving, the reef itself stretches for more than 30km and includes the rare and protected black coral.