It is the most extensive and numerous of the four archipelagos that surround the island of Cuba. It is bordered by a wall of corals of about 400 Kilometers in length. It is the second largest coral reef in the world, surpassed only by the Great Barrier Reef. It is among the best places in the Caribbean for eco-tourism and excursions.
It occupies a strip of 465 km along the north central zone of Cuba, between the Peninsula of Hicacos and the Bay of Nuevitas; 270 km belong to the province of Camagüey. It has 75 km2, including the marine waters of the platform, and about 150 km of sandy beaches. The sub-archipelago consists of about 2517 keys and islands, which represents 60 percent of all Cuban land.