The Republic of Cuba is situated in the largest of the territories which form the Antilles or West Indies, located at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico, between the Yucatán and Florida peninsulas. Its northern and western coasts are bathed by the Atlantic Ocean, and its southern shores by the Caribbean Sea. The Cuban archipelago has a surface area of 110,922 square kilometers and consists of the Island of Cuba, the Isle of Youth, more commonly known as the Isla de la Juventud, and more than 4,500 keys and islets. It is long and thin in shape, similar to an alligator. It is 1,250 kilometers in length, 193 kilometers at its widest point, and 32 kilometers at its narrowest. Cuba has almost 5,900 kilometers of coastline and hosts a wealth of beautiful beaches, especially on the northern coast

Most of Cuba is flat, although there are also four large mountain ranges: the Cordillera de Guaniguanico, in the west; the heights of Trinidad-Sancti Spíritus, in the centre; the Nipe-Sagua-Baracoa group; and the Sierra Maestra in the eastern region, where the highest peak in the country is found, the Pico Real del Turquino, at 1,974 meters above sea level.

There are no major rivers in Cuba. The most important is the Cauto, which is 370 kilometers long. The Zapata Swamp is situated to the south and centre of the island; this is the largest wetlands area in the Caribbean and one of the most important in the world, due to the level of conservation which is maintained and the protection of its topography, flora and fauna.