Some of the best snorkeling in the area is to be had at Coral Beach (some 20km west of Varadero), where the underwater world stuns with color and variety. Diving would require you to take about an hour-long boat trip out to one of the many sites around the peninsula. Some reputable local dive centers include: Barracuda Dive Center Retiro Josone, calle 59 y Playa in Varadero (near Arenas Blancas Hotel) +53 45 613481 Acua Diving Center Ave. Kawama 201 (between 2 and 3 Street from Varadero, near Kawama Hotel) +53 45 668063

The grand, fairy-tale castle-like main building in Timrå was built in 1883–1885 as a summer residence for the timber magnate Fredrik Bünsow, who was one of Sweden's most powerful timber barons at the time. The architects were Isak Gustaf Clason and Fritz Eckert. Clason is known for designing the Nordic Museum and Hallwyl Palace in Stockholm. The beautiful castle (or Villa Merlo, as it is actually called) is now a cultural heritage site and houses Svenska Cellulosa's central archive. In the summer, you can take a guided tour to see the many rooms and halls that still retain their former glory. Even the garden alone is well worth a visit.

This relatively unknown valley is home to several charming small towns including Ricote, Ojós and Abáran. The landscape is dotted with leafy fruit farms, and the surrounding hills are popular for hiking and mountain biking.