The waters surrounding the peninsula are important spiny lobster and red snapper fishing grounds.

A relatively small area holds some 100 lakes and the largest and purest fields of silica sand, which is 99.8% pure.

Experts also believe that four of the seven species of marine turtles living on the planet have survived in the Guanahacabibes Peninsula.

The coastline also contains preserved coral reefs, with the northern coast being lined by the cays and isles of the western Colorados Archipelago.

The area in the southwestern plain shows a considerable development of the karst structures that limits the existence of superficial waters but permits the ingression of the surrounding seawater.