Isla de la Juventud Liveaboard

Jardines The JAF1

Fly Fishing Only at this Protected Marine Park.

Isla de Juventud is Spanish for the Island of Youth. This pristine marine park is 93 miles from Havana, covering 1,367 square miles, with approximately 90,000 inhabitants. This area is part of the 672 keys and islets that make up the archipelago. Book now for 2024 and 2025.



Fly Fishing at Isla de Juventud

Tarpon Fishing Cuba

Aboard The JAF1, a 110-foot liveaboard yacht, you’ll explore the most remote areas of the Canarreos Archipelago, the world-famous chain of islands that runs 80 miles from the Isle of Youth to Cayo Largo. You’ll stop off at selected anchorages like Cayo Campo, the Antilles Islands, and finally, Cayo Rosario, renowned for some of the most outstanding flats fishing in Cuba. Isla de la Juventud is an ideal trip for anglers obsessed with monster tarpon. Between March and June, they’ve caught and released tarpon around 100 pounds, and the fishing usually exceeds their expectations.
Liveaboard Season:  The JAF1 is in Isla de Juventud for peak season only from mid-February through mid-July.
Peak Fishing Season: is from mid-February through mid-July when bonefish, permit, and jacks are all present in the area.
Migratory tarpon average between 15 and 30 pounds, and up to 100 pounds are regularly spotted, and shots at permit are frequent. Peak season is also the best time to try for a Caribbean Grand Slam—tarpon, permit, and bonefish in one day. Each season produces numerous Grand Slams and a few Super Grand Slams, which means a tarpon, bonefish, permit, and snook in one day.


Juventud Fishing Facts:

Isla de Juventud Cuban Fishing Centers

Boats:  16-foot Dolphin Super skiffs with Yamaha 60 and 70 HP motors. The guides pole the skiffs on the shallowest bonefish flats. Two anglers per guide and boat.
Guides:  Local Spanish-speaking guides know enough fishing English to get by and are excellent anglers. They know these waters like the backs of their hands and are skilled at finding all species.
Fishing Hours:  You are guided for seven to nine hours each day at your discretion. You’ll take a packed lunch and return to the Liveaboard in the afternoons, depending on the tides and fishing.
Fishing Equipment is not provided. An optional rental with a fly rod, reel, and lines is $350.00 per week. A detailed list of what to bring is included in our confirmation packet.
Fishing License:  A fishing license is included in the package. The Marine Park Conservation fee is $300.00 per angler, not included in the package.

Sample Fishing Day:
7:00 a.m. Wake-up call
7:30 a.m. Breakfast
8:00 a.m. Guided fishing
You'll return to the yacht in the afternoon.
Enjoy appetizers and dinner.

The JAF1 Liveaboard Yacht

The JAF1 Liveaboard

The JAF1's overall capacity is 12 passengers and eight crew members. They suggest between 8 and 10 anglers for optimum comfort. There are ten cabins, three with queen-size beds. Eight rooms have a private bathroom; two rooms share a bathroom. Each room includes air conditioning and heat controls, power plugs (110 and 220 volts), storage, and panoramic windows to enjoy the breathtaking view of the Caribbean beaches. A spacious and comfortable lounge/bar and dining room area and a hot tub on the boat deck.
Laundry service is available. They ask that you provide a tip for this service.

Dining Aboard The JAF1

The JAF1 Liveaboard

Meals:  Buffet-style breakfasts and packed lunches. In the afternoons, you’ll enjoy some of the finest frozen daiquiris, Cuban libres (rum and coke), and cocktails. Dinners include fresh salads and entrees such as lobster, fish of the day, pork, or chicken. Dessert and wine are served with dinner. Chefs work with special dietary needs.
The Open Bar:  The open bar is included in the package and includes beer, wine, rum, soft drinks, and water.
Communications:  There is no Wi-Fi available on the liveaboard. You’ll need to check with your cell service provider before your trip to see if your U.S. cell phone will work in Cuba. Satellite phones are strictly prohibited in Cuba and will be confiscated at the airport on arrival.
Click here for a few more JAF1 pictures and information.

Getting to Isla de la Juventud:

On Friday, you’ll fly to the Jose Marti International Airport (HAV) in Havana, Cuba. A representative will greet you at the airport and help arrange a taxi to take you to the hotel of your choice. (The taxi and the hotel night in Havana are not included in the package. Four and 5-star hotels were $250.00 to $350.00 per night in 2023.
Saturday morning, after breakfast and about noon, the group will be driven in a private bus from Havana to Zapesca Port, a three-hour drive; this roundtrip bus transfer is included in the package. At about 3:00 p.m., you'll board The JAF1. At 4:00 p.m., the liveaboard will navigate two hours to Cayo Blanco, the first anchoring point.
On Sunday at 5:00 a.m., you'll navigate to Cayo Rosario in Isla de la Juventud Marine Park, which takes about 2.5 hours.
Departure Day:  On Saturday, the JAF1 navigates to Zapesca. You'll disembark at 9:00 a.m.(+-) The group will take a private bus transfer from Zapesca Port to Havana, with an estimated noon arrival. A hotel night is usually required on your final evening in Havana and is not included in the package.


2024 USD Rates:

Saturday to Saturday
Entire Yacht:  If you book the entire yacht, you get 10 staterooms, 6 skiffs and 6 guides. 10 paying anglers + two free hosts.
Half Yacht:  If you book a half yacht, you get 5 staterooms, 3 skiffs, and 3 guides. Five paying anglers + one free host.

7-nights and 6-days guided fishing:
High Season Only:
February 17 - July 27, 2024:
Entire Yacht:
A max. of 10 anglers + 2 hosts
$114,400.00 per group

Half Yacht:
A max. of 5 anglers + 1 host
$57,200.00 per group


The Packages Include:

• Reception at the Havana Airport
• Private bus transfers between Havana and Zapesca Port
• 7-nights aboard The JAF1
• All meals on The JAF1
• Open bar on The JAF1
• Laundry service
• 6-days guided fishing
• Fishing license.

The Packages Do Not Include:

• Airfare
• Ground transfers in Havana (airport/hotel)
• First and last night hotel in Havana
• Marine Conservation fee of $300.00
• Optional fishing equipment rental of $350.00 per week
• Gratuities to guide and staff
• Tips for laundry
• Personal expenses
• Global Rescue
• Travel Insurance
• Anything not mentioned under inclusions.

Isla de la Juventud


Bonefish Plentiful Here Year-Round

Bonefishing Cuba

Barracuda Fishing, Too.

Isla de la Juventud Barracuda

The Sought-After Mutton Snapper

Isla de la Juventud

16-Foot Super Skiffs with 60 and 70 HP Motors

Isla de la Juventud Skiffs

Skiffs Returning to the Mothership

The JAF1 Liveaboard

The JAF1 Liveaboard

The JAF1 Fleet I

Bedroom Aboard The JAF1 Liveaboard

JAF1 Bedroom

Open Bar is Included in the Package.

Beverages on Deck

The Jacuzzi on the Upper Deck

The JAF1 Jacuzzi

Cuba Fly Fishing - Isla de la Juventud

Cuba Tarpon Fishing

Go to . . .

Cuba main page 

Fishing Travel Experts


Guy Schoenborn

1-800-205-3474 ext. 1

MT Office:  406-322-5709

Email:  guy@fishingwithlarry.com

Brad Staples

1-800-205-3474 ext. 3

Cell (503) 250-0558

Email:  brad@fishingwithlarry.com