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 located 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. Full yacht and half yacht rates are available. Book now for 2023 and 2024.

Fly Fishing at Isla de Juventud

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, which is renowned for some of the most outstanding flats fishing in all of Cuba. Isla de la Juventud is an ideal trip for anglers with an obsession for 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 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—tarpon, which means a bonefish, permit, and snook in one day.

Juventud Fishing Facts:

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: are at your discretion. You are guided for seven to nine hours each day. 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. A fly rod and reel rental is available for $350.00 per week. A detailed list of what to bring is included in our confirmation packet.
Fishing License: The fishing license is included in the package. For 2023, the Marine Park Conservation fee is included in the package. For 2024, the Marine Park Conservation fee is $300.00 per angler.

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'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, electricity plugs (220 volts and 110-volts), storage, and panoramic windows to enjoy the breathtaking view of the Caribbean beaches. A spacious and comfortable lounge/bar and dining room area is on the boat deck, plus a hot tub. And, of course, you'll be treated to amazing Cuban meals throughout your stay, served with international wines, local liquors, and desserts. After savoring each gastronomic adventure, kick back and enjoy drinks of your choice prepared by their bartenders.

Dining Aboard The JAF1

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. Wine and dessert 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 the Liveaboard:

On Friday, you’ll fly to the Jose Marti International Airport (HAV) in Havana, Cuba. A JAF1 representative will greet you at the airport and help arrange a taxi for you to take you to the hotel of your choice. (The taxi and the hotel night in Havana are not included in the package.) Saturday morning, after breakfast, the group will be driven in a private bus from Havana to Zapesca Port (2024), a three-hour drive; this roundtrip ground transfer is included in the package. At Zapesca Port, you'll board The JAF1. The navigation to Cayo Blanco, the first anchoring point, takes about two hours. At 5:00 a.m. on Sunday morning, you'll navigate to Cayo Rosario, a part of Isla de la Juventud Marine Park, which takes about 2.5 hours.

2023 USD Rates:

7-nights on Liveaboard and 6-days guided fishing:
High Season Only: Feb. 18 - July 15, 2023:
• Full-Yacht: A max. of 12 anglers, with 6 skiffs/guides.
$99,900.00 per group
• Half-Yacht: A max. of 6 anglers, with 3 skiffs/3 guides.
$49,950.00 per group

2024 USD Rates:

7-nights on Liveaboard and 6-days guided fishing:
High Season Only: Feb. 17 - July 27, 2024:
• Full-Yacht: A max. of 12 anglers, with 6 skiffs/guides.
$114,400.00 per group
Half-Yacht: A max. of 6 anglers, with 3 skiffs/3 guides.
$57,200.00 per group

Packages Include:

Reception at the Havana Airport, a private bus transfer from the hotel in Havana to Zapesca Port, a 3-hour ground transfer where you will board The JAF1 yacht for navigation to Isla de la Juventud and a private bus transfer from Zapesca Port back to Havana on the following Saturday, after your full week of fishing; 7-nights aboard the liveaboard, all meals on the Liveaboard, open bar with beer, wine, rum, soft drinks, and water; laundry service, 6-days guided fishing, fishing license, and for 2023 only, the Marine Conservation fee.

Packages Do Not Include:

Airfare, ground transfers in Havana to and from the airport to your hotel of choice; first and last night hotel in Havana, (4-and 5-star hotels run $250.00 to $350.00 per night), optional fishing equipment rental of $350.00 per week, gratuities to guide and staff, tips for laundry, personal expenses, Global Rescue, travel insurance, (for 2024 Marine Conservation fee of $300.00), and anything not mentioned under inclusions.

Deposit Policy

The JAF1 Policies:

Deposit Policy:

For trips confirmed with over 18 months of arrival date, a 5% deposit of the total amount due is requested.
- 18 months before arrival date, a 10% deposit of the total amount is due.
- 12 months before arrival date, 30% deposit of the total amount is due.
- 6 months before arrival date, 70% of the total amount has to be paid.
- Balance payment is due 3 months (90 days) prior to arrival.
6 months prior to your arrival date, you will have the chance to confirm only half yacht or to book half group (on land base accommodation), more anglers can always be added further on if space will remain available.
The Outfitter will be in charge to sell the unsold part of the yacht if necessary to help completing the group.

Cancellation Policy:

Deposits are refundable (minus a US $800.00 PER PERSON handling fee until 180 days prior to the start of your trip). Within 180 days of your trip, your deposit is non-refundable. No refunds are available for unused portions of packages. Full payment is due 90 days prior to arrival. In the lodge, credit card payments cannot be accepted for anything. All programs and execution of them remain subject to weather and other unforeseen circumstances. Claims for refunds will not be accepted.

**IMPORTANT: Trip cancellation insurance is highly recommended and "cancel for any reason" insurance is very important to consider in the case of unforeseen events preventing you from traveling. If you cancel within 180 days of your trip this will be your only possible form of reimbursement.
If you would like trip cancellation coverage for reasons not included in standard travel insurance policies, please inquire with your travel representative about the No Risk Policy** The refund policy is not applicable to rescheduled or rebooked trips. Therefore, once a trip has been rescheduled or rebooked it is ineligible for a monetary refund of any kind and claims for refunds will not be accepted.
Travel Insurance: Fishing with Larry strongly recommends purchasing trip insurance when traveling with to Cuba. We have worked with the outfitter for years and know from experience they almost never give a refund or credit for a future trip. We have had anglers miss their trip to Cuba due to flight problems because of weather or mechanical issues and the outfitter was unwilling to work with them. Save yourself some heartache and get Travel Insurance.
Click here for our Travel Insurance page.

*Cuban Laws are against any kind of drugs, and the use is absolutely forbidden in any place. Trying to enter the Cuban Country with drugs is considered a severe crime. The outfitter is against any kind of drugs.

Request an Information Packet.