Cuba Liveaboard Fly Fishing

Cayo Largo - Tarpon, Bonefish, Permit...

The Jardines Avalon 1 (JA1) - Cuban Fishing Centers

Cayo Largo is a small island belonging to Cuba in the Caribbean and is no more than 16-miles long and 1.9-miles wide. The JA1, a 110-foot Liveaboard yacht, has a maximum of six skiffs in the entire area for the week. Cayo Largo is Cuba's most exclusive and innovative fishing destination. Avalon's Cayo Largo fishery is one of the best locations in the world for finding big permit.

Fishing Cayo Largo

Cayo Largo is a premier saltwater flats fishery and Avalon's top destination for Grand Slams. A Caribbean Grand Slam is when an angler catches a bonefish, tarpon, and permit in one day. Since 2004, Avalon has landed over 500 grand slams!
Cayo Largo has a rotational system of six zones. During a full week of fishing, you'll fish each zone once. With the Liveaboard, they have the flexibility to stay further to the west in zones 5 and 6, where the tarpon fishing can be better. The run from the marina to zone 5 and 6 is quite far, so during the week, liveaboard anglers have the advantage of fishing these zones longer than resort-based anglers.

Fishing Facts:

Boats: Avalon uses Dolphin 16-foot Super skiffs teamed with Yamaha 60 or 70-HP motors at all of their flats fishing destinations. The guides can pole the skiffs on the shallowest bonefish flats. Two anglers per boat and guide.
Guides: Local guides are excellent anglers and are very skilled at finding all species. They were born and raised on these waters and know the ocean and the flats very well. The guides speak Spanish, yet also enough Fishing-English to get by.
Equipment: No gear or tackle is provided. A rod and reel and fly line rental is available for $350.00 per person per week and requires 60-days’ notice before your trip. A detailed list of what to bring is 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 person.

Jardines Avalon I (The JA1)

The JA1 is a 110-foot liveaboard yacht hosting up to 12 anglers, plus eight crew members. The liveaboard also hosts divers. There are nine cabin staterooms with private bathrooms. Two cabins have queen beds, and the rest have twin beds. Each cabin has air conditioning and heat controls, electricity plugs, 220 volts and 110 volts), drawers for storage, and panoramic windows for views of the Caribbean.
The main deck has an air-conditioned lounge with a large screen TV and DVD system for watching fishing videos from your day out on the flats. The lounge also has a digital and photo editing computer if you would like to use it during your stay. The shaded upper sun deck has cushioned chairs and a hot tub.
Meals: Delicious Cuban cuisine, grilled fresh seafood, vegetables, and desserts, served with international wines and local liquors.
Alcohol: The open bar is included in the package and includes beer, wine, rum, soft drinks and water.
Communications: Wi-Fi is not 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 NOT allowed in Cuba and will be confiscated at the airport upon arrival.

Getting to the Liveaboard:

2023 Schedule: You'll need to arrive at the Jose Marti International Airport in Havana on Saturday before noon 12:00 p.m. After you claim your baggage and immigration process, you'll be greeted by your host. He will help arrange a Taxi for you to Parque Central Hotel in Havana. (Taxi not included in package.) At 1:00 p.m., your driver will transfer your group by private bus to Zapesca Port, a three-hour drive. You'll board The JA1. The navigation to Cayo Blanco—the first anchoring point—will take about two hours. Dinner and overnight on The JA1.
2024 Schedule: You'll need to arrive at the Jose Marti International Airport in Havana on Friday. After you claim your baggage and immigration process, you'll be greeted by your host. He will help arrange a Taxi for you to a hotel in Havana (that you've reserved in advance). (Taxi and hotel night are not included in package.) At 12:00 p.m. the following day, your driver will transfer your group by private bus to Zapesca Port, a three-hour drive. You'll board The JA1. The navigation to Cayo Blanco—the first anchoring point—will take about two hours. Dinner and overnight on The JA1.

Sample Itinerary:

Saturday to Saturday
Friday: Optional: You may choose to arrive in Havana a day early and stay overnight. This hotel night is not included in the package.
Saturday: You’ll need to arrive at the Jose Marti International Airport in Havana before noon 12:00 p.m. The group for the week will take a private bus to Zapesca, a 3-hour drive, where you'll board the Liveaboard. Settle in and enjoy a cold mojito and a nice dinner. Overnight on the JA1 liveaboard.
Sunday - Thursday:
7:00 a.m. - Wake-up call.
7:30 a.m. - Breakfast. You’ll pack a lunch to take on the skiff.
8:00 a.m. – Head out for a full day of guided fishing.
You’ll return to the liveaboard and enjoy appetizers.
7:30 p.m. - Dinner is served.
Friday: 6:00 a.m., You’ll have an early morning wake-up. You’ll fish from 7:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. The Liveaboard will sail back to the anchoring spot in Cayo Blanco, where you’ll stay the night on board.
Saturday: 6:00 a.m., sail to Zapesca. At 9:00 a.m., you'll disembark. A host and driver will drive you back to the airport in Havana for your flight home, with an estimated arrival of 12:00 noon. Do not plan your departing flights before 3:00 p.m.

Full Yacht and Half Yacht Options

Full-Yacht Includes:
9 cabins for groups of 12 anglers with 6 skiffs and 6 guides.
Half-Yacht Includes:
5 cabins for groups of 6 anglers, 4 single rooms, and 1 double room, with 3 skiffs and 3 guides.

2023 USD Rates:

7-nights and 6-days guided fishing
Low Season:
Dec. 31, 2022 - Feb. 18 and July 15 - Dec. 30, 2023
Full Yacht rate: $62,290.00 per group
Half-Yacht: $31,145.00 per group
Peak Season:
February 18 - July 15, 2023
Full Yacht rate: $87,890.00 per group
Half-Yacht: $43,945.00 per group

2024 USD Rates:

7-nights and 6-days guided fishing
Peak Season:
Feb. 17 and July 27, 2024
Full Yacht rate: $102,400.00 per group
Half-Yacht rate: $51,200.00 per group

Packages Include:

Reception at the Havana Airport, a group bus transfer from the hotel in Havana to Zapesca Port, 7-nights liveaboard lodging, all meals on the Liveaboard, lodging, open bar (including beer, wine, rum, soft drinks, and water), 6-days guided fishing, four drinks on the skiff each fishing day (beer, water, or soft drinks), fishing license, and laundry service.

Packages Do Not Include:

Airfare to Havana, ground transfers in Havana to and from the airport to your hotel of choice; meals and first and last night hotel in Havana (4-and 5-star hotels run $250.00 to $350.00 per night); optional rental of fly rod and reel ($350.00 p.p.), gratuities for guide/staff, personal expenses, Global Rescue, travel insurance, (for 2024, a $300.00 Marine Conservation Fee p.p.), and anything not mentioned under inclusions. As of December 10, 2020, Fishing with Larry now adds a 2.5% convenience fee to all credit card transactions.

Avalon

Avalon's 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.
Avalon 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 Avalon to Cuba. We have worked with Avalon 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 Avalon was unwilling to work with them. Save yourself some heartache and get Travel Insurance.
Click here for our Travel Insurance page.

Avalon Disclaimer: Avalon, Cuban fishing centers, its subsidiaries, management, staff, personnel, any of its affiliated or associated companies, agents, sub-agents, subcontractors, or anyone, either directly or indirectly, involved in the organization or execution of the programs or services will not become liable or responsible in any way in connection with accommodation, lodge, restaurant, transfer and expedition services, information supplied, or for any loss, injury or damage to or in respect to any person or property how so ever caused or arising. Prices mentioned are based on present exchange rates and tariffs and remain subject to change.

*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. Avalon Fishing and Diving Center is against any kind of drugs.

Request an Information Packet.