Cuba - Cayo Romano
Fly-Fishing-Only - Exceptional Flats fishing
Oceanfront Hotel
The Cayo Romano Fishery
The Cayo Romano, also known as the Cayo Cruz fishery, is a small resort island in the Jardines del Rey chain off central Cuba. There are no cities or towns on Cayo Romano. The fishery encompasses 141 square miles, which means each skiff has nearly 20 square miles of protected flats, lagoons, and pristine estuaries. Fantastic year-round permit and bonefishing. The fishery is limited to 20 anglers per week.
Cayo Romano Fishing Season:
The Cayo Romano fishery is open year-round. January to March has good-sized bonefish and small to medium tarpon from 20 to 30 pounds. Permit are available year-round, with peak months in July and August. In addition to bonefish and permit, April to June is often the best time for weather and the appearance of large quantities of huge tarpon. September to December are good months for bonefish and smaller quantities of medium to large tarpon.
Permit Fishing at Cayo Romano
What sets this location apart from so many other fisheries is that guests can expect to encounter and get shots at good numbers of permit each day. There are very few places on earth where guests can fish for big bonefish each day and get shots at tailing permit. Permit range between 8 and 30 pounds in size.
Exceptional Flats Fishing
The flats at Cayo Romano are a little deeper than those found in other areas of Cuba, resulting in excellent numbers of bonefish and permit throughout the year. The flats are an inviting combination of hard-packed white sand and a semi-firm mottled bottom. There are areas where you can wade for four hours straight without returning to the boat. The vast amount of wadable flats is similar to Los Roques in Venezuela.
Tarpon Fishing
Two locations within the Cayo Romano fishery offer very good tarpon fishing. The guides tend to save these areas for when an angler has already boated a permit and is looking for a Grand Slam. These tarpon range from 30 to 90 pounds. Besides permit, bonefish, and tarpon fishing, you will also cast for other challenging species such as mutton snapper, snook, cubera snapper, jack crevalle, barracuda, and more.
The Fishing Program
Boats: Cayo Romano has a mix of Dolphin Super Skiffs with 70-HP motors and light fiberglass Mitzi skiffs teamed with 40-HP Yamaha two-stroke engines. Each skiff has a poling platform for the guide, rod holders, and generous storage space in both the front and back of the boat. You'll fish two anglers per boat and guide.
Equipment: No equipment is provided. A rod and reel rental, including lines, is $350.00 per person per week. Our confirmation packet includes a detailed list of what to bring.
Fishing License: A fishing license is included in the package.
Marine Park Fee: The package does not include the Marine Park Conservation fee of $300.00 per person.
Cayo Romano Fishing Guides:
Cayo Romano features some of the best and most competent guides in Cuba. Many of their guides have previously worked in this area as commercial fishermen and have grown up among these flats, lagoons, and mangroves. The guides speak enough English to be understood for fishing purposes and are trained in CPR and first aid.
Travel Time: The average boat run to the fishing areas is about 20 minutes in length and in some areas, you can be into fish within five minutes of leaving the dock. It depends on where your guide wants to take you that day and what you are interested in targeting. With 50 square kilometers (31 miles) per boat, the options are just about limitless.
The Hotel Romano
The Hotel Romano is a stunning hotel in Cayo Romano, and only 100 meters from the fishing marina. It has 60 rooms, a swimming pool, a bar and lounge, various signature restaurants, a bowling area, and more. This hotel features several activities for anglers and also for non-fishing guests. The hotel is only a one-hour drive from the Jardines del Rey Airport on Cayo Coco.
Communications: Complimentary Wi-Fi is available at the hotel. Before your trip, check with your cell service provider to see if your US cell phone will work in Cuba. Satellite phones are NOT allowed in Cuba and will be confiscated at the airport upon arrival.
Swimming Pool
The Hotel overlooks a channel visited daily by tarpon schools and jacks. Some of the best fishing takes place right off the marina before dark.
Air-Conditioned Rooms
Spacious, air-conditioned rooms with tile floors and nice showers. The Hotel has a block of rooms assigned to anglers in a quiet area of the hotel.
The Hotel Complex
The modern Hotel Romano complex.
Several Restaurants in the Hotel Complex
The open-air main lodge has comfortable lounge chairs and a fully stocked bar with a bartender. After a long day on the flats, sip an ice-cold beverage and choose from freshly prepared snacks. After a shower, make your way to the dining room to enjoy the chef’s daily specialty.
Sample Weekly Itinerary:
Saturday: Flight to Camaguey airport with a group transfer to the hotel in Cayo Romano. Individual transfers can be arranged for an extra fee. You'll stay overnight at the Hotel
Sunday- Friday:
7:00 a.m. Wake-up call.
7:30 a.m. After the buffet-style breakfast, you’ll pack your lunch to take on the skiff. You’ll walk from the hotel to the dock, a 5-minute walk.
8:00 a.m. Your guides are ready to depart for fishing.
Midday: You’ll have a packed lunch on the water.
You'll return to the liveaboard after seven to eight hours of guided fishing.
Saturday: Morning transfer to the airport for departure.
Getting to Cayo Romano:
You’ll fly to Camaguey, Cuba (CMW) on a direct 1.5-hour flight from Miami, FL. You’ll be met by a representative at the airport and transferred to the Hotel Romano, about a two-hour drive in a minibus. The ground transfer is included with a minimum of two passengers per group.
2024 and 2025 Rates
LOW SEASON:
July 13 - December 28, 2024
7-nights and 6-days guided fishing:
Two anglers per boat and room:
$3,990.00 per person
Non-Angler Companion:
$1,590.00 p.p.
One angler per skiff and 2 per room:
$5,540.00 per person
Single-occupancy room:
Add $350.00 per week
PEAK SEASON:
February 15 - July 12, 2025
7-nights and 6-days guided fishing:
Two anglers per boat and room:
$6,990.00 per person
Non-Angler Companion:
$1,990.00 per person
One angler per skiff:
$9,990.00 per person
Single-occupancy room:
Add $350.00 per week
LOW SEASON:
Jan. 4 - Feb. 5 and July 12 - Dec. 27, 2025
7-nights and 6-days guided fishing:
Two anglers per boat and room:
$4,790.00 per person
Non-Angler Companion:
$1,590.00 per person
One angler per skiff and two per room:
$6,290.00 per person
Single-occupancy room:
Add $350.00 per week
The Packages Include:
• Reception at Camaguey Airport
• Ground transfers between the Camaguey airport and the Hotel
• 7-nights at the Hotel Romano, double occupancy
• All meals at the hotel
• Open bar at the hotel
• Wi-Fi at the hotel
• 6-days guided fishing
• Fishing license
• Four (4) drinks per day on the skiff (beer, water, and soft drinks).
The Packages Do Not Include:
• Airfare• Cuban tourist visa, $85.00
• Hotel nights, meals, and ground transfers in Camaguey
• Optional fly rod and reel rental, $350.00 p.p. per week
• Gratuities to guides, staff, and driver
• Personal expenses
• Global Rescue
• Travel Insurance
• $300.00 Marine Park Conservation Fee
• Anything not mentioned under inclusions.
• Fishing with Larry adds a 2.5% convenience fee to all credit card transactions.
Cayo Romano/Cruz 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.Trip Cancellation Insurance: 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.
