Cuba - Cayo Romano

Fly-Fishing-Only - Exceptional Flats fishing

Oceanfront Hotel Marina and Spa

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 perhaps 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 also get shots at tailing permit. The 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 straight hours without heading back to the boat. The vast amount of wadable flats are similar to Los Roques in Venezuela.

Tarpon Fishing

There are two very good tarpon fishing areas within the Cayo Romano that are about an 80-minute boat ride from the boat launch. The guides tend to save these areas for when an angler has already boated a permit and is looking for a Grand Slam. These fish will range from 30 to 90 pounds.

Dolphin Super Skiffs

Boats: Cayo Romano has a mix of Dolphin Super Skiffs with 60 to 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 located at both the front and back of the boat. Two anglers per boat and guide.

Cayo Romano Fishing Guides:

The Cayo Romano fishery is still in its infancy, and veteran guides are helping the new guides improve their language and guiding skills. If you are prepared to be patient while the guides develop, you'll find a virtually untouched flats oasis, absolutely teeming with fish and wildlife. The guides speak enough English to be understood for fishing purposes and are trained in CPR and first aid.

The Hotel Marina and Spa in Cayo Romano

The Hotel Romano is a stunning new hotel in Cayo Romano and only 100 meters from the fishing marina. The hotel 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: Wi-Fi is available at the hotel with the purchase of a Wi-Fi card. You’ll need to check with your cell service provider before your trip to see if your US cell phone will work in Cuba.

Swimming Pool

The Hotel overlooks the water, and 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.

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.

The Hotel Complex

The modern Hotel Romano complex.

Getting to Cayo Romano:

There are two options for U.S. Residents:
1.) You can arrive in Havana on a Friday. A representative will greet you at the airport and help you arrange a taxi to take you to the hotel of your choice. The cost for double-occupancy four-and-five-star hotels in Havana varies from $250.00 to $350.00 per night and is not included in the package. On Saturday, you’ll be driven from Havana to Cayo Romano, an 8.5-hour drive. The ground transfer is not included in the package, $400.00 per person roundtrip.
2.) To avoid an overnight stay in Havana, on Saturday, you can fly to Cayo Coco (CCC) or Camaguey Airport (CMW) on direct flights from Canada, Mexico, and Europe. One-stop flights can be booked from Miami to Cayo Coco. You’ll be met by a Lodge representative at the airport and transferred to the Hotel Romano, a one-hour drive from Cayo Coco and about a two hour drive from Camaguey. The ground transfer is included with a minimum of two passengers per group.

Sample Weekly Itinerary:

Saturday: Flight to Camaguey or Cayo Coco airport with a group transfer to the hotel in Cayo Romano. Individual transfers can be arranged for an extra fee. 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.
Mid-day - You’ll have a packed lunch on the water.
After seven to eight hours of guided fishing, you’ll return to the liveaboard.
Saturday: Morning transfer to airport for departure.

2023 USD Rates

2023 Low season:
December 31 - Feb. 18 and July 15 - Dec. 30, 2023
7-nights at the Hotel and 6-days guided fishing
Two anglers per boat and room: $3,790.00 per person
One angler per skiff: $5,290.00 per person
Single-occupancy room: Add $350.00
Non-angler companion: $1,500.00 per person
2023 Peak season:
February 18 - July 15, 2023
7-nights at the Hotel and 6-days guided fishing
Two anglers per boat and room: $5,990.00 per person
One angler per skiff: $8,990.00 per person
Single-occupancy room: Add $350.00
Non-angler companion: $1,900.00

2024 USD Rates

2024 Low season:
December 30, 2023 - Feb. 17, 2024 and July 13 - Dec. 28, 2024
7-nights at the Hotel and 6-days guided fishing
Two anglers per boat and room: $3,990.00 per person
One angler per skiff: $5,490.00 per person
Single-occupancy room: Add $350.00
2024 Peak season:
February 17 - July 13, 2024
7-nights at the Hotel and 6-days guided fishing
Two anglers per boat and room: $6,790.00 per person
One angler per skiff: $9,790.00 per person
Single-occupancy room: Add $350.00
Non-angler companion: $2,300.00

Packages Include:

Reception at Cayo Coco or Camaguey Airport, roundtrip group ground transfers between the airport and the Romano Hotel (with a minimum of two passengers per group), 7-nights double-occupancy lodging at the Hotel Romano, meals and open bar at the hotel, 6-days guided fishing, fishing license, and four (4) drinks per day on the skiff (beer, water, and soft drinks).

Packages Do Not Include:

Airfare, Cuban tourist visa (up to $85.00 – subject to change), first night hotel stay, meals or beverages in Havana, ground transfers in Havana, roundtrip ground transfer between Havana and Cayo Cruz $400.00 p.p., individual ground transfers from Cayo Coco or Camaguey Airport ($50.00 p.p. each way, if less than two passengers are in your group), optional fly rod and reel rental ($350.00 p.p. per week), gratuities to the guide and staff, tips for the Cubatur representative and driver, personal expenses, Global Rescue, travel insurance, Marine Park Conservation Fee ($100.00 for 2023 and $300.00 for 2024 - included in your invoice), 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.

Cayo 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.

**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.

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