Cuba - Gardens of the King

Tarpon Paradise

Five-Star Resort

The best destination for big tarpon fly fishing in Cuba is the Jardines del Rey (Gardens of the King), a chain of islands off the northern coast of Cuba. Since May 2015, Fly Fishing the Run has exclusively operated in Cayo Santa Maria, the largest island in Cuba. In this area, the fishing grounds are protected National Marine Parks, and no commercial fishing is allowed other than for lobster. For this package, you will stay at One Gallery Resort, a beachfront art resort.

Gardens of the King

Some of the cays (keys) in Gardens of the King are larger than some small countries. Imagine turquoise blue waters and white sands. To the north, a 120-mile coral wall surrounds the island chain. Apart from the beaches, most of the islands remain undeveloped. Until the late 1980s, the Jardines del Rey could only be reached by boat.

Fly Fishing for Tarpon

The Gardens of the Kings is a well-known protected area for fly fishing for tarpon. Resident tarpon can be found here all year round, ranging from 10 to 80 pounds. From March to August, larger migratory tarpon arrive, some exceeding 150 pounds. The tarpon can be found in a variety of waters, from shallow flats to deeper lagoons and channels. They are relatively easy to spot in the crystal-clear waters that are three to six feet deep. Often, fish can be seen rolling in schools, and guides position the boats ahead of them to intercept casts.

The Year-Round Fishing Program:

Low Season runs from July 6 - February 22, 2025
High Season runs from February 22 to July 5, 2025, when tarpon, bonefish, permit, and several other flats species are present. Resident tarpon are present year-round and range from 10 to 80 pounds.
Boats: The skiffs are equipped with Yamaha 70-HP engines, allowing access to shallow water and fast transportation between fishing spots. With a draft of only eight inches, the skiffs can navigate the shallowest bonefish flats. Each boat accommodates two anglers and a guide.
Guides: Local guides speak fishing-English, enough to be understood. Born and raised on these waters, they know the ocean and the flats like the backs of their hands.
Fishing Equipment: No equipment is provided. There is no marine conservation fee for Gardens of the King. Our confirmation packet includes a detailed list of what to bring.
A Fishing License is included in the package.

A Typical Fishing Day:
7:30 a.m. wake-up call, then breakfast.
At 8:00 a.m., leave with a packed lunch for a full day of fishing.
At about 4:00 p.m., return to the Resort in time to freshen up before dinner.

You'll Stay at the One Gallery Resort

One Gallery Resort, a beachfront art resort in Cayo Santa Maria Cuba, the hotel used for Garden of the King fishing packages.

One Gallery Resort is a five-star beachfront art resort at the entrance to Cayo Santa María. You will be staying in a double-occupancy room.
Meals: Savor gourmet breakfasts and dinners at the resort. Anglers take a boxed lunch with them each morning when they head out on the boat.
Communications: Free Wi-Fi is available in the lobby and rooms. You’ll receive a passcode upon check-in, allowing you access. Before your trip, please check with your service provider to confirm whether your U.S. cell phone will work in Cuba. Satellite phones are not permitted in Cuba and will be confiscated at the airport if you bring them into the country.

Dolphin Super Skiff with Yamaha 70 HP motors are used for fly fishing packages at Garden of the King in cayo Santa Maria, Cuba.

One Gallery Resort

One Gallery Resort - Bedroom

Here is an example of a bedroom at the One Gallery Resort in Cayo Santa Maria in Cuba.

Sample Itinerary

Option One Itinerary:
On a Friday, you'll stay overnight in Havana. Ground transfers and hotels are not included in the package.
Saturday: You'll take a 5-hour ground transfer to One Gallery Resort.
Sunday - Friday: You'll enjoy 6-days of guided fishing.
Saturday: The group will take a five-hour ground transfer to Havana. Please schedule flight times after 5:00 p.m.
Option Two Itinerary:
Saturday: You'll arrive in Santa Clara and take a two-hour ground transfer to the Resort.
Sunday - Friday: You'll enjoy 6-days of guided fishing.
Saturday: You'll take a two-hour ground transfer back to Santa Clara for your departure. Please schedule flights after 12:00 noon.

Getting to the Resort:

There are two options for getting here.
There are two options for getting to Gardens of the King.
Option One: From Miami, you’ll fly to the Abel Santamaria Airport (SNU) in Santa Clara, Cuba. A Cubatur ground representative will meet you at the airport and drive you to the One Gallery Resort, (where you'll stay for the week), a 90-minute drive that is included in the package.
Option Two: Fly to Havana. Upon arrival at Havana Airport, you’ll be greeted by a representative of Cubatur, the ground transfer company. He will help line up a taxi transfer to a hotel of your choice. The roundtrip ground transfer between Havana and the Resort is $250.00 per person for one to four passengers. If you choose option 2, a hotel night is required in Havana before your trip. The taxi, hotel, and meals in Havana are not included in the package.
Departure Day: There are two options for departure.
1) If you’re flying home from Santa Clara, a Cubatur representative will transfer to the airport, a 90-minute drive. Schedule your return flight to the U.S. after 12:00 p.m. (noon). 2) Second Option: If you prefer to fly home from Havana Airport, you must arrange a hotel in Havana on the last day of your trip. Four and five-star hotels in Havana typically run between $250.00 to $450.00 per night. Our confirmation packet includes a list of recommended hotels and Airbnbs.

2025 and 2026 USD Rates:

7-nights and 6-days guided fishing
Maximum 4 skiffs or 8 anglers
Two anglers per guide and skiff
Low Season: July 5, 2025 - February 21, 2026
$3,640.00 per person
High Season: February 21 to July 4, 2026
$5,320.00 per person

Upgrade to one angler per skiff:
Add $4,000.00 split between two anglers, $2,000.00 per angler.

Upgrade to one angler per room at the Resort:
Add $500.00 p.p. (Both anglers need to pay.)

Non-Angler Companion - year-round rate:
$1,980.00 per person

Request a Gardens of the King
Information Packet.

The Packages Include:

• Reception at Santa Clara Airport
• Ground transfers between Santa Clara Airport and the Resort
• 7-nights at the Resort in a double-occupancy spa suite
• All meals and alcohol at the resort
• 6-days guided fishing
• A boxed lunch and beverages on the skiffs
• A Cuban Fishing license
• Wi-Fi at the Resort

The Packages Do Not Include:

• Airfare
• Cuban Tourist Visa, $85.00
• Roundtrip ground transfer between Havana and the Resort, $250.00 p.p. (1-4 passengers)
• Hotel nights and ground transfers in Havana
• Meals and beverages in Havana
• Fishing tackle
• Gratuities to guide and staff
• Personal expenses
• Cuban health insurance, included in your airfare if flying from the U.S.
• Global Rescue
• Travel insurance
• Anything not mentioned under inclusions.

Fishing with Larry Payment Options:
1.) Credit card (a 2.5% convenience fee applies)
2.) Check. Please include your invoice number in the memo. Mail checks to Fishing with Larry P.O. Box 419 Columbus, MT 59019.
3.) Wire Transfer (Send money electronically – typically a $15 to $30 fee for domestic transfers and $45 - $50 for international transfers.)
Please email Toni at toni@fishingwithlarry.com for wire instructions.

Gardens of the King Policies:

Required Waiver of Liability Form: Upon your arrival, you’ll be required to sign a Waiver of Liability form.
(It’s a legal contract asking you not to hold their business responsible for accidents.)

Deposit Policy: A deposit of 30% of your package is required within two weeks of the invoice to confirm the reservation. A deposit of 40% is due six months before the trip. Full payment is due 90 days prior to arrival.

Cancellation Policy: Deposits are refundable (minus Euro $800.00 handling fee per person until six months before the start of your trip). Within 180 days of your trip, your deposit is non-refundable unless they are able to resell your spot. No refunds are available for unused options of packages. Trip cancellation insurance is highly recommended. Credit card payments cannot be accepted. 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 strongly recommended, and “cancel for any reason” insurance is important to consider in the event of unforeseen circumstances that prevent 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.