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 93 miles from Havana, covering 1,367 square miles, and with approximately 90,000 inhabitants. This area is part of the 672 keys and islets that make up the archipelago. Book now for 2025.

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, renowned for some of Cuba's most outstanding flats fishing. Isla de la Juventud is ideal for anglers obsessed with 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 for peak season only from March 15 through July 12, when bonefish, permit, and jacks are all present.
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, which means a tarpon, bonefish, permit, and snook in one day. Migratory tarpon average between 15 and 30 pounds, and up to 100 pounds are regularly spotted, and shots at permit are frequent.

Juventud Fishing Facts:

Boats: 16-foot Dolphin Super skiffs with 70 HP Yamaha 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: You are guided for seven to nine hours each day at your discretion. Depending on the tides and fishing, you’ll take a packed lunch and return to the Liveaboard in the afternoons.
Fishing Equipment is not provided. An optional rental with a fly rod, reel, and lines is $350.00 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.

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, power plugs (110 and 220 volts), storage, and panoramic windows to enjoy the breathtaking view of the Caribbean beaches. A spacious and comfortable lounge/bar and dining room area and a hot tub on the boat deck.
While the laundry service is free, they ask that you provide a tip.

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. Dessert and wine 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. Before your trip, you’ll need to check with your cell service provider 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.
Click here for more JAF1 pictures and liveaboard information.

Getting to Isla de la Juventud:

1.) You’ll fly to Havana, Cuba (HAV). A travel services representative will greet you at the airport and help arrange for a taxi to take you to the hotel of your choice. Hotel nights and taxis are not included in the package. (Four-and 5-star hotels run $250.00 to $350.00 per night. Our confirmation packet includes a list of recommended hotels.)
2.) The next morning, you’ll wait in the hotel lobby—the exact time will be confirmed the prior evening for the three-hour private bus transfer to Zapesca Port.
3.) The navigation to Isla de la Juventud takes about four hours.

2025 USD Rates:

7-nights and 6-days guided fishing:
Saturday to Saturday
2025 Season: March 15 - July 12

Entire Yacht:
A max. of 10 anglers + 2 hosts
$114,400.00 per group
Booking the entire yacht gives you 10 staterooms, 6 skiffs and 6 guides.
Group Size: 10 paying anglers + two free hosts.

Half Yacht:
A max. of 5 anglers + 1 host
$57,200.00 per group
If you book a half yacht, you get 5 staterooms, 3 skiffs, and 3 guides.
Group Size: Five paying anglers and one free host.

Request an Isla de Juventud
Information Packet.

The Packages Include:

• Reception at the Havana airport
• Private bus transfers between Havana and the Port
• 7-nights aboard The JAF1
• All meals on The JAF1
• Open bar on The JAF1
• Laundry service
• 6-days guided fishing
• A Cuban fishing license.

The Packages Do Not Include:

• Airfare
• Taxi transfers in Havana (airport/hotel)
• First and last night hotels
• Marine Conservation fee of $300 p.p.
• Optional fishing equipment rental of $350.00 per week
• Gratuities to guide and staff
• Tips for laundry
• Personal expenses
• Global Rescue
• Travel Insurance
• Anything not mentioned under inclusions.

The JAF1 Policies:

Required Waiver of Liability Form: Upon your arrival to Cayo Largo, 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:

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. 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.

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 Cuba with drugs is considered a severe crime. The outfitter is against any kind of drugs.