Cuba - Jardines de la Reina - Liveaboards

Avalon Cuban Fishing Centers

Jardines de la Reina, Spanish for Gardens of the Queen, is a vast, protected marine park that is larger than the Florida Keys. JDR lies 60 miles off the south coast of Cuba, and all of its accommodations are on liveaboard yachts and vessels. In 2020, there will be five liveaboard options. The archipelago is made up of more than 600 cays and islands, and the undisturbed flats run on for miles and miles. Avalon has been the exclusive fishing operator at Jardines de la Reina since 1993.

Fly Fishing Gardens of the Queen

Among their four liveaboards, Avalon keeps a maximum of 15 Dolphin 16' Super Skiffs teamed with Yamaha 70-HP motors at Jardines de la Reina throughout the week. This keeps the fishing pressure very, very low. Jardines de la Reina (JDR) offers more fishing hours than any Avalon’s destination and is ideal for fly anglers who desire to fish from dawn till dusk.
Permit: Permit are the ultimate flats challenge, and many fly fishermen have been taken to school by this wary fish. The best locations in Cuba to consistently find permit are in Jardines de la Reina and Cayo Largo. Both locations are 60 to 80 miles offshore, along Cuba’s southern coast. The optimal times to fish for permit here are between March and July, as well as in the month of November when the tides are high. Like Cayo Large, JDR is also an outstanding location for Grand Slams and Super Slams, in large part because the permit fishing is consistently good.
Tarpon: For their Avalon locations, JDR and Isla de la Juventud are the best for tarpon fishing. Peak tarpon fishing is February to late-July, with April through July being the best time for large tarpon.
Bonefish: are available year-round at all Avalon operations. In JDR, the morning winds often calm down in the afternoons, and fishing in the late afternoon can be superb, especially for bones.
Mutton snappers: are everywhere in the JDR, and plenty are found and landed on the flats, a real rarity. This is perhaps the best and only place in the world where you can expect to catch mutton snappers on the flats.
Numerous other species: Anglers that want to troll off the reef with plugs, bait, and even flies, encounter many other species of fish. Various snappers, including the huge cubera snapper are present as well as groupers, jacks, kingfish, albacore, wahoo, bonito, and big ‘cudas. One group of visiting anglers caught 25 different species of fish off the reef in one day.

Fishing Facts:

Jardines Season: is year-round. Peak tarpon fishing is from March through July. Most flats are within 15-minutes of the liveaboard.
Boats: Avalon 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 along with rod holders and generous storage space located at both the front and back of the boat. Two anglers per boat and guide. There are no fuel limitations with Avalon.
Guides: Local guides are excellent fishermen 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.
Fishing Hours: You’ll fish from dawn until dusk, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Rental Equipment: is available for fishing and diving and must be confirmed and paid 60-days before arrival.
Fishing Equipment: is not included in the package. Equipment rental is available for $280.00 per week, includes rod, reel, and lines.
Diving Equipment: is available for $250.00 for full set of diving gear per week.
Fishing License is included in the package, but a Marine Park Conservation Fee of $100.00 is not.

The Avalon Liveaboard Fleet

All Liveaboards are Group Rates only, except for the new Tortuga.
Click here for the New Tortuga page.
The Avalon Fleet has four air-conditioned yachts with electricity, private cabins, and bathrooms, plus the new Tortuga.
The new Tortuga is a large 180-foot, triple-decker steel houseboat that will be permanently secured in a small, protected channel in Jardines de la Reina. Twenty, air-conditioned guest cabins that accommodate two anglers each. The new Tortuga is the only liveaboard that has Wi-Fi access.
Meals on board: There is a buffet-style breakfast each morning. Lunches are either taken back at the liveaboard each day or can be packed ahead of time. Continental Italian cuisine, wonderful fresh seafood, and traditional Cuban favorites like rice and beans. Wine and dessert are served with dinner each night.
Beverages available onboard include bottled water, Mineral and tonic water, various soft drinks, beer, rum, and excellent wines. If you prefer liquor other than rum, you can bring this with you, and our bartender will have whatever mixers you need.

Getting to the Liveaboard:

You’ll fly to the Jose Marti International Airport (HAV) in Havana, Cuba. From there, you’ll take a 2.5-hour domestic flight to the Ignacio Agramonte Airport (CMW) in Camaguey. An Avalon representative will greet you at the airport and drive you to the Jucaro Port. This three-hour ground transfer is included in the package. At the port, you’ll board your yacht for the evening. The next morning, you’ll make the three-hour trip to Jardines de la Reina.

Currency: It’s best to bring Euros or Canadian Dollars to exchange into Cuban CUC upon arrival in Cuba. U.S. Dollars are subject to a 13% special tax/commission.

2020 High Season USD Rates:

New Tortuga
Two anglers per room and boat.
7-nights on Liveaboard
and 5½-days guided fishing
2020 New Tortuga Special
Save $1,000.00 when traveling between August 1, 2020, - March 6, 2021. (Low Season)
Reg. $3,990.00
Now $2,990.00 per person
Group Deal: Get 5-paying anglers, and 1 Host is Free.
Click here for New Tortuga Page.

7-nights and 5½-days guided fishing:
High season
Group Rates only
March 7 - July 4, 2020
The Perola - 3 skiffs, 6 anglers
$40,800.00 per group
Avalon Fleet II - 5 skiffs and 10 anglers in single rooms
$82,000.00 per group*
Avalon III
March 7 - July 11, 2020
7 skiffs, 15 double cabins $96,600.00 per group

2020 Low Season USD Rates:

Avalon Fleet I:
Sept. 7 (2019) - Feb. 22 (2020)
4 skiffs and eight double cabins
Full Charter
$50,500.00 per group
Half-Charter
$25,300.00 per group

Avalon Fleet II:
Sept. 1 (2019) - Feb. 22 (2020)
and July 4 - Sept. 5, 2020:
- 5 skiffs, 10 anglers in single rooms
$57,200.00 per group*

Avalon Fleet III:
Jan. 5 - March 6 and July 12 - Dec. 28, 2020:
7 skiffs, 10 anglers in single rooms
$58,800.00 per group*
The Perola:
Sept. 1 (2019) - Feb. 22 (2020)
and July 4 - Sept. 5, 2020:
3 skiffs, 6 anglers
$24,000.00 per group*

Packages include:

Airport reception in Camaguey, ground transfer to and from Jucaro Port, 7-nights on yacht/liveaboard (full board basis, which means breakfast, lunch and evening meals are included in the price, but any drinks or snacks will cost you extra), guided fishing (two people per skiff), fishing licenses, and $220.00 boat fuel charge.

Packages do not include:

Airfare, Cuba Tourist Visa $85.00, mandatory open bar fee of $200.00 per person per week, the $100.00 Marine Park Conservation Fee, fishing tackle, fly rod and reels, gratuities, personal expenses, beverages other than those stated above, and anything not mentioned under inclusions.

Sample Itinerary:

Friday: Arrive in Camaguey. Stay overnight in a local hotel. (The hotel must be booked for and paid for by the client.)
Saturday: Transfer from the hotel to the Port of Jucaro. Leave for Jardines de la Reina.
(The ground transfer from the hotel is only included in the package if the entire group transfers together.)
Sunday - Friday: 7:00 a.m. Breakfast. 7:45 a.m. Guides are ready to go fishing. Many anglers elect to return to the Tortuga for a nice lunch, especially during the summer season. Some of the flats are within fifteen minutes of the boat, and it is always nice to take a lunch break in the shade and relax a bit before fishing a long afternoon. You'll return late in the afternoon for appetizers and dinner. *Note: The schedule can be changed per your preferences and your guide’s suggestions.
Saturday: Transfer back to the Port of Jucaro in the morning. Ground transfer to the airport for your flight home.