Isle of Youth

LOCATION
Jardines De La Reina (JDR for short) is located in south east Cuba, approximately 75 miles off the coast of the state Camaguey. Due to its natural beauty and extraordinary bio diversity, it has been designated a National Park by the Cuban Government.
The Isle of Youth Marine Park is located directly offshore and to the south of Havana, about a 35 minute flight due south of the capital city.

PRIMARY SPECIES
Tarpon, tarpon and more tarpon. Bonefish, jacks, barracuda, snapper, jacks and even the odd permit.

SEASON OF OPERATION
Jardines De La Reina : Sept 7, 2019 – Feb 22, 2020
The Isle of Youth Marine Park : Feb 29 – Aug 1, 2020

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE LOGISTICS
The week begins on Saturday and ends the following Saturday. Please note that all guests will need to fly into Havana on the Friday in order to make the Saturday flight to Nueva Gerona. Guests will also spend an additional night in Havana the following Saturday, on the back end of their trip, unless they have a late evening flight out of Havana that night (we do not recommend this).

ACCOMMODATIONS
Avalon Fleet I is an intimate, comfortable and stylishly designed yacht, where each space is created to provide its guests with maximum comfort and safety. The atmosphere was conceived and designed to provide our guests with an experience of a lifetime. The design and interior decor give the yacht a touch of intimacy, refinement, a sense of warmth and simplicity. The boat has the perfect balance of substantial exploration capabilities and a unique and noble style. It guarantees all our guests a pleasant, exciting and exclusive voyage through Jardines de la Reina. The mothership’s cabins have been built with extreme care, emphasizing the importance of comfort and safety above all else. You’ll also find a blend of exquisite décor and great taste, so you definitely won’t miss anything from home. You’ll also experience our warm and attentive service during your trip.

There are 8 deluxe king cabins, with 7 private bathrooms, with air conditioning and heat controls, electricity plugs, as well as storage in drawers. Each room has panoramic windows to enjoy the breathtaking view of the Caribbean beaches. There is a spacious and comfortable combination lounge, dining room and bar area on the boat deck. This is where you will do much of your socializing and dining. The setting is casual and filled with fun and entertainment. In this area you can find DVDs and music to add even more enjoyment to your stay. In cabins and common areas there are electric sockets available for you to plug in your personal items (220 volts and 110 volts).

DESTINATION CAPACITY
12 anglers per week.

THE FISHING
Jardines De La Reina : The entire Jardines De la Reina fishing area is ribboned with more channels, flats, and creeks that you could possibly fish in 10 trips to this location. The Halcon will cruise the waterways in search of the best fishing grounds found within the parks boundaries. The guides are all familiar with the territory that the yacht will be cruising in and guests simply have to decide what it is that they are most interested in fishing for. This kind of flexibility is unique to live aboards in the JDR because of the exceptional and abundant fishing found there. We have run both tarpon and bonefish clinics from the Halcon in years past and will organize this type of week with the yachts captain and guides, if this kind of week is requested. Guests can fish for as long as they want to during the course of the day, from sunrise to sunset and even after dark, if guests care to throw a popper. This is also a great option for guests who want to focus on a Grand Slam. The guides are knowledgeable, hard working and eager to deliver the trip of a lifetime from this vessel! The Halcon must be fully booked out as a private charter.

The Isle of Youth : This part of Cuba really is ideal for those who are interested on focusing on tarpon for the week. The reefs, channels, mangrove lagoons and bays all hold tarpon in good numbers, particularly from March to June, where 100 pound + fish are landed each month. There are lots of other opportunities at other species when fishing from Avalon Fleet I, including bonefish and on occasion, permit. But, the Isle of Youth really is a tarpon oriented area and guests booking trips to this live aboard should be aware of this. Barracuda, jacks, snappers and the odd snook are also available in the waters around the Isle of Youth. Fishing Tarpon or Sabalo, as it is known in Cuba, can be divided into three categories: Baby Tarpon (those that they weigh up to 30 Lbs), Medium Tarpon (those that weigh 30 Lbs up to 80 Lb) and Monster Tarpon (those of more than 80 Lb and sometimes can surpass the incredible mark of 150 Lbs). Obviously, the last category is hunted hard, but unfortunately these behemoths are much less common.

The yacht will stop off at selected anchorages like Cayo Campo, the Cantilles islands and finally Cayo Rosario, which is renowned for some of the most outstanding flats fishing in all of Cuba. Like the area to the northeast of the Isle of Youth, this string of islands, channels and lagoons, offer very good sight casting to tarpon.

BOATS AND EQUIPMENT
The flats skiffs used when fishing the Avalon Fleet I, are 18 foot Dolphin Super Skiffs powered by 70 horse powered, 4 stroke engines. The boats have rod holders and poling platforms and a generous casting area at the front of the skiff.

GETTING THERE
Jardines De La Reina : For guests choosing to fly into Havana: you will fly into Havana on Friday where you will be met by a Slipstream Angling representative as soon as you clear customs. Once you clear customs guests will need to take a taxi from the airport to your four-star hotel, located in downtown Havana. On Saturday morning, guests will be picked up at their hotel for the transportation down to the Port of Jucaro, arrive at 10AM. Once docked at the Port of Jucaro in the late morning the following Friday, you will be transferred back to Havana for your overnight at a four star hotel in downtown Havana, or to make your late evening flight.

For guests choosing to fly into either Camaguey, Santa Clara, Cayo Coco: You will fly in early on Saturday, where you will be met by a Slipstream Angling representative as soon as you clear customs. Once you clear customs you’ll be transferred to the Port of Jucaro where you’ll board, and overnight on the Avalon Fleet I live aboard while being transferred to the Jardines de la Reina. On departure day, guests arrive at the port of Jucaro the following Friday in the late morning. Once docked, you will be transferred to either Camaguey, Santa Clara, or Cayo Coco for your evening departing flight. Please be sure to book an evening flight out of either Camaguey, Santa Clara, or Cayo Coco, as the Halcon doesn’t dock until late morning at the Port of Jucaro.

The Isle of Youth : To reach the live aboard located off shore, guests with be transferred from a 4 star Hotel in downtown Havana to the domestic airport for the 35 minute flight down to the main city on the Isle of Youth, Nueva Gerona. You will then be transferred by van or bus to the marina, where the mothership, Avalon Fleet I, will be waiting.
Slipstream is a full service travel company that can handle a variety of services relating to your trip. For assistance, please contact us directly at 1 866 644-7703.

INCLUDED IN PRICE

• Being met at the airport in Havana
• All meals while on board
• 7 nights in on board the Avalon Fleet II
• 6 days of guided fishing (dbl occupancy in boat)
• Round trip ferry or flight transfer from Havana to the IDJ/JDR

NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE

• Extra beverages and food on International arrival and departure days
• 2 nights in Havana at a 4 Star downtown hotel before and after fishing week (dbl occupancy) breakfast included
• Round trip taxi service from the airport to the hotel on arrival and departure days
• Round Helicopter transportation to/from Havana and the Isle of Youth
• Cuban Visa
• Alcohol
• Fishing gear
• Gratuities
• $100 USD Conservation Fee Cuban Medical Insurance Policy as of May 1, 2010

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Electricity is both 110 and 220 volt

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
1) A valid passport that does not expire for at least 6 months after your departure from Cuba
2) A Cuban Entry Visa.

RATES FOR 2019/20
Jardines De La Reina
Sept 7, 2019 – Feb 22, 2020: $50,500 USD

Half Boat : $25,300 USD

The Isle of Youth
Low Season
Feb 29 – March 28, 2020: $52,500 USD
July 4 – Aug 1

Price per rod : $4,800 USD