JDR Tortuga

LOCATION
Jardines De La Reina (JDR for short) is located in south east Cuba, approximately 75 miles off the coast of the state Camaguey. Because of its natural beauty and extraordinary bio diversity, it has been designated a National Park by the Cuban Government.PRIMARY SPECIES
Tarpon and Bonefish. Permit, mutton and cubera snapper, jack crevelle, and barracuda are also available in excellent numbers.

SEASON OF OPERATION
Year Round

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 the Friday before their week starts in order to make the early Saturday morning hotel pick up for the drive to the Port of Jucaro. Guests will also spend an additional night in Havana on the back end of their trip, unless they have an early evening flight out of Havana.

ACCOMMODATIONS
Guests fishing JDR will stay on board the Tortuga, a 110 foot double decker floating hotel. The Tortuga was completely refurbished in 2007 and is an extremely sturdy vessel. The ship is made of steel and has been anchored in a protected channel, so that it never moves about. The threat of getting seasick is non-existent as the boat does not move at all. Each cabin has its own shower with hot water, toilet and individually adjustable high tech air-conditioning system. A large air conditioned dining room downstairs with both a foredeck and afterdeck makes this a very comfortable home away from home.

Round the clock fresh water is guaranteed by a desalination unit that produces 4.000 liters per day. The generators are located on a small island close to the lodge and run twenty four hours a day providing electricity. This is a smooth operation that is 100% dialed in to provide great comfort for anglers in a logistically complex environment.

DESTINATION CAPACITY
Angling capacity on the Tortuga is 14 rods per week.

THE FISHING

Fishing from the Tortuga is an excellent option for those who are looking to enjoy more flexibility than most traditional lodges will allow. Fishing hours are totally at the discretion of the guests, unlike the majority of lodges in operation. The fishing day normally begins with breakfast at 7:00am, with a 7:45am departure. A lot of guests choose to return to the boat for a great lunch, particularly when it is hot during the spring and summer months. Some of the flats as close as fifteen minutes from the floating hotel and it’s always a good idea to take a break from the sun while having lunch if you plan on a long afternoon of fishing the flats. Others that are going farther or would like to spend the day on the flats can do so by requesting a packed lunch the night before. Clients can fish late into the evening if they like and there is never a daily gasoline limitation for the guides.

The bonefishing in JDR is superb and the flats are both beautiful and productive. This is a real mixed bag flats environment with everything from white sand flats to lush grass flats. Guests will have numerous daily shots at bonefish in the seven to nine pound class and bones in the 10-14 lb. range are being landed on a consistent basis over the past 3 years.
This is an excellent location to sight cast to tarpon. The countless rivers and creeks that flow through the islands and flats are a magnet to tarpon and fish in the 25-50 pound class are available in this wonderful ecosystem on a year round basis. The larger fish will show beginning in mid March and will hold through the summer.

BOATS AND EQUIPMENT
The flats skiffs used in JDR from the Tortuga are Dolphin Super Skiffs powered by 80 horse power engines. Both fly fishing and spin casting. There are a limited number of fly rods and rental gear available. Fly fishing and spin casting.

GETTING THERE
Guests will fly into Havana on Friday where you will be met by a Cuba On the Fly representative as soon as you clear customs. Once you clear customs guests will need to take a taxi from the airport to the Hotel Park Central, which is located in downtown Havana. On Saturday morning, guests will be picked up at their hotel for the shuttle down to the Port of Jucaro, which is about a 5 hour drive in on of our air conditioned buses. From the port, guests will board a 46 foot boat for the ride out to the Tortuga. Guests will start fishing right after lunch has been served.

Cuba On the Fly is a full service travel company and can handle international airfare, Cuban Visa applications, as well as a host of other services relating to your trip. Please contact us directly at 1 866 644-7703 if you’d like assistance.

INCLUDED IN PRICE

• Being met at the airport in Havana
• 7 nights on board the Tortuga (dbl occupancy) full board
• 6 full day and two half days of guided fishing (dbl occupancy in skiff)
• Marine Park License

NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE

• Meals and beverages on your 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 to from and to the airport on arrival and departure days
• Transportation to/from Havana from/to the Port of Jucaro
• Cuban Visa
• Alcohol
• Fishing gear
• Gratuities
• $100 USD Conservation Fee

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

- Bar tabs and other items cannot be paid with credit cards. Cash only

- There is daily laundry service available

- High Speed internet service is available 24/7

- Electricity is 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

Low Season : Jan 4 – March 7, 2020 and July 4 – Sept 5, 2020
$3,990 USD Double Occupancy

High Season : March 7 to July 4, 2020
$6,300 USD Double Occupancy