11 days through the Canarreos: Cayo Largo and the Isla de la Juventud
An expedition across the whole Canarreos archipelago: west from Cienfuegos along a chain of uninhabited cays to the Isla de la Juventud, Cuba's second-largest island, known as the Isle of Pines until 1978. About 375 nm in 11 days: 25–55 nm almost every day, daylight sailing only, and the second half of the way against the trade wind. A route for an experienced crew ready for long legs under engine and for self-sufficiency: fuel and water are available on the way only at Cayo Largo. In 2026, read the practical notes at the end of the page before booking — the island is in a severe fuel crisis.
Day by day
Marina Marlin (Cienfuegos)
- Marina Marlin Cienfuegos22.126, -80.452
Take over the yacht after 17:00 at Marina Marlin Cienfuegos on the Punta Gorda peninsula; the first night is spent in the marina, as you may not leave after dark. Spend the evening in the historic centre of Cienfuegos, a UNESCO site. Order food, water and wine for all eleven days through the base in advance: there are no shops on the cays, and what the town has depends on deliveries.
Cienfuegos → Cayo Sal
- Castillo de Jagua22.060, -80.457
- Cayo Sal21.627, -81.180
Leave at dawn as soon as the border guard has stamped the despacho: half an hour down the bay past the 18th-century Jagua fortress and out to sea. All day south-west with the trade wind on the quarter; anchoring off the coast near Cienfuegos is not allowed, and the Bay of Pigs zone is closed. By evening, Cayo Sal, the first anchorage of the Canarreos archipelago behind the reef.
Cayo Sal → Cayo Largo
- Cayo Largo (marina)21.624, -81.564
West along the chain of cays inside the reef, reading the water. Cayo Largo marina is the only place in the archipelago with fuel, water and a small shop: fill up completely, as the next chance comes only six days later. In the evening, Sirena beach or the turtle hatchery.
Cayo Largo → Cayo del Rosario
- Cayo del Rosario21.622, -81.890
- Hijos de los Ballenatosmooring buoys21.586, -81.590
West past Cayo Iguana and Cayo Rico, where the iguanas come down to meet the boat, and past the moorings at the Hijos de los Ballenatos cays — a good stop for mask and snorkel. The night is at Cayo del Rosario, behind a reef that breaks the ocean swell.
Cayo del Rosario → Cayo Matías
- Cayo Matías21.556, -82.440
Further west past Cantiles and Ávalos to Cayo Matías, the last cay before the Isla de la Juventud, with white sand and mangroves. A following trade wind, five to six hours; anchor while the sun is high and you can see the coral heads.
Cayo Matías → Marina Colony, Isla de la Juventud
- Punta del Este21.545, -82.540
- Marina Colony (Siguanea)21.617, -82.980
- Punta Francés marine parkmooring buoys21.600, -83.150
A long day with a following trade wind: round the eastern cape of Punta del Este, along the south coast of the Isla de la Juventud and past the Punta Francés marine park, one of the best dive sites in Cuba, into the Bay of Siguanea and Marina Colony. Nueva Gerona, with the Presidio Modelo prison where Fidel Castro was held in the 1950s, is forty kilometres away by road: to see it, add a day at Colony.
Colony → Cayo del Navío
- Cayo del Navío21.877, -82.592
Out of the Bay of Siguanea to the north and east along the island's north coast, past Nueva Gerona. Pilot guides say private yachts are not allowed into its commercial port, so the night is spent at anchor off Cayo del Navío at the north-eastern corner of the island. It is shallow here, but the mangroves give enough shelter from an easterly.
Cayo del Navío → Cayo Campos
- Cayo Campos21.570, -82.300
Through the Canal de la Cruz and south-east along the island's east coast to Cayo Campos, back to the chain of outer cays. Not a long leg, but a shallow one: go with the sun high and anchor behind the reef by early afternoon.
Cayo Campos → Cayo Largo
- Cayo Largo (marina)21.624, -81.564
A long day east against the trade wind, past Ávalos, Cantiles and Rosario; leave at first light and expect most of it under engine. Cayo Largo marina has fuel, water and a shower after a week at anchor.
Cayo Largo → Cayo Guano del Este
- Cayo Guano del Este21.660, -81.045
East along the cays against the trade wind — leave early, before the breeze fills in; expect to motor part of the way. Cayo Guano del Este is a lonely cay with a tall lighthouse at the eastern end of the archipelago; you anchor behind the reef with nothing but water around.
Cayo Guano → Cienfuegos
- Marina Marlin Cienfuegos22.126, -80.452
About eight hours north-east, close-hauled — leave at dawn, as you must be back in the marina before dark. Fuel, handover and a last evening in Cienfuegos; a night aboard, flight home the next day.
Coordinates are approximate, for the harbour or bay. Paste them into Google Maps or a chartplotter, and check the chart and pilot book before you moor or anchor.
Good to know
- Season: late November to April — dry, with the north-east trade wind at 15–25 knots. From December to March the 'nortes' arrive, cold fronts with a northerly wind: on the south coast it blows off the land, but it builds a sea on the open legs. June to November is the rainy and hurricane season. The way back is about 150 nm against the trade wind: allow a spare day and don't start the long legs if the forecast says more than 20 knots.
- Rules: charter yachts may not sail at night — every leg is planned for daylight, and on the last day you are back in the marina before dark. Before you leave, the border guard (Guarda Frontera) issues a despacho, a permit listing the crew and the route; it is stamped at every marina and may be checked at anchor. Anchoring off the coast near Cienfuegos and inside the bay is not allowed, the Bay of Pigs zone is closed, spearfishing and lobster catching are banned, and bringing in drones or satellite phones is restricted. Charts are inaccurate around the reefs — sail by day and read the water.
- The 2026 crisis: Cuba is in its worst fuel crisis — oil deliveries stopped early in the year, in May the authorities announced that diesel had run out, power cuts last for hours across the island, and flights and buses have been cut. Before booking, make sure with the fleet that the base is operating and can fuel the boat. Fuel and water on the route are available only in Cienfuegos and Cayo Largo; between the two Cayo Largo calls lie about 225 nm, much of it under engine, so work out the diesel and water reserve with the fleet. The Isla de la Juventud must be entered in the despacho in advance.
- Entry and sanctions: visitors need a tourist visa (tourist card), the online D'Viajeros form and medical insurance; the base handles the yacht's papers. For US citizens, tourism in Cuba is banned under US law — travel is possible only under one of the authorised categories, and dealings with entities on the State Department's Cuba Restricted List are prohibited, so check the marina and hotels against the list. Cards issued by US banks do not work in Cuba — bring cash.
How to get to the marina
- Marina Marlin Cienfuegos, Punta Gorda, Cienfuegos
- Havana (José Martí) (HAV) — 250 km, 3 h by carSanta Clara (Abel Santamaría) (SNU) — 87 km, 1.5 h by carCienfuegos (Jaime González) (CFG) — 10 km, 20 min by car
20–30 min · €10–20 per car
Cienfuegos airport mostly handles seasonal charter flights; if you land here, a taxi from the terminal to Punta Gorda takes about 20 minutes.
1.5–2 h · €70–110 per car
From Santa Clara, a taxi at an agreed price via Ranchuelo, an hour and a half to two hours. Settle the fare before you get in.
3–4 h · €150–250 per car
A pre-booked transfer from Havana airport east along the motorway, about three and a half hours. The roads are unlit at night: if you land in the evening, stay the night in Havana and drive in the morning.
5–7 h · €20–35 per person
A Viazul bus from Havana's bus station (take a taxi there from the airport) to Cienfuegos, four to five hours. In 2026 there are fewer departures, so buy tickets in advance.
In 2026, fuel shortages have cut flights and buses in Cuba and pushed taxi fares up: confirm your transfer in advance and bring cash euros — cards issued by US banks do not work in Cuba.
Prices are autumn 2026 estimates in euros; times are without traffic. Bus and ferry timetables change with the season, so check them before you travel.
How long is the Cienfuegos — Isla de la Juventud route and where do you stay overnight?
11 days and about 375 nautical miles in a loop, starting and finishing in Cienfuegos. Overnight stops in order: Marina Marlin Cienfuegos, Cayo Sal, Cayo Largo (marina), Cayo del Rosario, Cayo Matías, Marina Colony (Siguanea), Cayo del Navío, Cayo Campos, Cayo Largo (marina), Cayo Guano del Este. The longest leg is day 6, 57 nm.
How do I get to the marina for the Cienfuegos — Isla de la Juventud route?
The route starts and finishes at Marina Marlin Cienfuegos, Punta Gorda, Cienfuegos. The nearest airport is Havana (José Martí) (HAV), 250 km away. Fastest: taxi, 20–30 min, €10–20 per car. Cheapest: bus, 5–7 h, €20–35 per person.
When is the best time to sail the Cienfuegos — Isla de la Juventud route?
Cuba's season runs November to April: dry, with the north-east trade wind and moderate heat. December to March are the best months. May is the shoulder month; June to November brings rain and the hurricane season, peaking in September and October, when charter companies run few boats and expect you to watch the forecast.
Do I need a licence to charter a yacht?
For a bareboat charter (no skipper or crew provided), yes: a skipper's licence and, as a rule, a VHF radio certificate. Without a licence, we add a skipper, paid separately from the boat price.
What's included in the boat price?
Just the boat, for a week. Usually paid separately: transit log and final cleaning, fuel, marina fees, the security deposit (or deposit insurance), a skipper, cook and hostess if you need them, and extras (SUP board, on-board Wi-Fi, coffee machine, child safety netting).
