Caribbean · The Greater Antilles
Havana and the Jardines de la Reina: for the long trip, not the week
Cuba is the biggest island in the Caribbean, with Havana at one end and six hundred miles of reef and cays along the south coast. No charter fleet is based here and the paperwork is real, so it is the territory of owners on an extended cruise or a seasoned charterer wanting somewhere new, with relocation fees to match.
Where
Greater Antilles, 90 miles south of Florida
Fly to
Havana (HAV) from Europe, Canada and Mexico; US flights are restricted
Best months
December to April
Give it
Two weeks or more, on a boat already in the region
Known for
Old Havana, the Jardines de la Reina, Cienfuegos, Trinidad
Reality
Relocation fees, paperwork and patience. Unforgettable for the people who go
Why go
Cuba, honestly
Cuba is the Caribbean island everyone is curious about and almost nobody charters in. The reasons are practical: no fleet is based here, US sanctions restrict American boats and guests, and the yacht has to be brought in and taken out again, which means relocation fees on top of the charter. For the right group on the right trip, none of that matters.
There are two Cubas for a yacht. Havana, with Marina Hemingway on the city’s doorstep: Old Havana’s streets, the paladares, the jazz bars, a 1950s convertible along the Malecón. And the south coast: Cienfuegos’ French-built bay, Trinidad’s cobbles, and the Jardines de la Reina, six hundred square miles of protected reef and mangrove cays with the best diving in the Caribbean and almost nobody there.
We see Cuba on owners’ trips of a month or more, or the second leg of a long charter after the Leewards or the Bahamas. If that is you, we will tell you honestly what it takes and what it costs.
Where we anchor
The anchorages, in the order we use them
- Marina Hemingway, HavanaBerth, clearanceThe capital’s marina, twenty minutes from Old Havana. Clear in here.
- CienfuegosBerthThe south-coast base, a French-planned city on a huge bay, and the jumping-off point for the Jardines.
- Jardines de la ReinaAnchorage, daysProtected reef and cays with no settlements. Diving with reef sharks and groupers that have never seen a spear gun.
- Cayo LargoAnchorageThe Canarreos archipelago west of the Jardines: white sand, flamingos, a small marina.
Ashore
Cuba off the boat
Not a directory. If it is here, we have sat at the table or stood at the bar.
Eat
Paladares, the private restaurants, are where Havana eats.
- La GuaridaUp a crumbling staircase to the most famous paladar in Cuba, in the film set of Fresa y Chocolate.
- Los MercaderesOld Havana fine dining in a colonial mansion, petals on the stairs.
- Trinidad’s plazasDinner in a courtyard in the best-preserved colonial town in the Caribbean.
Drink and dance
Rum, jazz and the Malecón.
- La Zorra y El CuervoThrough a red telephone box into Havana’s best jazz cellar.
- Fábrica de Arte CubanoA cooking-oil factory turned gallery, club and bar. Thursday to Sunday.
- A daiquiri at El FloriditaBecause you have to, once.
Do
The city and the reef.
- Old Havana on footThe four plazas, the cathedral, the Capitolio. A day with a guide.
- Dive the Jardines de la ReinaReef sharks, goliath grouper and coral the rest of the Caribbean lost decades ago.
- Trinidad and the Valle de los IngeniosThe sugar valley and the cobbled town, from Cienfuegos by car.
Where it sits
Cuba on the chart
Cuba lies at the far western end of the Caribbean, four hundred miles from the Leewards. It is not on any of our weeks; it is the far end of an owner’s cruise or a long charter that has already done the chains.
Drag to move. Double-click or ctrl-scroll to zoom.Zoom with the buttons, then drag to move.
When
When to be in Cuba
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
- December to April: the dry season and the only sensible time for a yacht.
- February and March: the best visibility in the Jardines.
- May to October: wet and hot, hurricane season from June. Cuba takes direct hits.
- Permits for the Jardines are limited; they are arranged months ahead.
Itineraries
Itineraries that call at Cuba
Full plans, day by day, with the boat each one runs on. Send one to the people coming with you; we reshape it around your yacht and dates.
The Leeward Islands in ten nights
Antigua7 stopsSt Maarten
Antigua to St Maarten, downwind the whole way: lunch at Nobu on Barbuda, Nevis and St Kitts, a weekend in St Barths and Anguilla's beaches to finish.
Open
A week in St Barths and Anguilla
St Maarten5 stopsSt Maarten
Three nights in St Barths over the weekend, Anguilla's beach picnic either side, and an uninhabited island in between. Six hours of cruising all week.
Open
A week in the Grenadines
St Lucia7 stopsGrenada
The Windward Islands, St Lucia to Grenada one way: the Pitons, Bequia, Mustique, the Tobago Cays and the Spice Island. Greener, wilder and far less spoken about.
Open
A week in the Virgin Islands
St John7 stopsSt Thomas
From St Thomas: St John's park, the Caves at Norman Island, the Baths, Anegada's lobster and the Soggy Dollar. The first charter we recommend to most families.
Open
St Barths then the Virgin Islands
St Barths8 stopsSt John
A weekend in St Barths and Anguilla's beach picnic, an overnight passage downwind, then a week in the Virgins. St Maarten to St Thomas.
Open
The Leeward and Windward Islands in 14 nights
St Barths13 stopsGrenada
St Maarten to Grenada, all the way down: St Barths, Nevis and St Kitts, Barbuda and Antigua, the French islands, Dominica, the Pitons and the Grenadines.
OpenYachts
Yachts in the Caribbean now
None of these is based in Cuba. Any of them can be taken there, with relocation fees and lead time.
CORAL OCEAN
Lürssen · 73m · 1994, refit 2026
12 guests | 6 cabins | 28 crew
€650k – 790k
Louder
Horizon · 27m · 2020, refit 2026
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
$85k – 95k
CALYPSO
Feadship · 38m · 1978, refit 2025
11 guests | 5 cabins | 8 crew
$120k – 135k
SWEET CAROLINE II
Trinity Yachts · 50m · 2009, refit 2021
12 guests | 7 cabins | 11 crew
$199k – 230k
MISS CHRISTINE
Trinity Yachts · 48m · 2006, refit 2024
11 guests | 5 cabins | 8 crew
$165k – 190k
OKINAWA
Fountaine Pajot · 18m · 2024
10 guests | 5 cabins | 3 crew
$47k – 63k
CHRISTINA O
Canadian Vickers · 99m · 1943, refit 2022
34 guests | 17 cabins | 40 crew
€700k – 740k
ARAOK
Fountaine Pajot · 18m · 2018, refit 2024
6 guests | 3 cabins | 3 crew
€25k – 29k
SLEEPOVER
Westport · 34m · 2008, refit 2021
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
$65k – 75k
ALFA G
Oceanco · 60m · 2004, refit 2024
12 guests | 7 cabins | 17 crew
€400k – 440k
SOVEREIGN
Burger · 30m · 1966, refit 2020
8 guests | 4 cabins | 3 crew
$48k – 50k
CROSSED SABRE
Burger · 44m · 2006, refit 2021
12 guests | 7 cabins | 11 crew
$175k – 195k
FRIENDSHIP
Oceanco · 53m · 2000, refit 2022
12 guests | 6 cabins | 12 crew
€245k – 265k
NEVER ENOUGH
Feadship · 43m · 1992, refit 2019
10 guests | 5 cabins | 7 crew
$110k – 127k
HOUBARA
Sunreef Yachts · 24m · 2012, refit 2026
7 guests | 3 cabins | 3 crew
€34k – 45k
Just Enough
43m · 2012, refit 2024
11 guests | 5 cabins | 9 crew
$119k – 139k
SEA BLISS
Sunreef Yachts · 23m · 2024
8 guests | 4 cabins | 3 crew
€63k – 70k
YKNOT NOW
YYachts · 23m · 2020
6 guests | 3 cabins | 2 crew
€24k – 38k
SHADES OF GREY
Sunreef Yachts · 24m · 2024
9 guests | 4 cabins | 5 crew
€70k – 80k
Avanti
Privilege · 22m · 2005, refit 2025
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
$51k – 55k
NORTHERN STAR
Hinckley · 23m · 1993, refit 2022
6 guests | 3 cabins | 3 crew
$52k – 60k
REVE BLEU
Lagoon · 21m · 2023
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
$55k – 72k
QARA
Horizon · 25m · 2001, refit 2023
6 guests | 3 cabins | 3 crew
$37k – 42k
WONDERFUL
Gunboat · 22m · 2023
8 guests | 4 cabins | 3 crew
€55k – 69k
ALEXA OF LONDON
38m · 1992, refit 2025
9 guests | 4 cabins | 5 crew
€65k – 70k
Q
Alloy Yachts · 52m · 2008, refit 2024
12 guests | 5 cabins | 9 crew
€255k
ELVIS MAGIC
Oyster Marine · 20m · 2003, refit 2025
6 guests | 3 cabins | 2 crew
$25k – 288k
LOOMA
Fountaine Pajot · 20m · 2023
8 guests | 4 cabins | 3 crew
$48k – 65k
NO SURRENDER
Custom Line · 37m · 2022
11 guests | 5 cabins | 7 crew
$140k – 155k
WHISPER
Holland Jachtbouw · 35m · 2003, refit 2019
6 guests | 3 cabins | 5 crew
Price on request
REVERIE
Feadship · 50m · 2000, refit 2025
12 guests | 6 cabins | 12 crew
$255k – 295k
LE PONANT
Société Française de Construction Navale (SFCN) · 84m · 1990, refit 2022
32 guests | 16 cabins | 34 crew
€540k
BELLA
Feadship · 45m · 2008, refit 2014
12 guests | 6 cabins | 9 crew
€245k – 255k
SUNMOON
Fountaine Pajot · 20m · 2024
10 guests | 5 cabins | 3 crew
€42k – 65k
HUNTRESS
Lurssen · 76m · 2009, refit 2024
12 guests | 6 cabins | 22 crew
$695k – 775k
The Peddler
Custom Line · 26m · 2019
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
$69k – 74k
SPIRIT OF THE C'S
Perini Navi · 64m · 2003, refit 2023
12 guests | 5 cabins | 13 crew
€210k – 230k
ST DAVID
Benetti · 60m · 2008, refit 2025
12 guests | 6 cabins | 15 crew
€340k – 360k
PARSIFAL III
Perini Navi · 54m · 2005, refit 2024
12 guests | 5 cabins | 9 crew
€245k
Chakra
Devonport · 86m · 1998, refit 2025
24 guests | 19 cabins | 30 crew
€495k
YOLO
Sunreef Yachts · 22m · 2022
8 guests | 4 cabins | 4 crew
€59k – 70k
GRAND ILLUSION
Palmer Johnson · 44m · 1994, refit 2017
10 guests | 5 cabins | 7 crew
$115k – 125k
LUCKY LADY
Oceanco · 63m · 2002, refit 2025
10 guests | 5 cabins | 15 crew
€310k – 355k
FRENCH WEST
Lagoon · 24m · 2020
8 guests | 4 cabins | 3 crew
$55k – 72k
ENCORE
Sunreef Yachts · 18m · 2026
8 guests | 4 cabins | 3 crew
$56k – 62k
Lady Joy
Christensen · 48m · 2007, refit 2025
12 guests | 6 cabins | 11 crew
$199k – 225k
OCEAN CLUB
Trinity Yachts · 49m · 2009, refit 2025
12 guests | 5 cabins | 10 crew
$195k – 250k
ONYX
Nautor's Swan · 30m · 2005, refit 2021
6 guests | 3 cabins | 4 crew
Price on request
48 yachts in rotation. The order changes with every visit so no boat is always last.
Questions we get asked
Cuba, answered
Common questions
Can we charter a yacht in Cuba?
Yes, with planning. No fleet is based there, so the yacht is brought in from the Bahamas or the Leewards and taken out again, and the relocation fees are added to the charter. US-flagged yachts and US guests face sanctions restrictions. Allow months, not weeks.
How long should a Cuba yacht trip be?
Two weeks at least: Havana for three or four nights, then the south coast and the Jardines de la Reina. We see it on owners’ trips of a month or more.
What are the Jardines de la Reina?
A protected archipelago of reef and mangrove cays off Cuba’s south coast, six hundred square miles with no settlements. The best diving in the Caribbean, with sharks and grouper that have never been fished. Permits are limited and arranged ahead.
Is Cuba a good first Caribbean charter?
No. For a first week the Leewards, the Virgin Islands or the Bahamas are the right call. Cuba is for people who have done those and want somewhere new.
Want Cuba in your week?
Tell us the dates and who is coming. We will say which nights to give it, which berth to hold, and whether the week you want is still open.