Cienfuegos — Cayo Largo
A week-long liveaboard safari along Cuba’s southern coast from Cienfuegos to Cayo Largo. The route passes through a chain of islands and reef systems with diverse underwater terrain — from vertical walls and tunnels to sandy channels with sleeping sharks.
Key locations include Rancho Luna with the Labyrinth formation and a sunken fishing boat, Cayo Guano del Este, Cayo Trabuco with vertical walls, turtles, and rays, Cayo Largo with night dives and sleeping nurse sharks, Cayo Rosario with tunnels and caves, and Cayo Sigua with a multi-kilometer vertical wall. The cave at Cayo Sigua is accessible only to experienced divers.
What You'll See
Conditions
Season
November–April
Visibility
20–40 meters
Water Temperature
25–28°C
Level
Open Water+ (caves — Advanced)
Duration
7 nights
Useful Information
Best Season
November–April (dry season, calm seas), December–February for peak shark action
Visa
Most visitors need a tourist card (visa) obtained before travel; several nationalities, including Russian citizens, enter visa-free for up to 90 days. Valid medical insurance and the online D'Viajeros traveller declaration (filed within 72 hours of departure) are required for everyone.
How to Get There
Fly to Havana (HAV) via Europe or Istanbul, then a 6–8 hour transfer to the port of Júcaro, where liveaboards depart for Jardines de la Reina. María la Gorda is a 5–6 hour drive from Havana; Isla de la Juventud is reached by a short flight to Nueva Gerona (GER).
Climate
Tropical, 22–32°C, rainy season May–October
Currency
Cuban peso (CUP); euros and US dollars widely used by visitors
Time Zone
UTC-5
