Where is it? Jardines de la Reina is an archipelago of 250 virgin islands located about 50 nautical miles off the Cuba's southern shore in the province of Camaguey. Accessible only by water, the Jucaro port services the recreational diving and fishing operation based in Jardines de la Reina. he tour operator here is Avalon.

About the area: Since the early 1990's, Jardines de la Reina has been under a special regime of use and protection. According to this contract commercial fishing, as well as the capture of other species such as shells and turtles, is banned. One of the main activities promoted in the area today is contemplative scuba diving. The other activity is sport fishing (fly) of bonefish, tarpon and permit, using the catch & release method. A limited number of snappers is caught to supply food for clients lodged in the facilities. This protection regime has brought about the excellent status of the ecosystems in Jardines de la Reina.

Getting there: The weekly boat transfer to Jardines de la Reina departs from the Jucaro port on Saturdays and returns on Fridays. A land transfer Havana-Jucaro (RT) is included in our Jardines de la Reina dive packages. Alternatively, if flying into Cayo Coco, we can arrange for exclusive ground transportation to/from Jucaro.

The Scuba Diving: This is unquestionably Cuba's premiere dive destination, primarily due to its exclusivity and the great diversity of marine life, flora & fauna. It's undoubtably one of the few places of its kind left on planet Earth today. Your weekly package includes 12 dives, with options for additional diving available locally. 80 dives sites are currently available, scattered over the entire perimeter of Jardines de la Reina. Whale sharks, nurse sharks and more are common sightings in this area. Note that we recommend reserving as far in advance as possible as the destination receives a limited # of guests each week and demand usually exceeds capacity for this destination.

View or Download: Dive Site Map (Adobe Acrobat PDF format)

Accommodations: The operation features a live-aboard houseboat, plus three yachts. La Tortuga is a 110-ft double-decker floating hotel with seven guest cabins. Each cabin has its own shower with hot water, toilet and individually-adjustable a/c. Caballones is a 75-ft yacht featuring a/c in all 4 dbl rooms (one w/ Queen bed), 4 bathrooms and a large upper deck where meals are usually served from a "display galley". La Reina is a 69-ft yacht with full a/c, 4 dbl rooms & 4 bathrooms, plus a large upper deck for dining. The Halcon is a fully air-conditioned 75-ft yacht conditioned with 6 cabins and 3 bathrooms below deck, each featuring hot & cold water. A large salon above is the perfect place for cocktails, and the aft-deck is where meals are usually served. The ideal # of divers on this boat is 10 plus 2 diving guides. This boat allows for unlimited diving range in the area.

Meals: The typical fare aboard the Italian-managed live-aboard yachts is seafood for dinner with fresh fish daily. Chicken and pork are also available in addition to vegetarian meals, salads and a variety of fruits. Desserts such as flan and rum cake are delicious. The dining in Jardines de la Reina combines the flair of the best continental Italian cuisine with traditional Cuban favorites such as rice & beans and fried bananas. The black bean soup is divine. Beverages available for purchase on board include bottled water, mineral/tonic water, soft drinks, beer, rum, and excellent wines. For those divers lodged on the Tortuga who opt for diving further away from the base property during the day, lunches can be prepared in advance, or sometimes even enjoyed on a virgin beach on one of the keys between dives.