A week on Cuba's south coast: the reef cays off Trinidad
The gentlest of the Cuban routes: east from Cienfuegos along the Escambray mountains to the reef cays off Trinidad and back. The long legs come only on the first and last days; mid-week you make short hops between empty cays with lighthouses, where you may not meet another boat, and spend an evening in Trinidad, Cuba's best-preserved colonial town. About 135 nm, daylight only — charter yachts may not sail at night in Cuba. In 2026, read the practical notes at the end of the page before booking.
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 the week through the base in advance: there are no shops on the cays, and what the town has depends on deliveries.
Cienfuegos → Cayo Blanco de Casilda
- Castillo de Jagua22.060, -80.457
- Cayo Blanco de Casilda21.634, -79.887
Leave at dawn as soon as the despacho is stamped: down the bay past the 18th-century Jagua fortress and south-east along the Escambray mountains with the trade wind on the beam — seven to eight hours of good sailing. Cayo Blanco de Casilda is a narrow cay with a lighthouse on the edge of the reef, eight miles from Trinidad: the first night behind the reef, in water clear to the bottom.
Cayo Blanco → Cayo Zaza de Fuera
- Cayo Zaza de Fuera21.466, -79.582
East-south-east along the reef, hard on the trade wind, about four hours. Cayo Zaza de Fuera is an outer cay right on the edge of the reef: the anchorage is sheltered from winds from north through east to south but open to the west — when a front brings westerlies, don't go there.
Zaza de Fuera → Cayo Blanco de Zaza
- Cayo Blanco de Zaza21.595, -79.600
- Tunas de Zazatown quay21.631, -79.553
A short hop north to the Cayo Blanco de Zaza lighthouse — a day for mask, dinghy and empty beaches. Three miles away on the mainland is the fishing village of Tunas de Zaza at the mouth of the Zaza river.
Blanco de Zaza → Cayo Macho de Afuera
- Cayo Macho de Afuera21.592, -79.778
Back west with a following trade wind along the chain of reef cays — two hours of easy sailing. Cayo Macho de Afuera is the last night at anchor behind the reef before Trinidad.
Macho de Afuera → Trinidad
- Marina Trinidad (Ancón)21.738, -79.996
- Casildatown quay21.752, -79.990
In the morning, three hours to Marina Trinidad on the Ancón peninsula: the marina has water but no fuel. After lunch, a taxi into town, twelve kilometres: the Plaza Mayor, cobbled streets, the sugar barons' palaces and live music in the evening. Trinidad and the nearby Valley of the Sugar Mills are a UNESCO site.
Trinidad → Cienfuegos
- Marina Marlin Cienfuegos22.126, -80.452
Six hours north-west along the Escambray mountains with the trade wind on the quarter. You must be back in the Cienfuegos marina before dark: fuel and handover. A night aboard in the marina, 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.
- 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. On this route fuel is available only in Cienfuegos, and water also in Trinidad; bring food for the whole week from the base, as there are no shops on the cays.
- 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 — Trinidad route and where do you stay overnight?
7 days and about 136 nautical miles in a loop, starting and finishing in Cienfuegos. Overnight stops in order: Marina Marlin Cienfuegos, Cayo Blanco de Casilda, Cayo Zaza de Fuera, Cayo Blanco de Zaza, Cayo Macho de Afuera, Marina Trinidad (Ancón). The longest leg is day 2, 45 nm.
How do I get to the marina for the Cienfuegos — Trinidad 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 — Trinidad 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).
