Cayo Largo

Lodging Details
The Cayo Largo fishery is now accessed by the Avalon Fleet I mothership. This distinct vessel guarantees guests a pleasant, exciting, and exclusive voyage through the Canarreos Archipelago area. The atmosphere was conceived and executed to provide guests with the finest liveaboard experience in the Caribbean. The yacht is intimate, comfortable, and stylishly designed; each space is created to provide guests with maximum comfort and safety.

The maximum capacity is 18 passengers and eight crew members, although each week aboard the yacht is limited to eight to 10 anglers in order to provide comfort and privacy. Aboard the ship, there are eight (8) deluxe king cabins (all with queen-sized beds) with seven (7) private bathrooms. The staterooms accompanying each cabin feature air conditioning and heat controls, electricity plugs, and plenty of storage space. A panoramic window spans each room, allowing guests to enjoy the Caribbean view expanding endlessly before them. A spacious and comfortable lounge, dining room, and bar area on the upper deck offer space for relaxed socializing and dining. There is also a hot tub and an indoor lounge outfitted with excellent visual and audio equipment.

Food and Beverages
The galley aboard the Avalon Fleet I take great pride in serving amazing Cuban food, fresh seafood, and a variety of international dishes. Breakfasts are cooked-to-order each morning. Lunches can either be packed for a full day on the flats, or guests have the option to return to the ship mid-day to eat and relax. All dinners are served with international wines, local liquors, and desserts.

Typical Length of Stay
The typical package is seven (7) nights / six (6) fishing days. A normal week includes six (6) full days of fishing. Additional days in Havana or in other parts of Cuba can be arranged and itineraries can be customized. Please contact Yellow Dog for more details on a customized itinerary.

Non-Angling Activities and Options
Cayo Largo is a resort island that has long been popular with European and Canadian vacationers and sun-seekers looking for exclusivity in the midst of a pristine island environment. Snorkeling, scuba diving, beachcombing, and just relaxing on the white sand beach are available to non-anglers who decide to join a week aboard, however the options are somewhat limited and activity equipment can be a bit dated. Cayo Largo is very secluded and there are no nearby towns or private residences so there are not many activity options for the non-angler.

Internet / Communications
Check with your cell service provider to see if your U.S. cell phone will work in Cuba. Also, satellite phones are strictly prohibited in Cuba and will be confiscated at the airport on arrival. Wi-Fi is available in Havana, but once aboard you should plan on being completely disconnected for the week.

How To Get There 
The fisheries that are located in the Western half of Cuba (Cayo Largo, Isla de la Juventud, Zapata, Playa Larga/Las Salinas and Cannarreos) can all be best accessed with flights directly into Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport (HAV). There are many daily flights to Havana on US carriers such as American Airlines, Delta, Jet Blue and Southwest that can easily be booked to get to Havana. If you are traveling to Jardines de la Reina, Cayo Romano or Cayo Paredon, the best arrival city is Camaguey (CMW) which is served with daily flights from Miami (MIA) on American Airlines. There are a number of international flights that can be booked into Havana from international cities such as Milan, Madrid and Istanbul. Yellow Dog can help advise on the best days to travel to and from Havana based on the specific fishery that you are traveling to. We can also help with tour services and hotel arrangements for your trip.

Arrival and Departure Details / Times
For the grand majority of fisheries in Cuba, anglers typically fly into Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport (HAV) on a Friday, where they overnight in the city. The next day (Saturday), you will be met for your transfer to Port where you will board your mothership for the week. Once everyone is aboard, you will transfer to the fishery where you will moor for the night. Your guides will meet you the next morning with the skiffs for your first day of fishing. On the following Friday, you will bid your guides goodbye and the boat will head back to port to prepare for your Saturday morning disembarkation. You can either schedule a late departure flight (after 4 PM at the earliest!) out of Havana on this day, or we can arrange a final hotel night in Havana prior to your departing flights. Many visitors choose to add an extra day or two in the city to explore Havana and the surrounding areas either before or after your week aboard. Yellow Dog can help arrange for additional time in Cuba and associated logistics.

Documents Required
A valid passport is required for all visitors to Cuba and must be valid for at least six (6) months beyond the duration of your stay. Citizens of the United States
are also required to have a Cuban entrance visa that can be secured when checking in for your direct flight to Cuba. You will be asked to sign an affidavit for your trip to Cuba and determine which OFAC category your trip qualifies for and as an American travelers, you are obligated to maintain a record of your trip for five years – documentation is supplied to you by Yellow Dog.

Travel Arrangements
Yellow Dog provides airline reservations ad ticketing assistance through etcTravel Group, and a full-service airline logistics agent that can help book airline tickets, hotels, rental cars, and more. You can click here to request a quote or contact Yellow Dog for more information at 406-585-8667. etcTravel Group offers dedicated support services for all Yellow Dog clients. Service fees may apply when booking or researching tickets, and etcTravel will discuss this with you before sending quotes. 

Travel Tools
- Travel Insurance
- Moon Phases
- Airline Ticketing
- Rent This Rod
- Global Rescue Membership

General Information
Cayo Largo (“Long Island”) sits in the south-central region of the Cuban Archipelago and is one of the last virtually untouched saltwater ecosystems left on the planet. With 17 miles of fine white sand beaches, the surrounding ocean produces a spectacular kaleidoscope of colors, from incredible shades of ocean blue to stunning pastels of turquoise and green. Cayo Largo owes its name to its elongated shape. Around 1494, Christopher Columbus touched upon the island during his second voyage to Cuba. The island was also a favorite stop for the groups of pirates that roamed the Caribbean Sea. The bounty of nature found at Cayo Largo is a well-kept secret. It has pristine coral reefs and is complemented by neighboring keys inhabited by numerous species of flora and fauna, among them iguanas, pelicans, and turtles. When you arrive in Cayo Largo, you will be surprised to find a natural environment that has scarcely changed over the last 1,000 years. 

The incredible Cayo Largo flats fishery came under the management of Avalon Fishing Center in 2008. Avalon is one of the few companies in the world that can offer its guests the unique ability to fish in a completely exclusive marine park, free of commercial fishermen, nets, or any skiffs or yachts from other tour companies. Think about the incredible possibilities of having all those nautical kilometers to yourself and being able to choose the species and the places you want to fish, without any fuel limitation during your fishing week!

The climate in Cuba is warmer than in the Bahamas, with an average temperature of 75° F in January. These fair-weather conditions during the mid-winter months are very good for fly fishing the Cayo Largo flats. August, with an average temperature of 83° F, is the hottest month in Cuba. There is invariably a pleasant sea breeze but, occasionally, stronger winds can be experienced.

The fishing season runs from November until August, thus avoiding the hurricane period during September and October. The beginning of the season from November to January is very good, with plenty of bonefish (especially big ones) on the flats and mangrove areas. Fishing for tarpon and other species can also be excellent. This is a great time to plan a trip to Cayo Largo, as the weather is much warmer in Cuba than in Europe or Northern America.

Peak fishing season is from February to June when all species are present in the area. Tarpon, bones, permit, and jack will all be encountered during these months. During the spring and summer months, the migratory tarpon (which can be as large as 80 to 100 pounds) move through the area and are regularly spotted. Resident tarpon (averaging 25 to 40 pounds) are found throughout the year. Likewise, shots at permit are frequent. Peak season is the best time to try for a Gland Slam. Numerous Grand Slams are achieved each season as well as a few Super Grand Slams (tarpon, bonefish, permit, and snook). In the late season, the weather gets hot but the fishing is still very productive, especially for tarpon and permit. Fishing for bonefish is also very good in the morning and in the evening. Avalon’s statistics indicate a very surprising summer phenomenon: that the same number of fish are caught during the hot months but by half the number of rods. This illustrates in detail how fabulously productive the summer months in Cayo Largo are for anglers. 

Cayo Largo guides are local, professional, and highly experienced. (In fact, Avalon employed the expertise and years of experience of the Cayo Largo team to train guides for their newer operation on Cayo Cruz.)

Boats and Equipment
The fishing boats used by Avalon are Dolphin Super Skiffs outfitted with Yamaha 60 or 70HP motors, comfortable seats, and poling platforms for the guides. Radios and life jackets are carried aboard every skiff. It is recommended that anglers bring their own fishing equipment. Flies, leaders, tippet, all terminal tackle, and all accessories should be packed, as very few items are available anywhere in Cuba.

Package Rates
Remember that Yellow Dog’s services are completely free! When you book a trip with Yellow Dog, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge or outfitter. Trips of a longer duration can be arranged, so please call Yellow Dog for details and custom package pricing.   

Please contact Yellow Dog for rates.

What’s Included:

• Meet-and-greet reception upon arrival at Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport (HAV)
• Seven (7) nights’ accommodations aboard Avalon Fleet I
• Six (6) full days of guided fishing (two people per skiff)
• Transfers on arrival and departure from Havana to Puerto Zapesca
• Three meals per day while on Avalon Fleet 1 (all-inclusive meal service)
• Full bar tab and all-inclusive drinks while aboard
• Taxes and GSTs
  
  

 What’s Not Included: 

• International flights to Havana (HAV) – (Yellow Dog can arrange these flights)
• Additional hotel nights in Havana (HAV) – (Yellow Dog can arrange for accommodations in Havana)
• Meals, drinks, taxis, tours, and any additional expenses while in Havana
• Fishing tackle, equipment, flies, and all terminal tackle (can be rented) – YD recommends bringing your own!
• Diving equipment for dives (can be rented)
• Cuban entrance visa 
• Gratuities for guides and staff
• Other items of a personal nature    
• Conservation Fee ($300 USD)

Cuba Travel Compliance Notice
Yellow Dog Flyfishing has arranged and operated angling trips to Cuba for more than a decade, working in close coordination with experienced legal counsel, including U.S.-based attorneys specializing in travel compliance and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) regulations. All Yellow Dog Flyfishing trips to Cuba are fully compliant with U.S. Treasury Department OFAC regulations and are conducted under the “Humanitarian Projects” general license category – specifically aligned with environmental projects. Our itineraries have been fully vetted and are carefully designed to support marine conservation, sustainable fisheries, and environmental education within Cuba’s protected marine parks. As a participant, your involvement qualifies as a lawful environmental project, and no special license is required. Documentation will be provided prior to travel, and all participants are encouraged to retain their records for five years.

Avalon Cuban Fishing Centers and Live-Aboards (Cuba)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS – CANCELLATIONS
Receipt of deposit and/or final payment is acknowledgment that registrant has read and accepts the deposit, cancellation, refund and responsibility clauses for these packages. For trips outside of 90 days, a 50% deposit is required at the time of confirmation to hold all reservations and trip dates. For all Cuba trips less than 90 days out, FULL payment is required to secure reservations. Passport number, date of birth and full name (as printed in passport) are required to confirm any Cuba reservation. Payment for all Cuba trip must be made in US dollars. All trip cancellations must be received in writing, sent to Yellow Dog Flyfishing and cancellations will incur a $250.00 USD per person Yellow Dog handling fee, regardless of timing or reason. For cancellations outside of 180 days from start of trip, trip payments are refundable minus an $800 USD per person cancellation fee charged by operator and a $250.00 USD per person fee charged by Yellow Dog. Inside of 180 days from start of trip, deposits and/or final payments are non-refundable and no credits will be issued unless Avalon and/or Yellow Dog are able to resell the trip(s) (in which case there will also be an $800 USD per person cancellation fee charged by operator and a $250.00 USD per person fee charged by Yellow Dog.) No refunds will be issued for unused portions of packages. Because of the operator’s strict cancellation policies, we highly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance. In no event will Avalon Outdoors be responsible for any cancellation of services or operations due to inclement weather, any event of force majeure, airline delays or flight cancellations, or any other reason beyond the control of the operator. Avalon Outdoors will not refund payments in the event of poor weather. If your flights are cancelled and connections are missed, Avalon is not responsible for alternative travel arrangements including flights, hotels, meals and any other expenses incurred. Please note that credit card payments cannot be accepted for any incidentals or expenses once in Cuba. Once again, Yellow Dog strongly recommends that anglers and guests purchase travel insurance these Cuban packages.

Payment Terms for All Yellow Dog Trip Bookings  
Unless otherwise noted on your invoice, for all trips less than 90 days out, full payment is required after receipt of the confirmation email to secure guides and reservations. For trips outside of 90 days, a 50% deposit is required upon receipt of confirmation email to confirm your reservations.   

Yellow Dog accepts on-line payments via a secure payment portal – a quick and easy way to complete your trip reservation. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com to gain access. 

Yellow Dog Flyfishing Standard Forms of Payment 

• Debit card (fee-free) and credit card (3% convenience fee) - to pay via card please utilize the customer payment portal. If you need assistance, reach out to 406-585-8667 ext. #3 
• Wires - please include name and/or invoice number for reference on your wire. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com for wiring instructions. (client is responsible for wiring fees) 
• Physical check - please include your invoice number in the memo. Mail checks to 213 S. Willson Ave. Bozeman, MT, 59715

If you have any questions about alternate payment methods, please contact Yellow Dog at (406) 585-8667 ext. #3. We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM MT.