Isla de la Juventud Cuba
Frequently Asked Questions
Depending on the itinerary, at Nueva Gerona, the small capital in the north, or at anchor off Punta Francés at the southwest tip, with tender landing. Punta Francés has no pier and no kiosk: a few palapas and the shade of sea grape trees.
About a hundred kilometres south of the main island, across the Gulf of Batabanó. It is Cuba's largest dependency and keeps a distinct identity: marble hills, pirate stories and some of the richest seabeds in the Caribbean.
The Presidio Modelo, five kilometres east of Nueva Gerona, and a walk through the capital. If the ship anchors in the south, the day is spent at Punta Francés, swimming, snorkelling and diving.
A panopticon penitentiary built in the 1920s on the model of an Illinois prison: four enormous concrete cylinders pierced by hundreds of windows. Fidel Castro and his companions were held here after the 1953 Moncada attack; the wing they occupied can be visited.
Because each era grasped only one facet. Isle of Pines for the colonists, Treasure Island in sailors' imaginations, Isle of Youth since 1978. Tradition happily links it to Stevenson's novel.
The southwest point, protected by a national marine park: more than fifty dive sites along a dramatic drop-off, among caves, tunnels, wrecks and coral gardens. The beach, a long curve of pale sand, welcomes non-divers too.
The main street lined with colonnaded houses, the small local history museum and the old ferry El Pinero, beached mid-street like a monument — it carried Fidel Castro back to the mainland after his release in 1955. The limestone hills behind look almost Asian in morning light.
It depends. These caves at the southeastern tip hold pre-Columbian rock paintings, red and black concentric circles, among the most important in the island Caribbean. Access depends on which excursions run and on track conditions, and the southern military zone requires authorization: ask onboard.
The Cuban peso and Spanish. This is not a tourist centre: bring cash in small notes. Cards issued by US banks do not work in Cuba.
Divers first, and anyone drawn to the memory held in a place. Few passengers can point to Juventud on a map before arriving; all remember it afterward. Do not expect shops or the bustle of a major call.
