'''Isla de la Juventud''' is an island in Cuba.

Understand

'''Victoria''', [http://www.victoria.co.cu] is the local periodical.

History

Landscape

Flora and fauna

The large''' American crocodile''' and the smaller, endangered '''Cuban crocodile''' both inhabit the island.

Climate

Get in

By plane

Cubana de Aviacion, from La Habana. The prices are going to change in 2007-01/02, increasing from 20' pesos to 90 something. Reservations are imperative, with at least 5 days in advance. Note: most Internet sources are outdated, Aerotaxi doesn't fly to Isla de la Juventud anymore.

By boat

Bus from Ciudad de La Habana (Estacion Central de Omnibus) to Batabano (Habana province, south of the capital): 5 CUP for everybody (Astro bus). Go to the small ticket office of the NCC company (hard to find, better ask where it is) in the Estacion Central de Omnibus. You get a reservation for Batabano (if you pay in CUC, you'll have reserved places so you this reservation is a guarantee to leave) plus a ticket for a right to go on the bus (you pay inside). I'm not sure about the bus leaving hours, but they seem to be in the morning (09:00-12:00?).

The boat ("Kometa" catamaran) costs 50 pesos per person (25 for children of less than 12 years of age):

  • 50 CUC for foreigners
  • 50 CUP for locals.
  • No reservations needed to go to the island. Best to buy a ticket with one day in advance for the return (or you'll have to wake up at 5 A.M. to leave at 12 A.M.). 1 to 2 boats daily, excepts on Sundays. The trip isn't a experience ''per se'' (modern, long, highly cooled air, can't go on deck...). No bicycle can be brought on the island. Knifes and the such must be checked in (free, secure and minimal loss of time).

    Fees/Permits

    Get around

    An old Lada with a driver will cost you 35-40 CUC a day. There are only 2 official car taxis on the island, the rest are bicitaxis. You can also rent a bicycle by the hour or the day.

    See

    Do

    Beaches

    Playa Paraiso

    Nice beach near Nueva Gerona. Poorly managed as of 2006-12 (rotting algae on the beach) but nice sea. There's a key about 1 km away from the beach (Cayo de los Monos) that can be accessed through vigorous swimming. It's also a nice place for sportive diving.

    Diving

    Speleology

    Hikes

    Nice 20 min hike to the hills that oversee Nueva Gerona. Physical but nice. Ask for directions to get to the base of a hill (near "la Cueva del Agua") then just go up following trails when you find them. The base of the hill is filled with rubbish heaps but the top and the middle are nearly pristine.

    Buy

    Eat

    Drink

    Sleep

    Lodging

    Camping

    Backcountry

    Stay safe

    No security problems whatsoever on the island as long as you avoid the military zones.

    Important warning on sex:

  • Sex with the underaged is one of the worse offenses a foreigner can commit in Cuba. Ask for I.D. when in doubt.
  • Isla de la Juventud is said to have the highest HIV contamination levels in Cuba. Use condoms (1 CUP in every generalist shop in Nueva Gerona).
  • Get out

    In Nueva Gerona:

  • "Los Rumbos" night-club (1 CUC)
  • open dancing area near the Pinero prison boat and the quay (every day of the week after 9/10 P.M.)
  • the main plaza during week-ends.
  • Movie theater on the plaza (600 places, almost always nearly empty, 2 CUP).