Wild Island: Diving Isla de la Juventud
A seven-night diving trip to the Isla de la Juventud, the large, sparsely visited island off Cuba's southwest, famed for the pristine wall dives of Punta Francés. A night in Havana bookends flights to Nueva Gerona, from where the island's marine park, caves and citrus country fill the days.
For: Certified divers seeking uncrowded, protected reef and wall sites
1 · Budget first
A transparent, itemised estimate for 2 travellers · 7 nights · casa tier. Every line is a planner range in USD — an estimate to budget with, not a quote.
| International airfare | $600 – $1,900 |
| Entry documents (tourist card) | $60 – $150 |
| Travel insurance | $80 – $300 |
| Accommodation | $175 – $350 |
| Local transportation | $130 – $330 |
| Food | $350 – $700 |
| Guides & activities | $275 – $700 |
| Connectivity | $30 – $110 |
| Tips | $35 – $140 |
| Water, laundry & sundries | $21 – $84 |
| Emergency reserve | $116 – $430 |
| Total (2 travellers) | $1,872 – $5,194 |
- Per traveller
- $936 – $2,597
- Per day
- $267 – $742
- Ground only (no airfare)
- $1,156 – $2,864
- Airfare est. / traveller
- $300 – $950
Basis: casa particular · local mixed food · shared taxi · 5 guided days.
Adjust every number in the planner →Estimates in USD to help you budget — not observed prices, quotes or guaranteed availability. Most US cards don’t work in Cuba; carry cash and keep the reserve.
2 · Fly in
Miami (MIA) → Havana (HAV) — José Martí International
Cuba's principal international gateway — the only truly diversified one, with links across the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa.
Example dates 2026-09-15 → 2026-09-22 (adjust on the live search). CubaAtlas books nothing — these open live results:
3 · Day by day
Where to sleep and dine each day is a real listing from the CubaAtlas provider dataset, nearest your base.
Morning
Land in Havana and transfer to a casa, with time to shake off the journey before the island hop.Afternoon
A gentle orientation walk along the Malecón and into Old Havana to stretch the legs.Evening
An early dinner of Cuban classics before the next day's flight south.
StayHotel Blau Arenal Habana Beach4★ · Grupo Cubanacán · La Habana(53 7) 77991200/ 77991274Website ↗Map →Source: Cuba Travel (MINTUR official portal)DinnerCantabria, Restaurante Hotel Armadores de SantanderCimex · Internacional · La Habana(537)8628000Map →Source: Cuba Travel (MINTUR official portal)Open Havana on the map →Nearby: Viñales, Varadero, MatanzasMorning
Short flight to Nueva Gerona, the island's low-slung marble-quarry capital on the Las Casas river.Afternoon
Settle into a casa and explore the small town, the old US-era prison museum and the citrus plantations.Evening
A relaxed first island dinner of fresh fish, meeting the dive team over rum.DinnerEl CochinitorestaurantMap →Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)Morning
Boat south to the protected Punta Francés marine park for the first dives on its coral walls.Afternoon
A second dive on a shallower garden of coral heads, with surface intervals on a deserted white beach.Evening
Dinner back in Nueva Gerona, comparing the day's sightings over a cold Cristal.DinnerEl CochinitorestaurantMap →Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)Morning
Return to the marine park for deeper wall dives, following near-vertical drop-offs busy with snapper and jacks.Afternoon
Explore a swim-through cavern site, with black coral and tarpon in the blue light.Evening
A seafood dinner on a breezy terrace, early night before another full dive day.DinnerEl CochinitorestaurantMap →Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)Morning
Dive the sheltered coral gardens and, conditions allowing, a sunken wreck colonised by sponges and sea fans.Afternoon
A slower afternoon with a shore snorkel and rest to respect no-fly and off-gassing time.Evening
Dinner of lobster and rice, watching the sun go down over the Caribbean.DinnerEl CochinitorestaurantMap →Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)Morning
A no-dive day exploring the island's south: the Punta del Este caves with their pre-Columbian Taíno paintings.Afternoon
Beach time on a quiet southern strand, with birdlife and empty sand.Evening
A final island dinner, toasting a week under water.DinnerEl CochinitorestaurantMap →Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)Morning
A last stroll along the Las Casas river and through the market before checking out.Afternoon
Flight back to Havana to connect onward, watching the island shrink into the Caribbean.Evening
A quiet farewell dinner in Havana before the departure flight.DinnerEl CochinitorestaurantMap →Source: OpenStreetMap (ODbL)
4 · Visa, entry & customs
Every visitor needs a Cuban tourist card (tarjeta del turista) plus a passport valid for the stay and proof of onward travel and medical insurance. Buy the tourist card before you fly — the price and colour depend on your departure country and airline.
Travelling under US jurisdiction: there is no general tourism licence. US persons travel under one of OFAC’s authorised categories — most commonly Support for the Cuban People or family visits — which carry record-keeping duties and a full-time-schedule requirement. The tourist card for US departures is the pink one. Confirm your category before you book.
5 · Book direct, or compare an agency
This plan is costed to book direct — the $3,036 (expected) above is what the trip actually costs, itemised, with no package margin. A travel agency bundles flights, hotel and transfers into one price and adds a service fee for the convenience. We don’t quote agencies (we’d never invent a price) — so take a package quote and compare it line-for-line against the breakdown above.
Operating United States agencies serving Cuba, if you prefer a package:
- Cuba Travel Services (CTS) ↗
Long-running US seller of scheduled and charter air to Cuba plus packages.
Sells: flights, charters, packages, hotels
- ABC Charters ↗
Miami charter operator to Havana and other Cuban cities.
Sells: flights, charters · +1-305-263-6555
- Marazul Charters ↗
One of the oldest US–Cuba travel providers.
Sells: flights, charters, packages
- Xael Charter ↗
Direct flights Miami/Orlando/Tampa to Havana, Cienfuegos, Santa Clara, Camagüey, Holguín; since 1988.
Sells: flights, charters, hotels, cars, tours · (305) 643-2200
- insightCuba ↗
Non-profit people-to-people and custom group tours; since 2000.
Sells: tours, packages
- Cubamax Travel ↗
Flights, packages, shipping and remittances; 13 Florida branches.
Sells: flights, packages, hotels, cars · +1-305-512-0303
CubaAtlas is non-commercial and takes no commission. Agency links go straight to the operator; we don’t book, broker or earn from them.
Every Cuba agency, compiled — with the free equivalent for each →Questions
- How much does the "Wild Island: Diving Isla de la Juventud" trip cost?
- An estimated $1,872–$5,194 all-in for 2 traveller(s) over 7 nights ($1,518 per traveller expected), including airfare, lodging, food, transport and a reserve. It is a planner estimate, not a quote — you book each part direct, with no agency margin.
- Do I need a visa to travel to Cuba?
- Every visitor needs a Cuban tourist card. Travellers under US jurisdiction have no general tourism licence and travel under an OFAC category such as Support for the Cuban People or family visits. See the CubaAtlas visa & entry guide.
- When is the best time for this trip?
- Best months: December to May (calm seas, best visibility).
- Can I book this trip on CubaAtlas?
- No — CubaAtlas is a free, non-commercial planner. It gives you the itinerary, the budget, live flight-search links and real hotel and restaurant listings, and you arrange each part directly at the source. We book nothing and take no commission.