Those who arrive in Cienfuegos are soon tempted to get distracted from the beauty of this place that has so many interesting stories to tell.
Location & Approach Crossing the Atlantic is no mean feat, but the rewards that await those seamen brave enough to battle such a large stretch of water are worth it. The Caribbean is full of islands and archipelagos, tropical paradises so inviting that you are tempted to remain there forever. One of those archipelagos is Cuba, some of the largest islands in the region, that apart from being one of the most scenic, they are also the perfect diving and fishing places.
One such place is the marina Marlin, which has been in existence since 1984, and thus is perfectly suited for those of you who want an essentially Cuban experience. The marina is located in the Cienfuegos Bay (Bahia de Cienfuegos) on the southern side of the island of Cuba, with the coordinates 22º 07.504´N, 80º 27.148´W.
The marina has an ideal position since the bay is pretty much enclosed, apart from a small opening out to sea. This means that there are no winds making the approach dangerous, and also there is no need for breakwaters. Needless to say, that will make the approach much easier, especially for beginner skippers. However, if you have issues with your approach, contact the marina on VHF channel 16 and 19A.
Whenever bad weather occurs, the boats are moved towards natural refuge, namely the southeast part of the bay which is called Jucaral. Here, a series of mountainous hills prevent winds from reaching threatening intensities and the promontories provide further protection from winds and waves, so that the skipper can rest assured that no harm will come to his boat.
The neighboring port also acts as a port of entry, which means it has a harbor master, an immigration service and customs. All the paperwork can be sorted out right here in order to save time and hassle.
Infrastructure & Ambience The Marlin marina has 36 berths along its concrete piers, suited for boats with a maximum length of 65m and a draft smaller than 3m which is the usual depth around this part of the bay. All berths have water and electricity connections, in the form of two twin turrets present on the piers.
Here are some other facilities being offered to guests and clients: first of all, the all-important sanitary facilities (showers and toilets), then there is a waste disposal service, a fuel station, a ship chandler, an international payphone service with card access and even a yachtsmen service.
The rest of your needs will be covered by the colorful town of Cienfuegos which has all sorts of venues within walking distance. Your group won’t have enough time to go over all the restaurants, the shopping facilities and the extremely busy nightlife clubs and bars before your trip is done.