Nueva Gerona Getting there & around

Getting there & away

Boat

Getting to La Isla by boat isn't the piece of cake it ought to be. Tickets for the Soviet-made Kometa hydrofoils (known locally simply as the kometa) or the infinitely slower Mexican ferries that ply the route between Surgidero de Batabanó and Nueva Gerona are sold at the NCC kiosk (878-1841; 7am-noon) in the main bus station in Habana, where you can pay for both your bus transfer and ferry reservation in one shot (CUC$13). Due to recent popularity it is wise to make a reservation in person one or two days in advance at the NCC kiosk though, oddly, return tickets off the island are not available here or anywhere else in Habana. In terms of getting back you'll have to chance your arm in Nueva Gerona where you can purchase a return ticket on arrival. If you're on a tight schedule save yourself the hassle and take a plane.

It's advisable not to show up independently in Batabanó with the intention of buying a ferry ticket direct from the dock. Although technically doable, a number of travelers have come unstuck here, being told, more often than not, that the tickets have been sold out days in advance through the NCC kiosk in Habana. Furthermore, bedding down for the night in Batabanó is not a particularly inspiring experience.

The return leg is equally problematic. Procure your ticket as early as possible in Nueva Gerona's Naviera Cubana Caribeña (NCC) ferry terminal (32 49 77, 32 44 15; cnr Calles 31 & 24), beside the Río Las Casas. The kometa leaves for Surgidero de Batabanó daily at 9am (CUC$11), but you'd be wise to get there at least two hours beforehand to tackle the infamous queues.

Before reserving tickets, ask if there's a bus connection from Surgidero de Batabanó to Habana, as a number of northbound catamaran departures have no connection at all. A connecting bus should cost CUC$2 and you will need to make a reservation as you buy your boat ticket. If you find yourself stranded, large passenger trucks with rows of benches often meet the ferries at Surgidero de Batabanó, charging 10 pesos per person to go to the Habana bus station. It ain't comfy, but it'll get you there.

True to form, there are no printed schedules for the boat or ferry crossings to and from La Isla. Theoretically the kometas are supposed to leave Nueva Gerona at 9am and dock in Batabanó at noon, returning back to the island at 1pm. But don't take anything as a given until you have booked your ticket. Isla boat crossings, rather like Cuban trains, have an annoying tendency of being late, breaking down or getting cancelled altogether.

Traveling in either direction you'll need to show your passport. See Surgidero de Batabanó and Habana City for more.

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Air

The easiest way to get to the Isla is to fly and when you weigh up cost over hassle you might think it's worth the money. Rafael Cabrera Mustelier Airport (airport code GER) is 5km southeast of Nueva Gerona. Cubana flies here from Habana three times a day for CUC$34.50 one-way. There are no international flights. Aerotaxi offers charter flights (you have to buy all the seats on the plane) and you could arrange passage in Habana if you have about CUC$500 to blow.

There's no regular air or sea connection from Isla de la Juventud to Cayo Largo del Sur. It is, however possible to charter an 11- passenger Aerotaxi biplane for a day trip at CUC$470, including waiting time. Otherwise, you must return to Habana to go to Cayo Largo del Sur.

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