Zapata / Georgiana Live-Aboard

Lodging Details
Georgiana is a 100-foot, custom-built yacht that accommodates groups of eight anglers at a time. The boat features six comfortable cabins (four single cabins and two double occupancy cabins) each outfitted with bunks and private bathrooms. The interior areas of the boat and all staterooms are air-conditioned, and there are numerous outdoor sitting and lounge areas on the upper decks. The boat is the ideal base of operations for exploring the mangrove wilderness, endless flats, and wild backcountry of the Zapata Peninsula. The ship is strategically anchored in a well-protected location to allow for easy access to the most productive flats and fishing areas in the reserve. Typically the Georgiana moors in two different locations within the fishery during the week.

Food and Beverages
The galley aboard the Georgiana takes pride in serving a diverse menu of traditional Cuban food, fresh seafood, and various international dishes. Breakfasts are cooked-to-order each morning. Lunches can either be packed for a full day on the flats, or guests have the option to return to the ship mid-day to eat and relax. Fresh fish of the day is utilized for most meals, and salads with fresh vegetables and a variety of fruits are always available. In addition, you’ll have excellent pork and chicken entrees, fresh sashimi, and Italian-style pizzas for appetizers. All dinners typically include a great line-up of fresh seafood and are served with wine, local liquors, and desserts.

Typical Length of Stay
The typical package is seven (7) nights / six (6) fishing days. Since the fishing area is so close to Havana, anglers can typically transfer directly to the International Airport upon disembarkation. Additional days and nights in Havana or on other parts of the island can easily be arranged and itineraries can be fully customized. 

Non-Angling Activities and Options
The Zapata Peninsula and the area where the Georgiana moors during the week are very secluded and there are no nearby towns or private residences. This is truly an “off-the-grid” location where you can disconnect and get away from it all. Non-angling activities are limited, and overall this destination is best suited for anglers, nature lovers, snorkelers, and birdwatchers. This part of the Matanzas Province is very flat and contains the basins of the Hatiguanico and Hanábana Rivers. The Hanábana empties into Laguna del Tesoro, one of the largest lakes in the country, which features a restored Taino Indian village (with life-size statues of the Indians engaging in their everyday activities) on a series of islets. The Tainos were one of the three groups of Indians who lived in Cuba prior to the Spanish Conquest. The coast is also home to numerous flooded caves and cenotes, making it a popular destination for divers. Playa Girón, the site of the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961, has an interesting museum with aircraft and other artifacts from the historic battle.

Internet / Communications
Wi-Fi is NOT available aboard the Georgiana, which means that once you board the ship, you will be offline and totally unplugged (something that is getting harder to find these days). Keep in mind that most U.S. cell phones currently DO NOT work well anywhere in Cuba – you should check with your cell phone provider before departing for your trip to see if they offer international plans that will provide service in Cuba during your trip. Also, satellite phones are strictly prohibited in Cuba and will be confiscated at the airport on arrival. For any emergencies, Yellow Dog can facilitate getting messages to anyone aboard the boat while you are on your trip. 

How To Get There
The fisheries that are located in the Western half of Cuba (Cayo Largo, Isla de la Juventud, Zapata, Playa Larga/Las Salinas and Cannarreos) can all be best accessed with flights directly into Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport (HAV). There are many daily flights to Havana on US carriers such as American Airlines, Delta, Jet Blue and Southwest that can easily be booked to get to Havana. If you are traveling to Jardines de la Reina, Cayo Romano or Cayo Paredon, the best arrival city is Camaguey (CMW) which is served with daily flights from Miami (MIA) on American Airlines. There are a number of international flights that can be booked into Havana from international cities such as Milan, Madrid and Istanbul. Yellow Dog can help advise on the best days to travel to and from Havana based on the specific fishery that you are traveling to. We can also help with tour services and hotel arrangements for your trip.

Arrival and Departure Details / Times
For the grand majority of fisheries in Cuba, anglers typically fly into Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport (HAV) on a Friday, where they overnight in the city. The next day (Saturday), you will be met for your transfer to Port where you will board your mothership for the week. Once everyone is aboard, you will transfer to the fishery where you will moor for the night. Your guides will meet you the next morning with the skiffs for your first day of fishing. On the following Friday, you will bid your guides goodbye and the boat will head back to port to prepare for your Saturday morning disembarkation. You can either schedule a late departure flight (after 4 PM at the earliest!) out of Havana on this day, or we can arrange a final hotel night in Havana prior to your departing flights. Many visitors choose to add an extra day or two in the city to explore Havana and the surrounding areas either before or after your week aboard. Yellow Dog can help arrange for additional time in Cuba and associated logistics.

Travel Arrangements
Yellow Dog provides airline reservations ad ticketing assistance through etcTravel Group, and a full-service airline logistics agent that can help book airline tickets, hotels, rental cars, and more. You can click here to request a quote or contact Yellow Dog for more information at 406-585-8667. etcTravel Group offers dedicated support services for all Yellow Dog clients. Service fees may apply when booking or researching tickets, and etcTravel will discuss this with you before sending quotes.

General Information
One of the things that make this fishing program so unique is a large amount of skinny, shallow water combined with the rotation during the week from double to single occupancy skiffs. Each angler will have three days fishing double occupancy and three days fishing single occupancy which translates into A LOT of bow time!

Much of the area simply cannot be accessed and fished using traditional flats skiffs with two anglers and a guide. It is for this reason that the Zapata operation utilizes four custom “single angler” skiffs – smaller, skinny-water boats designed for a solo angler and one guide. Each fishing day four anglers will fish from these single boats, with the other four fishing two-to-a-boat (along with a guide) in a traditional Dolphin Skiff. The schedule rotates throughout the fishing week so that each angler can fish solo for four days and share a boat and guide for the other two days. There is no other destination in Cuba that offers solo fishing as a part of their weekly program. The skinny water solo boats are typically used for shallow-water bonefishing and permit fishing, while the larger boats are ideal for tarpon fishing and waters that require a bit longer run time.

Each morning, guests will step from the liveaboard mothership Georgiana directly into the smaller skiffs to head out for the day on the water. Because the Georgiana is located right in the middle of the most productive flats, run times are always fairly short. Anglers can expect to fish for bonefish, permit, and tarpon throughout the week, with possibilities for other species (snook, jacks, cuda, etc.) as well.

Boats and Equipment
The fishing boats used in the Zapata fishery are a combination of Dolphin Super Skiffs outfitted with Yamaha 60 or 70HP motors, and single-angler boats specifically designed for very skinny water. It is recommended that anglers bring all of their own fishing equipment. Flies, leaders, tippet, all terminal tackle, and all accessories should be brought down, as very few items are available anywhere in Cuba.

Package Rates
Remember that Yellow Dog’s services are completely free! When you book a trip with Yellow Dog, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge or outfitter. Trips of any length of stay can be arranged, so please call Yellow Dog for details and custom package pricing. For all Zapata packages, the mothership Georgiana is available for private charters that are ideal for 6-8 people. The total package price listed below is the cost to charter the entire boat based on eight (8) anglers maximum per week. 

Please contact Yellow Dog for rates.

What’s Included:

• Meet-and-greet reception upon arrival into Havana’s Jose Marti International Airport (HAV)

• Private ground transfers to/from Havana to Playa Larga and the Georgiana

• Six (6) nights accommodations aboard the mothership Georgiana (6 state rooms total aboard Georgiana)

• Six (6) full days of guided fishing

• Three meals per day while aboard the Georgiana 

• Eight (8) beverages per day while onboard Georgiana (including beer, soda, and bottled water)

• Taxes and GSTs  
  

What’s Not Included:

• International flights to Havana (HAV) from the U.S., Mexico or Canada (These can be arranged through Yellow Dog)

• Hotel nights, meals, drinks, taxis, tours, and any additional expenses while in Havana (Yellow Dog can arrange)

• Fishing tackle, equipment, flies and all terminal tackle 

• Cuban entrance visa (approx. USD $50.00)

• Gratuities for guides and staff 

• Bar tab and beverages over and above the 8 drinks per day (Group can opt for the all-inclusive bar tab at $200 per person)

Avalon Cuban Fishing Centers and Live-Aboards (Cuba)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS – CANCELLATIONS
Receipt of deposit and/or final payment is acknowledgment that registrant has read and accepts the deposit, cancellation, refund and responsibility clauses for these packages. For trips outside of 90 days, a 70% deposit is required within at the time of confirmation to hold all reservations and trip dates. For all Cuba trips less than 90 days out, full payment is required to secure reservations. Passport number, date of birth and full name (as printed in passport) is required to confirm any Cuba reservation. Payment for all Cuba trip must be made in US dollars and can be made using check, money order or wire transfer only (no credit card payments for Cuba trips will be accepted). All trip cancellations must be received in writing, sent to Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, LLC. and cancellations will incur a $250.00 USD per person Yellow Dog handling fee, regardless of timing or reason. For cancellations outside of 180 days from start of trip, trip payments are refundable minus an 800 EUROS per person cancellation fee charged by operator and a $250.00 USD per person fee charged by Yellow Dog. Inside of 180 days from start of trip, deposits and/or final payments are non-refundable and no credits will be issued unless Avalon and/or Yellow Dog are able to resell the trip(s) (in which case there will also be an 800 EUROS per person cancellation fee charged by operator and a $250.00 USD per person fee charged by Yellow Dog.) No refunds will be issued for unused portions of packages. Because of the operator’s strict cancellation policies, we highly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance. In no event will Avalon be responsible for any cancellation of services or operations due to inclement weather, any event of force majeure, airline delays or flight cancellations, or any other reason beyond the control of the operator. Avalon Outdoors will not refund payments in the event of poor weather. If your flights are cancelled and connections are missed, Avalon is not responsible for alternative travel arrangements including flights, hotels, meals and any other expenses incurred. Please note that credit card payments cannot be accepted for any incidentals or expenses once in Cuba. Once again, Yellow Dog strongly recommends that anglers and guests purchase travel insurance these Cuban packages.

Payment Terms for All Yellow Dog Trip Bookings  
Unless otherwise noted on your invoice, for all trips less than 90 days out, full payment is required after receipt of the confirmation email to secure guides and reservations. For trips outside of 90 days, a 50% deposit is required upon receipt of confirmation email to confirm your reservations.   

Yellow Dog accepts on-line payments via a secure payment portal – a quick and easy way to complete your trip reservation. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com to gain access. 

Yellow Dog Flyfishing Standard Forms of Payment 

• Debit card (fee-free) and credit card (3% convenience fee) - to pay via card please utilize the customer payment portal. If you need assistance, reach out to 406-585-8667 ext. #3 

• Wires - please include name and/or invoice number for reference on your wire. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com for wiring instructions. (client is responsible for wiring fees) 

• Physical check - please include your invoice number in the memo. Mail checks to 213 S. Willson Ave. Bozeman, MT, 59715

If you have any questions about alternate payment methods, please contact Yellow Dog at (406) 585-8667 ext. #3. We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM MT.