Cienfuegos - Docking
Anchoring:
Yachts may only anchor in the designated area to the west of the marina and may only land at the marina. Good holding, but exposed to wind and tide. It’s possible to get internet at anchor.
The cost of anchoring is $.30/ft, charged by the marina.
When going ashore, dinghies can be left on the beach inside the Marina fenced perimeter, which is secure, or at a rather wobbly dinghy dock. The anchoring fee includes use of the marina bathroom facilities (which are basic) and has a security patrol through the anchored boats at night.
Marina
The marina here is open to transient boats but is very small and active with four charter companies operating there. Generally, a berth can be found during the week, Monday to Friday (and perhaps at weekends too, although this is when the charter companies turn around) – best to call the marina in advance to check for space.
The marina has good solid concrete berths and new floating pontoons, however, with a strong Southerly wind, there tends to be some swell. All personnel speak good English. The channel to the marina is well marked.
The Yacht Club is used exclusively by charter boats and is closed to transient vessels.
A short walk from the marina is the place where everybody goes out in the evening and there is music playing here. In addition, right next to the marina and Anchorage is the Cienfuegos Club which plays very loud music at night, making it difficult to sleep.
Security
Whilst marina staff do make security patrols of the pontoons and anchorage day and night, there have unfortunately been incidents of theft around the marina and anchored yachts (last report February 2022 when snorkelling gear was stolen from an unlocked cockpit locker while the owners were absent). As with everywhere, secure your valuables. Be sure to lift and lock your dinghy at night, secure your outboard and carry a minimum amount of gas in your dinghy tank.
Photos courtesy of Mary Buchanan who visited Cienfuegos in 2015.
Last updated: February 2022
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New crew luggage had to go through a quick inspection before coming on-board. Provisioning on a Monday is not a good idea because apparently on Mondays you cannot buy fruits and vegetables. (weird!)
Reported May 24th on Cuba Land & Sea Facebook Group:
We are currently in Cienfuegos and are sadly reporting that a dinghy raised on the davits at night on a Catamaran at anchor was cut away. The dinghy was not locked but found the next day with its 15hp outboard missing.
We stopped locking our dinghy in Grand Cayman after a month there and it was stolen. Just a reminder to lock and lock your dinghy.
From Cuba Cruisers Facebook Page:
Just be aware that petty theft has been occurring around the marina in Cienfuegos. Be sure to lift and lock your dinghy at night and carry a minimum amount of gas in your dinghy tank. A couple of guys swam out to our friend’s boat and tried to cut their dinghy loose but were unable to saw through the cable.
I had my dinghy tank drained in broad daylight when I went ashore. The dinghy dock was moved to directly in front of the security guards because I raised holy hell and filed an official written complaint with the marina.
Update on Cienfuegos Fees:
Arrival fees were 55CUC, normally payable by card except when it is raining.
immigration fees were 15CUC per person. These have to be paid in cash but you are not allowed to go and get cash until you have a visa! After some discussion, we were allowed to go to the Jagua hotel a few minutes away to change US$ at a fairly unfavourable rate.
There are no departure fees.
No “gifts” were solicited by or offered to any of the officials.
Fees for anchoring are 0.20 CUC per foot per day which includes the use of the fairly run down showers and toilets and using the recently refurbished dinghy dock.
In the marina fees range from 0.55 CUC per foot per day for a boat of under 45ft, to 70 cents CUC per foot per day for a boat of over 100 ft. with lower rates for longer periods.
Water is metered and costs 5CUC per cubic meter. and electricity is 0.45 CUC per kWh.
Diesel is 1.10CUC/ltr.