Basic food (eg. eggs, tomatoes) is available. Anything beyond that is hard to get. In the city, there are a few dollar shops which have a wider variety but has to be paid in CUC. In small towns, people will trade food for clothing (old t-shirt, bra, shoes) so bring plenty of these.
Beware of street vendors especially those selling cigars and rum. If the customs officer at the marina catches you with either and you do not have an official receipt from a state-owned store, everything will be confiscated.
It is advisable to head to Cuba very well stocked up as the majority of goods are hard to find or unavailable. Load up with bottled, canned and dried goods. Items that are just not available in Cuba are milk, butter, good bread, potatoes. Sugar and coffee are in very short supply. Rice and beans are rationed. Good cheese is not available.
Frozen chicken and pork are available in Cuba, as is fresh produce in season.
Toiletries are luxury items in Cuba. Stock up at home with soap, toilet roll, toothpaste, toothbrushes, disposable razors, clothes powder, shampoo & conditioner, pain relief, cough-syrup, antihistamine creams, antiseptic creams, mosquito smoke coils and repellent, plasters etc.
Beer and rum are available everywhere and is cheap. Wine and fizzy drinks are not.
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Hello, I have been a regular visitor to Cuba since before covid. It is true that the staff is friendly, no more intrusive customs visit with a dog. People are generally very friendly. However, due to recent changes and increasing poverty, the security is no more what it was. We have been advised by locals to avoid going out by night as it can be dangerous amid power cuts.
I had my boat on the dock at Cienfuegos marina for a month and was requested to leave the keys with the dockmaster. On my return I noticed some minor damage: a broken zip on the bimini and a theft: 2 boxes of cigars missing. It was definitely a mistake to hand over the keys. Cuba is no more what it was.
We arrived in Santiago de Cuba at the Santiago de Cuba International Marina (also known as Marlin Marina) on December 25, 2024.
Before our arrival, we contacted the marina manager, Ms. Elizabeth Horruitiner Guardia, via email at marina@marlin.scu.tur.cu and mercado@marlin.scu.tur.cu, as well as through WhatsApp at +53 5 9883748. We sent an email detailing our boat and crew, along with our estimated time of arrival (ETA). The channel entrance is well marked, and upon our arrival, the marina manager and her team, along with immigration, customs, and a doctor, were already at the dock waiting for us. We received a very warm and friendly welcome. Please note that the marina only responds to VHF calls when you are directly in front of the channel entrance.
Everyone came onboard, and the doctor asked general questions and filled out forms. Customs also asked general questions but did not check the boat. Afterwards, we went to their office, located just 50 meters away, to complete the crew check-in. Our passports were not stamped directly; instead, they stamped the arrival card to avoid any issues while traveling to the U.S. Customs inquired if we had drones onboard (we don’t), whether we had a satellite phone (we do), and if we had Starlink (we do). However, they didn’t take or seal anything—just noted it on their inventory list. The doctor also asked if we had morphine or opioid medications (we don’t). We completed the clearances within one hour.
For five crew members, we spent $200 USD for the doctor’s certificates and approximately $350 for immigration and customs clearance. We decided to stay docked at the marina pontoon, paying $75 USD per night, which included electricity and water.
Mr. Pablo is the Harbour Master, and Mr. Pochito (WhatsApp: +53 58327370) is the marina handyman/concierge. He can arrange taxis, shopping, tours of local sites, and meals. Note that he tends to overcharge, so it’s best to ask the price before accepting his services. He can also assist with exchanging money and obtaining a Cuban SIM card ($44 USD for a 10GB card).
Regarding fuel: there is a diesel station at the marina; however, the depth there is only 1.2 meters. Upon request and with prior booking, fuel can be brought to the boat in jerry cans, provided you supply them. The price of diesel was $1 USD per liter, payable only by credit card. Unfortunately, we were unable to buy fuel on the day we planned to refill due to a power outage, which prevented the use of the POS system.
Overall, we had a good experience. We met many nice and friendly people, and Santiago de Cuba is a lovely place to visit. However, it’s not worth spending more than 48 hours there, especially because of the unpleasant odor from the power plant chimney.
thanks for the update. most helpful
Marina Marlin, Punta Gorda
The guide book says to call the Morro de Santiago De Cuba at 12 miles out, we radioed nearer than that but no response. In the reports I’ve read nobody seems to have received a reply to their calls. We radioed the marina on approach but again no response until the marina was in full sight. They call themselves Marina Marlin.
Alex from Marina Marlin was on the radio telling me he was standing on the East pontoon waving to us. I quickly readied fenders (very high) to our port side and put lines on. By this time there were 3 men on the pontoon ready to take our lines. They were very welcoming and Alex spoke good English. He said that there were radio issues today in this area.
We had to wait on the boat for the officials. 10 minutes later and the doctor arrived, he spoke reasonable English, a few questions, a beer and a thermometer later we were given the all clear. We could take down the Q flag and put up the Cuba flag. The doctor said, do not drink the water in the marina.
There was another boat clearing in so we had to wait a few hours for the customs and immigration but they sent someone to explain there would be a wait and they took our passports. So 2 hours after arrival we were escorted from the boat to the office along with our boat papers.
The radio was sat on the side of the desk but not switched on. The process took about 45 minutes and they also issued our visas, they offered to stamp our ( British) passports, but when he saw our US visa’s he said it was best not to do so. The cost was 75 CUC each for the visas and 55 CUC for the process.
Alex in the marina said that this should be paid upon the issue so we told him that as soon as we get to the ATM we will pay. Nobody came aboard our boat to inspect it, although there were sniffer dogs around.
The hotel is right next door and the security guards will unlock the gate for you to go through to the hotel. Go past the bar and up the stairs to the reception, we managed to exchange euros for CUC and CUP.
We ate in the hotel restaurant a few times, limited menu but the food was excellent. There is also a small bar in the marina, run by Wilson.
We were told there is diesel available but only by Jerry can, this is because the pontoon has been destroyed. 1 CUC per litre and has to be paid for at the time of issue, can’t be added to your bill.
The “officials” walking around were marina staff, security guards and some customs and immigration staff who were mostly at a loose end. All lovely friendly people.
Toilets were clean, but no toilet paper or soap. Only one shower with a shower head in the ladies. No charge for rubbish.
Taxi to the city was 10 CUC, but you can also get the ferry for 1 CUC but the ferry leaves the marina at 6a m, 12 noon and then returns from the city docks at 6 pm.
We removed all the brown spot stains from the boat by washing with oxalic acid diluted with water and leaving for 5 mins, they came off quite easily.
Clearing out took about 25 minutes and we were ready to leave at our allotted time. All very efficient and pleasant. Definitely worth a visit.
Reported by Dietmar Segner of SY Greyhound:
Santiago/Marina Punta Gorda:
Marina price was 1 CUC per foot (including water and 110V/220V electricity) which is excessive for the quality of the marina.
Garbage bags are charged at 5 CUC a piece without regard to size; so bring big bags.
The marina showers/toilets are places to avoid. Most of the shower heads and mixing batteries are missing. There are no lights, no toilet paper, no cleaning.
A good alternative is a toilet in the hotel next door, where there is also WiFi internet and sale of internet voucher cards.
Diesel was not available.
The staff are friendly, but the huge number of officials continuously cruising the piers is a bit of a turn-down.
Note: The concrete ruins of a swimming basin in the middle of the harbour basin poses a risk during manoeuvring.
Local travel: There is a ferry leaving about 200m from the marina to downtown Santiago. It costs 1 CUC each way and takes about 35 minutes and is much nicer than expensive taxis or the unreliable public bus.
Posted on behalf of SY Calliope:
In Santiago, there is a family who lives just outside the marina who promise all sorts of things, but when they tried to overcharge us for a trip into town, we realised they were not to be trusted.