Isla Juventud (Cuba): photos and reviews. Isla Juventud (Cuba): photos and reviews The main city is Nueva Gerona

Located 100 km from the coast of the country. Area - 2,200 km².

Isle of Juventud in different translations means Island of Youth or Island of Youth.

The island became known to Europeans after it was discovered by Columbus in 1494 and was declared Spanish territory. Following the victory of the United States in the Spanish-American War, Spain was forced to renounce its claims to Cuba. At the same time, the island was not mentioned in the agreement that defined the borders of Cuba, which caused disputes between newly independent Cuba and the United States over the ownership of the island. In 1907, the US Supreme Court ruled that the island did not belong to the United States, and in 1925, a final agreement on its ownership was signed between the United States and Cuba.

Many pages of Cuban history are connected with the island of Juventud. Jose Marti lived here in exile. After the storming of the Moncada barracks, Fidel Castro and his fellow fighters were imprisoned on the island. After the victory of the 1959 revolution, the island became a place of exile for those who disagreed with the policies of the authorities, as well as prostitutes. Several of the island's prisons are now museums.

The island is one of Cuba's main agricultural provinces. Citrus fruits, including those for export, and vegetables are grown here.

Juventud is popular among sport fishing and diving enthusiasts. There are many beaches here that are popular with tourists.

Attractions of Isla Juventud

Presidio Modelo Prison- Infamous since its inception in the 20s of the 20th century, this prison is a copy of the American prison "Joliet", Illinois. It has four circular galleries of five levels each, and was designed for 6,000 prisoners. The current President of Cuba, Fidel Castro, and a group of his comrades served their prison sentence here after they stormed the Moncada barracks in Santiago de Cuba on July 26, 1953.

The last prisoner left the prison in 1967. Currently, on the territory of the prison, which has been declared a national monument, a museum has been organized, the exhibition of which is dedicated to the assault and underground activities of the Cuban leader. The old prison administration building now houses a school.

El Abra– this estate, which became a museum, belonged to the Catalan and national hero of Cuba, Jose Marti, who lived here for some time after his release from prison, where he was imprisoned for his political ideas.

Natural Reserve of Los Indios - San Felipe- is located in the eastern part of the island of Juventud and is interesting for its highly endemic flora and fauna.

Bibijagua Beach– located near the city of Nueva Gerona, this beach differs from other beaches on the island because of the black color of its sand - this is a consequence of the erosive effect of the sea on the basalt rocks.

Punta del Este- This is a one and a half kilometer long beach, considered the best on the southern coast of the island of Juventud, and a terrace made of limestone rocks, allowing you to admire the amazing scenery. In addition, there is a cave in which approximately 200 rock paintings of the ancient inhabitants of the island were discovered.

Punta Frances is a national marine park located in the southwest of the island. It is notable for the beauty of its landscapes and small beaches, which lie protected by coral barriers and are separated by coastal rocks and cliffs.

Who among you has not read "Treasure Island" - the exciting novel by Robert Louis Stevenson? It turns out that the island discussed in the novel is not a figment of the imagination of a famous writer, but actually exists. This - Pinos island.

In the Caribbean Sea, off the southern coast of Cuba, there is a small group of Cuban islands. Juventud is the largest of them. Until August 1978 it was known as Pinos Island. If you compare the map of the island in Stevenson’s novel with the map drawn up in the 18th century, you can see significant similarities in their outlines. It is believed that it was on the shores of the island of Pinos that the events that formed the basis of the adventure novel took place.

Discovered in 1494 by Christopher Columbus, the Spaniards named this picturesque piece of land Isla de Pinos ("Pine Island"). Having destroyed the local residents and made sure that there was no gold on the island, the Spanish invaders lost interest in it.

From the second half of the 16th century. The once peaceful island of Pinos became a haven for pirates, who carried out countless attacks on Spanish caravans from here in the Caribbean Sea.

Pinos Island was a base for pirates of all nationalities for almost 300 years and saw all the representatives of the sea robber brethren who sailed under the “Jolly Rogers” - Drake, Morgan, Dampier, Ohlone, Hall and many others. On the island of Pinos they rested after their bloody deeds and buried the stolen goods. Such hiding places were kept deeply secret and marked on special maps.

Stevenson had never been to Pinos Island. Perhaps he used descriptions of it in the travel notes of F. Drake and G. Morgan published in England.

It was only in 1830, after pirate rule, that the island of Pinos again passed into Spanish hands. The Spaniards turned it into a place of exile. So the island of Pinos became a prison island.

When Spain lost its possessions and the island of Pinos became part of Cuba, little changed - it continued to be a place of exile. Except that a large number of adventurers appeared who, using ancient maps yellowed by time, vainly searched for treasures once hidden by pirates. One of the expeditions found many ancient gold and silver coins on a sunken galleon.

In the second half of the 20th century. the terrible prisons of the island of Pinos were eliminated forever, and the fertile, once wetlands were turned into a blooming garden. Hundreds of hectares of citrus plantations became the beauty of this piece of land. Two dozen reservoirs built on numerous small rivers irrigate them during the dry season. In addition, pineapples and bananas are grown on the island, and livestock farming and fishing are practiced. Hundreds of kilometers of beautiful highways have been laid on the island of Pinos, deposits are being developed

Look at the map: in the Caribbean Sea, near the southern coast Republic of Cuba There is a small group of islands belonging to this country. The largest of them is the island Juventud which until recently was known as the island Pinos.

It is believed that it was on the shores of this island that the events that formed the basis of Stevenson’s exciting novel “Treasure Island” took place. Before the discovery of America, a small Indian tribe lived on the island, engaged in agriculture and fishing.

Isla de Pinos (“Island of Piny”) - that’s what the Spaniards called this picturesque piece of land, discovered in 1494 by themselves Christopher Columbus.
The Spanish invaders completely destroyed the local residents and part of the coniferous forests - the beauty of the island. But soon, having realized that there was no gold on Pinos, they lost interest in it.

However, the island did not remain “ownerless” for long. Located near the Yucatan Strait, on the routes along which large flotillas with valuables looted by the colonialists from the enslaved peoples of South America went to Spain, the once peaceful island of Pinos from the second half of the 16th century became a haven for filibusters, who from here carried out countless attacks not only on Spanish caravans , but also to the major commercial ports of the Caribbean.

Almost 300 years, similar Tortuga, Pinos was a supply base for pirates of all nationalities, an arena for the famous “gentlemen of fortune”, a place for anchorage and repair of their ships, drinking water supplies, and timber harvesting.

Pinos has seen, one might say, all the superstars of the ominous sea
robber brethren - Drake, Morgan, Dampier, Ohlone, Hall, Baskerville, Rock Brazilians and many others who sailed under the pirate flag. On the island they rested after their bloody deeds.

Having come to their senses, Spain more than once tried in vain to destroy the pirate lair on Pinos. But it was not until 1830, after nearly 300 years of pirate rule, that the island returned to Spanish hands. However, the colonialists did not find a better use for the island than to turn it into a place of imprisonment and exile. Thus, to the ominous glory of the pirate nest of Pinos was added the gloomy glory of the prison island, the island of suffering. Fighters against Spanish enslavement languished here in dark and damp casemates. Among them was the outstanding Cuban revolutionary Jose Marti.

Little changed when Spain lost its
American possessions, and the island of Pinos became part of Cuba, a formally independent country, but in fact a semi-colony of the United States of America. The only major structure at that time was the so-called "model prison", built at the foot of the Sierra de Cabalos mountain next to the quarry. Here the patriots of a new generation of fighters for Cuban independence continued to suffer. In 1953, Fidel Castro Ruz was in prison.

In general, on the island, which has turned into a kind of
"Cuban Siberia", nothing has changed. Except that a large number of foreign, mainly American, adventurers appeared, who, using ancient maps, yellowed by time, vainly searched for treasures once hidden by pirates. One of these maps was accompanied by an explanatory text, which stated that in some cave there was a treasure worth a total of 20 million piastres. And in total, several Spanish galleons with treasures are believed to rest in the depths of the sea off the island.

Unlike land treasure seekers, sea treasure hunters were more fortunate. One of the expeditions found many ancient gold and silver coins on a sunken galleon.

In 1958, a large hotel for tourists was built here, in the lobby of which there is a mosaic panel depicting a scene from Treasure Island.

In 1959, a new history of the island began. Horrible prisons
were eliminated forever, and the fertile, once wetlands were turned into a blooming garden.

Those who have recently visited Pinos compare it to a bright green emerald framed by the azure waters of the Caribbean Sea. Hundreds of hectares of citrus plantations have become the beauty of a until recently abandoned piece of land. Two dozen reservoirs built on numerous small rivers irrigate them during the dry season. In addition, pineapples and bananas are grown on the island, and livestock farming and fishing are practiced. Instead of former difficult paths, hundreds of kilometers of beautiful highways have been laid on the island, and deposits of marble and tungsten ore are being developed.

Currently, 70 thousand people live on the island.

Relax on wonderful beaches (also the only ones in the world
beaches of red and black sand), tourists from different countries come to fish, travel and improve their health in comfortable sanatoriums. Only the exhibits in the museum of the administrative center of Nueva Gerona remind us of the distant times of the filibusters.

In recognition of the services of the youth of the republic in transforming this corner of Cuban land, in August 1978, during the XI World Festival of Youth and Students, the island of Pinos received a new name - Juventud ("island of youth").

Isla Juventud is located 70 km off the southern coast of Cuba. The second largest archipelago is steeped in stories of sea piracy and treasure chests. It once served as a refuge for such famous corsairs as Henry Morgan and Francis Drake. Legends also say that Juventud became the prototype for Stevenson’s “Treasure Island”. True treasures were found here only once, and today they are replaced by the fertile lands of the island, where tropical fruits grow for export. The capital, Nueva Gerona, is more of a village, but a touch of the countryside is present in many cities in Cuba. Tourists here are attracted by the local beaches and the remains of colonial buildings, and for divers there are some of the best spots in the world. Lying on the sand in Juventud can easily be varied with walks around local attractions, and you can get a boost of delicious vitamins from absolutely luxurious local fruits.

Flights to Isla Juventud

Departure city
 Enter your departure city

Arrival city
 Enter your city of arrival

There
!

Back
!



Adults

 1 

Children

Up to 2 years

 0 

Up to 12 years

 0 

Find a ticket

Calendar of low prices for air tickets

How to get to Isla Juventud

The most convenient way to get to Isla Juventud is by plane or ferry from Havana. Cubana de Aviación operates flights between Havana and the capital of the island, Nueva Gerona, three times a day. Tickets can be easily purchased at the company's office - more details on the official website. Ferries and catamarans depart from Batabano Harbour, which can be reached by bus from Terminal 10 at Plaza de la Revolutión. The journey to the pier will take at least 1 hour 30 minutes, and the journey to Juventud will take about 2-3 hours. You can get on the ship every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 08:30 and 14:30.

Hotels on Isla Juventud

City
 Enter the name of the city

arrival date
!

date of departure
!



Adults

 1 

Children

 0 

Find a hotel

In Juventud, everything that is proudly called attractions can be found in the capital and its surroundings. Some wooden buildings remain from the American invasion, and traditional colonial architecture from the British. The main place to visit is the Presidio Modelo prison, 20 km from the city, whose prisoner was Fidel Castro himself. Now it houses the Museum of Revolutionary Struggle. The exposition of pirate trade is located on the ancient ship El Pinero, which itself once served as filibusters. It will most likely appeal to children and very romantic people.

Connoisseurs of flora and fauna should visit the Los Indios-San Felipe Natural Reserve in the eastern part of the island, where pristine tropical forests lie. More interesting animals can be found only at a crocodile farm 30 km south of the capital and a turtle nursery in the town of La Faye. The best beach in Juventud is called Punta del Este, and, in addition to the stunning landscapes, it is interesting for its cave with a collection of rock paintings. The dream of all divers is the El Colony dive center located on the west coast. Suffice it to say that the island has 56 dive sites, including shipwrecks.

There are quite a few nice places in Juventud, but it is better to limit its exploration to an excursion for a couple of days. Accommodation on this island will not be as atmospheric as in Havana or Varadero. Having tried your luck in searching for treasures, you can return to the island once again in the pages of Stevenson’s immortal work.

Shopping on Isla Juventud

The main part of the shops, bars and restaurants is located on Calle 39. There is also a gallery (La Galería), which exhibits the work of local artists. Entry is free. There are also small souvenir shops at hotels. The assortment includes the standard Cuban set of cigars, rum and various craft products.

Diving on Isla Juventud

Caribbean Treasure Island is considered one of the best diving destinations. The island is home to the Punta Frances Marine Park with coral reefs, caves and tropical fish. Not only professional divers, but also beginner scuba divers, as well as all fans of sport hunting, ecotourism and underwater photography come here.

There are a total of 56 interesting diving spots on the island, including places where ancient ships are well preserved. Advanced divers will be interested in diving in Pared de Coral Negro with an abundance of black corals, the blue grottoes of Cueva Azul and the walls of Lon Indios with huge schools of fish. The Jibacoa and Sparta wrecks lie in shallow waters and are suitable for all levels, and the best location for macro photography is at El Cabezo.

Clear water and shallow diving depth allow sunlight to penetrate and provide a good overview. Of the marine life, turtles, stingrays, barracudas, cat sharks, perches, lobsters, crabs and shrimps are found almost everywhere.

Within the park there is the international diving center El Coloni, equipped with all the necessary equipment. The center also has its own hotel and an excellent beach with fine white sand. Usually no more than 2 dives are made per day, the price for 1 is about 39 cookies, 2 will cost 78 cookies. If diving is the main mission when visiting Juventud, then you simply cannot find a better place on the island. Here, a trip to the underwater world is pleasant to alternate with relaxing on the beach in the company of a mojito. The capital of the island is quite far from El Colonie, but excursion trips to explore the city will be quite enough.

Isla Juventud is a large island in the Caribbean Sea. It is part of the Los Canarreos archipelago. The island is famous for its white beaches and rich history. The name of the island is translated into Russian as “island of youth”.

Isla Juventud is the second largest island that is part of the Cuban Republic.

It was discovered by Christopher Columbus on his second voyage in 1494. Later, pirates settled here and made the island their base. It was Juventud that became the prototype of Treasure Island in the novel of the same name by Robert Stevenson. The island has left its mark on modern history - in the local prison Presidio Modelo in the early fifties, the permanent leader of Cuba, Fidel Castro, served his sentence for two years.

Gold and marble are mined on the island of Juventud. Citrus fruits and vegetables are grown on local plantations.

The island has many beaches and diving centers. Natural lagoons and underwater caves make Juventud an interesting place to explore the underwater world.

Caves with Indian rock art

According to one story, at the beginning of the 20th century, a shipwrecked sailor climbed ashore off the island of Juventud. In search of refuge, he discovered a number of caves that became his refuge, and at the same time discovered the main attraction of the island - Indian rock paintings created in the pre-Columbian period. The black and red pictogram designs represent concentric circles through which arrows pass, pointing to the east. Perhaps these drawings represent a solar calendar. The main cave is called the Sistine Chapel.

In addition, there are still legends that pirate treasures are buried on the island. Or hidden in caves.

What attractions of Juventud did you like? Next to the photo there are icons, by clicking on which you can rate a particular place.

Presidio Modelo Prison

The Presidio Modelo prison, located 5 kilometers from the city of Nueva Gerona, was built in 1926-1931 in the form of a circular gallery of four five-level buildings and was intended to hold 6,000 prisoners. From 1953 to 1955, Fidel Castro, the future president of Cuba, was imprisoned here along with 25 of his comrades after the famous storming of the Moncada barracks in the city of Santiago de Cuba on July 26, 1953, in cell 3859.

The prison existed until 1967. Now on the territory of the former prison, declared a national monument of Cuba, there is a museum, the main exhibitions of which tell about the events of July 1953. There is a school in the administrative building.

The most popular attractions of Juventud with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose the best places to visit famous places in Juventud on our website.