Santiago de Cuba - General Info
Description:
Located on the southeastern tip of Cuba, the mountain-encircled Bay of Santiago is connected to the Caribbean Sea and home to the 500-year-old city of the same name. A large seaport, the harbour contains a cruise ship dock and container terminal and pleasure vessels are only allowed into the harbour as far as Marina Marlin at Punta Gorda. The historic city of Santiago with its colourful colonial buildings, craft markets, music venues, cocktail bars, monuments, and parks is a ferry, car or bus ride away.
Cruiser Highlights:
Marina; clearance; ferry/bus to town; shopping; restaurants and bars; provisioning; tours; sightseeing; this is where the daiquiri was invented.
Entrance notes or cautions:
The entrance to the port is clearly marked by a large white lighthouse on the cliff top. This is also by the airport, which is invisible from the sea but you can see the planes take off and land. The channel is deep, around 10 to 13 metres for the commercial traffic, and is well buoyed. The Marlin Marina is reached by heading straight through the channel and then bearing to starboard, heading for a blue and white building. It is located in Gaspar Cove.
Position:
19° 58’N, 75° 52’21″W (entrance to the Bahia)
See this report for feedback from Cruisers who have visited this port.
Read and Post Related Comments
If you have information for this section, or feedback on businesses used, please let us know at editor@noonsite.com. We also welcome new information about businesses you have used (see Related Businesses).
Next Section: Profile: Clearance
Related to following destinations: Cuba, Santiago de Cuba
Port Navigation
Courtesy Flag Discounts
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.comMain Ports - Cuba
Courtesy Flag Discounts
YachtFlags.com provides high quality courtesy flags that are manufactured in durable Knitted Polyester fabric. Knitted so that the fabric itself does not deteriorate in the constant movement that marine flags are usually exposed to, and polyester so that the flag does not weaken in the strong UV-light usually found in the main sailing areas of the world.
YachtFlags.com offers a discount to Noonsite members.
Use the coupon code NOONSITE_5A2B when checking out to get 10% off today.
Buy Now On YachtFlags.com
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.