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JARDINES DE LA REINA

OVERVIEW

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Jardines de la Reina (Gardens of the Queen) is located south of the Camaguey Province and 60 miles off of the southern coast. This vast Marine Park, which is bigger in size than the Florida Keys, is ideal for the fly-fisherman who wishes to live and experience fishing from dawn till dusk. Here, more fishing hours are offered than perhaps any other destination in the world. It is an ideal location for beginners and also for hardcore anglers. Being a little further away from the main island, all the accommodations are live aboard, Avalon Fleet II, Perola yacht, Halcon, and a floating hotel (La Tortuga). 

 

 

QUICK FACTS

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LOCATION:  Jardines de la Reina (Gardens of the Queen), Cuba

SEASONALITY:   Mid October through late August

TARGET SPECIES:  Permit, Bonefish, Migratory Tarpon, Jack Crevalle, Snook, Snapper, Barracuda, among other species.

AVALON FLEET II

CAPACITY:  Up to 16 anglers per week

ACCOMMODATIONS:  Features 10 luxury state-rooms, with specious dining and living areas.

PEROLA

CAPACITY:  Up to 8 anglers per week

ACCOMMODATIONS:  Ideal for smaller groups of anglers, this vessel accommodates 8 anglers in 4 state-rooms.

HALCON

CAPACITY:  Up to 8 anglers per week

ACCOMMODATIONS:  Features 6 state-rooms and three bathrooms, as well as ample dining and living spaces.

TORTUGA

CAPACITY:  Up to 14 anglers per week

ACCOMMODATIONS:  This double decker floating hotel has seven guest cabins that accommodate up to 14 anglers.

  • FISHING
    Many species inhabit the waters of Ascension Bay and the nearby Boca Paila Lagoon, where fishing is also done. This provides multiple fishing opportunities to the angler. Many anglers travel to this destination in order to catch Permit, the holy grail of saltwater fly fishing, however, Tarpon, Bonefish, Snook, Jacks and other species are prominent in the area as well and propose unique challenges to the angler. When fishing at the Grand Slam Lodge, each angler is accompanied by one professional, English-speaking guide, this means that, unlike normal flats fishing, if two anglers fish in the same boat, two professional guides will accompany them, providing an unmatched experience for the angler. This one angler to one guide ratio is key when sight-fishing the flats, making more shots result in fish. Although the length of stay can be modified to fit your needs, most guests stay for a full week, arriving Saturday and leaving the next Saturday. Staying a full week provides better fishing opportunities, especially when chasing Permit. More fishing days also acts as a safety net in case that you experience inclement weather.
  • WHEN TO GO
    The Grand Slam Lodge is the only lodge that operates in Ascension Bay year-round. Winter and fall months are usually humid and relatively hot, they provide stable weather for the most part, with occasional cold fronts during the season. Summertime also provides great fishing conditions. Usually, more stable conditions with less wind are met during the summer months. It is considerably warmer, and you have to keep an eye out for hurricanes, however, they do not hit this area regularly. Spring is usually very calm weather-wise. Many anglers visit during this time, book early to reserve your dates! Most days are sunny and occasional wind patterns are sometimes present during the season.
  • ACCOMODATIONS
    The Lodge is located on its own private beach, which is perfect for taking a stroll, a swim or relaxing after a long fishing day. The staff and the managers at the Grand Slam Fishing lodge are very nice, and they'll make sure you have the trip of a lifetime! At the Grand Slam Fishing Lodge, you are truly in the best hands. The Grand Slam Lodge features luxury accommodations and is a great destination for couples or families. There are twelve ample rooms that can accommodate a maximum of 24 anglers in 12 private villas per week. The rooms are very comfortable and feature fully equipped bathrooms with two sinks, televisions with satellite cable, an in-room jacuzzi, safe, telephone, coffee maker, closet, minibar, air conditioning, and two king-size beds. The lodge also has an excellent restaurant area that serves delicious local food and has a bar, where you can enjoy some drinks and swap fish stories with other anglers after a great fishing day. There is Wi-Fi in the restaurant area of the lodge, however, there is none in the rooms, electricity is available at all times at the Grand Slam Lodge.
  • GETTING THERE
    To get to the Grand Slam Lodge, guests will fly into the Cancun International Airport (CUN) and arrive before 2:00PM. There, guests will be met by their driver outside the airport terminal. They will load their gear into a van and drive approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes to the Ultimo Maya Dock, where you will get into a fishing boat with your bags. The boat ride takes approximately an hour to get to the Grand Slam Lodge. There is no fishing during your arrival day, however, it can be arranged at an additional cost.
  • IS THE GRAND SLAM LODGE RIGHT FOR YOU?
    Ascension Bay accommodates anglers of all experience levels, but this is an ideal destination for the beginner fly fisherman especially since it allows both conventional and fly fishing. Wading is done, but long walks on the flats are not common. This being said, not an extreme degree of physical condition is needed to visit the flats of Ascension Bay. Couples and families are also very welcome to the lodge! The luxurious Grand Slam Lodge provides optimum comfort for non-angling guests, and they can enjoy multiple activities besides fishing, such as snorkeling, swimming, visiting nearby Mayan archaeological sites, bird watching and visiting the local town of Punta Allen.
  • NON-ANGLING ACTIVITIES
    Ascension Bay and the Boca Paila Lagoon are located in the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The reserve extends for more than 1.3 million acres and holds many opportunities for the angler as well as the non-angler. Non-angling guests can relax at the luxurious lodge and enjoy the many activities that can be done while at the Grand Slam Lodge, such as snorkeling, seaside massages, swimming, visiting nearby Mayan archaeological sites, bird watching and visiting the local town of Punta Allen. Some of these activities may require an additional payment. Please inquire about these activities in order to arrange them in advance and ensure that everything will be in organized and flow smoothly during your trip.
  • RATES

Are you ready to book your trip or need more information?

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