Vienna: two weeks cruising in the Los Canarreos archipelago, in Cuba.

July 2017. We had just taken possession of our Lagoon 450. Its liveability was perfect for the crew of 4 adults and 6 children; as a bonus, we had embarked a few toys – two paddle boards and a canoe. The first stop was Cayo Sal, a calm, uninhabited island, where we experienced our first dives in the crystal-clear Cuban waters - a real aquarium! The stopovers followed one another: Cayo Largo and its white sand beaches, the Los Ballenatos reef, Cayo Rico, Cayo Cantiles, Cayo Rosario, Cayo Campos, then return to Cayo Largo. Our favorites? There are many. Cayo Campos is a remote little paradise, where we stayed alone in the anchorage for three days, with Daniel and Juan Carlos, the island’s two wardens. The reefs of Los Ballenatos, south of Cayo Largo, offer incredible underwater scenery and an extremely rich marine fauna – nurse sharks, rays, parrot fish, multi-colored, a large variety of coral, and an abundance of lobsters. Don’t hesitate to put a few bottles of rum in the provisions, as barter works well with the fishermen: 5 lobsters for a bottle, and it’s much easier than trying to catch them! Further on, Playa Sirena is probably one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The Cayo Largo rescue centre entrusted us with 81 baby turtles, which we released with our children on a deserted beach; it will remain a unique and unforgettable memory. Navigation is finally quite easy in Cuba, despite the reefs; it’s ideal for the children (we had 6 aboard, from 3 to 15), and the Cubans are extremely warm and welcoming.

Who: The Lauryben family

Where: South coast of Cuba

Boat: Lagoon 450 F (Dream Yacht Charter)

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