Marina Hemingway

Calle 248 y 5a Avenida
Santa Fe, La Habana
Cuba

• Bars/Cafe/Restaurants : Quayside
• Berths : 400 (see description)
• Chandlery : Yes
• Drinking Water : some berths
• Electricity : some berths
• Fuel : Fuel Berth
• Length Max : 69 metres
• Max Depth (M) : 3,6 metres
• Showers/Laundrette : Laundry
• Travel lift : Crane
• VHF : Chn 16, 72, 77

Marina Hemingway, Cuba
Hemingway marina is about 9 miles west of the islands capital Havana, about 15 minutes by taxi. The marina claims to have berths for around 400 vessels but in practise only about 25% of these are serviceable. The marina provides good shelter, has 24 hour security and hard standing.

Marina Hemingway is run by the governmental Cubanacán and is Cuba’s largest marina, there are some repair facilities and there are 4 restaurants within the marina.

The marina has a yacht club, The Hemingway Yacht Club, which has a informative web site. The marina is a Cuban port of entry.

The Entrance
The entrance can be tricky in anything other than calm conditions. There are reefs either side of the narrow entrance and breakers can be difficult to spot until close, at night lights are lost in the clutter of the towns lights.

Call marina on VHF close to entrance for advise, the marina office and reception is at the end of the middle of the three “land piers”

Formalities
At the end of the entrance channel, as you turn to port to enter the marina, is the customs berth where you need to report. When you get in contact with Cuban authorities, information needs be submitted.

After the information has been submitted, you should follow the instructions set by the authorities. Once you are moored, you should wait for the authorities who will make your arrival official to the Republic of Cuba with the visa issuance to each crew member. During your interview with the authorities, they will give you the rest of the information you need to know, and they will be willing to answer any question.

Marina Hemingway will likely be your first stop when arriving from south Florida. For some cruisers who plan on spending the entire winter in Cuba, Marina Hemingway often becomes their home base.

LOCATION

The marina is located in Santa Fe, roughly nine miles west of downtown Havana. It is comprised of a series of four canals each roughly 1/2 mile long. Boats will lay alongside the walls of the canal in an east/west orientation. (Tip: When docking have your hatches open toward the prevailing easterlies.) Water and electric power are offered at each dockage site. Note: The hurricanes of ’07 resulted in water rising more than a meter over the canal walls damaging the water and power infrastructure. Consequently, services have been sporadic and repairs to date have only been temporary.

AMENITIES
The marina complex covers a large area. In addition to the canals there is a large hotel with swimming pool. There a ship chandlery and a small grocery store and cigar store. If you need to change money you can do so in the Hotel Acuario. If you feel like North American food there is pizza place. You will also find a car rental agency. Hotel Acuario runs a bus into Havana for guests but boaters can ride too, especially if you tip the driver. Additional boat services include a fuel dock (diesel and gasoline) and a small boat yard with an on-site mechanic.

TV & INTERNET
It’s possible to hook up your own satellite TV dish but watching real life in Cuba is infinitely more interesting than regular TV programming. There is a TV in the Marina office which you may watch at any time. Internet is more problematic. The nearest access is in Hotel Acuario. The standard usage fee throughout Cuba is $6CuC for an hour and $3CuC for half an hour. Service in Cuba is very slow.

SECURITY
The main entrance into Marina Hemingway is off Avenida 5, the auto route into Havana. There is 24-hour security at this gate and also 24-hour dockside security at the canals. But the number of guards was greatly reduced in 2012. If leaving the boat for day trips or going out for the evening it is recommended that items on deck be stowed below and boats be locked when no one is aboard.