In 1978 Cuba re-named the Isle of Pines Isla de la Juventud, the Isle of Youth for the many children that were coming to the island from around the world to advance their education. Thousands of children, mostly teenagers, came to study for 4-5 years. At one time 27,000 children from a variety of African and Asian countries studied there and were housed in large dormitories built mainly in the area close to Gerona. A few thousand visiting children still live and study on the Isle of Youth, mainly from Arabic countries.

Near Gerona and between Hotel Rancho and the marina, you will see some high hills that are mined for marble. You'll be able to see these distinctive hills thirty miles away when out on the saltwater flats.

There are some good local beaches in Gerona but the sand is darker here than you'll see at the beaches on the west side of the island at Punta Francis, or along the southern side of the island system where we are fishing, where the sand is almost pure white.

Cubans in the Isle of Youth are a friendly and fun loving bunch, and turn out in droves for the big festivals held in Gerona during January and again in March.