Abstract. We derive an asymptotic expression for the number of cubic maps on orientable surfaces when the genus is proportional to the number of vertices. Let Σ_g denote the orientable surface of genus g and θ=g/n∈ (0,1/2). Given g,n∈ ℕ with g→ ∞ and n/2-g→ ∞ as n→ ∞, the number C_{n,g} of cubic maps on Σ_g with 2n vertices satisfies C_{n,g} ∼ (g!)² α(θ) β(θ)ⁿ γ(θ)^{2g}, as g→ ∞, where α(θ),β(θ),γ(θ) are differentiable functions in (0,1/2). This also leads to the asymptotic number of triangulations (as the dual of cubic maps) with large genus. When g/n lies in a closed subinterval of (0,1/2), the asymptotic formula can be obtained using a local limit theorem. The saddle-point method is applied when g/n→ 0 or g/n→ 1/2.