2026-2 | FALKEN | Cabo San Lucas-Costa Rica
(Note that we offer a % discount if you pay by cash/bank transfer.)
Another longer passage on FALKEN, and new destination in Costa Rica! Join FALKEN in Mexico for a 2,000+ mile offshore sail to Playa Flamingo on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.
The Passage
Rough itinerary
All 59º North passages are very much subject to weather. We pick our routes based on the "correct" time of year to be sailing in the different regions we visit, and we always build-in enough time to give us some margin for weather windows. The skipper has final say on departure dates and weather windows, but generally speaking, the intinerary for this passage will look like this:
January 31, 2026
Crew arrive to FALKEN at 1300 in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico. FALKEN orientation followed by crew dinner. All crew stay onboard FALKEN.
Prep Days
Between the joining and departure dates, all pre-passage preparation, provisioning, and safety briefings will be completed. The specific pre-departure schedule will be outlined and posted onboard FALKEN by the skipper.
February 2, 2026
Scheduled departure, weather dependent.
February 18, 2026
Latest date (12:00 noon) for crew to depart FALKEN from Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica.
PASSAGE DETAILS
The passage between Mexico and Costa Rica is planned as a non-stop passage. Costa Rica is a new destination for us and we are very excited to sail there with you all. If we would arrive earlier than the departure date to Costa Rica, you are welcome to stay onboard, or depart after we have cleaned up the boat and celebrated our arrival. We are not planning to cruise around Costa Rica on arrival but we may stop en route depending on the schedule and the weather.
TRAVEL LOGISTICS
San Jose del Cabo
Playa Flamingo
Weather conditions
Expect warm, tropical sailing with steady trade winds at your back for much of the passage, though the Gulf of Tehuantepec can kick up a lively, gusty stretch—overall a settled, downwind ride that should feel pleasant and brisk underway.
In-depth analysis, by WRI
WHY 59º NORTH?
ambitious sailing schedule
The best boats
WOMEN BUNKS GUARANTEED
Professional, well-paid staff
knowledge & community
Why it costs what it costs...
"I have so many great memories from this sailing experience, and so much of that was because of our skipper, Mary, and first mate, Delaney. Mary was incredible: approachable, present, knowledgeable, and always calm, with a quiet confidence that made everyone feel safe and comfortable. She frequently studied the GRIB files and always considered the best course of action to keep her crew happy and safe. She kept us informed each day with clear explanations of passage changes and weather. She never wavered in providing gentle reminders about safety on board. It never once crossed my mind that we were not in good hands. Delaney was equally wonderful. She and Mary were perfectly in sync as leaders, communicating calmly, respectfully, and often with great humor. Delaney was always smiling, quick to laugh, and showed clear respect for Mary’s decision-making while bringing her own steady presence to the crew. Virginia, our intern, and I spent less time together due to our shifts. However, in the few interactions we had, we shared some amazing life perspectives that I will always remember. Together, they created the full offshore sailing experience I hoped for: a combination of education, safety, leadership, and kindness. The only problem is that they have now set a very high bar for future sailing experiences. When I reflect back on the passage, I have no ‘glums’ at all."
"If you are thinking about reefing—reef! The same logic applies to sailing with Andy and Mia: if you are thinking about sailing with them, stop thinking and GO! Andy and Mia are great sailors, leaders, teachers, cooks, and warm, intelligent, accepting people. No matter how many blue water miles you have under your keel, you will be a better sailor after your trip on ISBJØRN."
"What an incredible experience! I am so grateful to have been on the leg from Reykjavik to Stornoway over the solar eclipse. ISBJØRN is an incredible ship—sturdy, safe, comfortable (not to mention her amazing and somewhat scandalous history!). Feeling ever grateful to 59º North for this journey."
"I’ve sailed with 59º North four times—each has been a unique and gratifying experience. Sailing with like-minded folks, captained by the best in the biz, in well-maintained vessels has been the highlight of my 40-year sailing career. I’ve learned so much about sailing and myself on my 59º North adventures."
"Adventure, education, majesty... I can't imagine a better pair to introduce people to the sublime enterprise of offshore sailing. This trip will always live amongst my cherished memories. Thank you!"
"I'm still processing everything I saw, felt, learned, and experienced over those 17 days, but there are a few things I wanted to express before the land sickness wears off and I return to my landlubber life. Your Skippers and Mates created an environment of calm, comfort, and confidence that washed away any apprehension I had about joining seven strangers on a 1600-mile round trip. I am blown away by their depth of knowledge, not only of sailing but also in teaching a crew of widely different experience levels without a hint of condescension. I would not hesitate to sail with them again, and we're already scoping out future dates on the cal."
"Our voyage was interesting because both ISBJØRN (which I was on) and ICEBEAR traveled the same route at roughly the same time. We had Matt Rutherford as our captain and Ben Doerr as first mate, and they were both chill, fun, and always happy to answer questions and provide advice. I feel I got the experience I need with the ocean and Gulf Stream to pilot my own boat from Florida to Bermuda in the future, which was exactly my goal. If you are looking for blue water sailing experience and a fun adventure, I highly recommend that you sign up with 59º North."
THE BOAT
Farr 65
'
FALKEN
'
🇬🇧
FALKEN is ideally set up for long-distance offshore sailing. We fully rebuilt the boat in 2022 to our exacting specifications and with the help of legendary yacht designer Bob Perry. She's comfortable belowdecks and each crew has their own dedicated sea berth & gear locker. On deck she has a huge cockpit which easily seats 10 people for our daily meals offshore, and allows for plenty of room to move about when handling lines and trimming sails. She's also easy to maintain, fast and fun to sail! FALKEN sails with 8 crew plus a Skipper & Mate and the occasional apprentice.
packing lists & notes
MEXICO-COSTA RICA: T-MINUS 1 DAY & COUNTING
LFG to Costa Rica!
MANY FIRSTS ONBOARD FALKEN
“Mary looked like she came out of a war zone.”
WAR STORIES & KITES
Kite Up!
ENJOYING THE ROUTINE
Apparently there's orcas in the Pacific.
LIGHT-WIND SAILING
The art of helming in no wind.
POSTCARD FROM CAMP FALKEN
Sleepaway camp for adults!
SHARED EXPERIENCES
The passage is memorable for the people you share it with.
SALTY SEA DOGS
Under promise. Over deliver.
MAKING FRIENDS AT SEA
After four days at sea, the conversation takes a deeper turn.
A CIRCUS OF ANIMAL ACTS
Manta rays & a new idea of the poop deck.
CUTTER RIGS & CREW APPRECIATION
A challenging passage offers bigger rewards.
THE LAST 24
“Dolphin rave, dolphin rave, everybody come to the dolphin rave.”