2026-2A | FALKEN | Isla del Coco Mission
(Note that we offer a % discount if you pay by cash/bank transfer.)
Isla del Coco, or Cocos Island, sits in the Pacific Ocean, roughly 300 nautical miles off Costa Rica’s coast. Uninhabited and shrouded in mist, it’s one of the most remote and pristine national parks on Earth — a UNESCO World Heritage Site protected for its staggering biodiversity both above and below the surface. The island’s steep volcanic cliffs, covered in dense rainforest, rise straight from the sea, fed by dozens of waterfalls that tumble down into turquoise bays. It’s often called the Galápagos of Central America, home to unique species of birds, insects, and marine life that exist nowhere else. Hammerhead sharks, giant mantas, whale sharks, and massive schools of fish make its surrounding waters one of the world’s most famous diving destinations.
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:
February 23, 2026
Crew arrive to FALKEN at 1300 in Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica. 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 25, 2026
Scheduled departure, weather dependent.
March 4, 2026
Latest date (12:00 noon) for crew to depart FALKEN from Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica.
PASSAGE DETAILS
We are working on the final logistics and will have more detailed information after the new year. You’ll arrive to FALKEN in Costa Rica, and after our standard safety briefings and boat orientation, we’ll set sail for Isla del Coco. Depending on the timing of the passage and the weather, we’ll spend around two days at the island before we sail back to Costa Rica. Cocos Island is extremely remote and very restricted as a National Park, so access to the island is limited. We’re working on the details of the permits and will get back to you with info as we have it.
Cocos Island has also achieved a kind of mythic status in pop culture. Its wild, prehistoric beauty inspired Michael Crichton and Steven Spielberg when they were imagining Isla Nublar, the fictional island in Jurassic Park. Though the movie wasn’t filmed there, Crichton cited Cocos as the model — a remote, storm-lashed Pacific island cloaked in jungle and mystery. In real life, it’s every bit as cinematic: its cloud forest canopy, thunderous surf, and haunting isolation make it easy to picture a dinosaur rounding the next bend.
Cocos is one of those "you have to sail there to fully experience it" landfalls scattered around the world, and because of it's remoteness, perhaps the most unique. There are no hotels, no marinas, and no permanent residents, just a small ranger station tucked into Chatham Bay. The reward after about two days at sea is extraordinary: dropping anchor off a place so wild and alive it feels like time has stopped. To arrive there by sail — propelled only by wind, guided by the same navigational instincts as the explorers and pirates who once sought refuge there — is to experience Cocos the way it was meant to be experienced: as a hard-won frontier at the edge of the world.
TRAVEL LOGISTICS
Playa Flamingo
Weather conditions
Late February around Flamingo usually serves up classic dry-season sailing—warm, sunny days, steady offshore breezes that can pipe up lively in the afternoons, and generally settled conditions, though you'll want to keep an eye out for those gusty Papagayo winds.
In-depth analysis, by WRI
WHY 59º NORTH?
ambitious sailing schedule
The best boats
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Professional, well-paid staff
knowledge & community
Why it costs what it costs...
"When I think back to my trip across the North Sea on ICEBEAR, the memories uplift me and fill me with warmth and gratitude. Unplugging from the corporate world and embracing the beauty the ocean has to offer with 59º North molded me into a slightly different version of myself, in the most magical ways. I went home after 11 days with a more courageous yet humbled energy, realizing how capable and excited I am to take on new challenges."
"59º North made my dream come true to cross an ocean via sailboat. Andy and Vilma taught me little lessons and big lessons of the sea, pushing me out of my comfort zone, which is exactly what I was hoping for. Thank you Andy and Mia for letting me, a rookie ocean sailor, live the experience of a lifetime and fueling future dreams. I hope to be crew on FALKEN once again and to keep learning."
"Wow! Andy, Mia, and the team run an extraordinary offshore program for new and experienced sailors alike. Their deep and wide-ranging knowledge of sailing provides anyone an opportunity to learn. The memory of sailing with 20+ knots of wind under a full moon across 8-10' seas is one I will carry with me forever."
"My time on FALKEN crossing the Atlantic was highly rewarding and incredibly enjoyable. The trip was routinely challenging and always a lot of fun, allowing me to stretch myself and enjoy being absent from the rest of the world for a time. Unforgettable."
"Andy & Paul were amazing from the practice sails to the race itself; I never thought I'd be able to participate in such an exciting event. I'd also like to thank Liz & Lee, your first mates, who were always on hand to encourage us, teach us, and swap stories. I came away with tremendous respect for ISBJØRN, her captain, and the excellent crew she attracts. I'm definitely coming back."
"Before 59º North I didn't know my bowsprit from my binnacle and suffered from low sailing esteem. After two weeks of 59º North, what a difference! As a longtime podcast listener, I arrived for my Bermuda to Horta transatlantic with high expectations, and they were all not just met but exceeded. I could not imagine a skipper and mate more professional and enthusiastic than Andy and Emma."
"As this was my first major passage, I wasn't sure what to expect. You have to have a lot of respect for people who choose offshore sailing for their profession. Erik and Ben were top-notch professionals, and my experience with 59º North was great!"
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
Adventuring at Isla del Cocos
By Jakes {aka Johann) | The Ranger pays FALKEN a visit, and stamps passports with a unique design.
Jurassic Park Island!
FALKEN is anchored at Isla del Coco!
Pre-Depature for Isla del Cocos
Captain Mary really digs the winds off Costa Rica.
Smooth Seas at the Start
Moonlight, starlight and smooth surfing onboard FALKEN. Written by FALKEN Crewmember Andreea.
A Cruising Guide Map to Isla del Cocos
Crewmember Amy Kardel's amazing map of Chatham Bay, as described by Captain Mary.
Boobies Escort FALKEN out of Cocos
By Crewmember Anne | FALKEN departs magical Cocos, with a fleet of boobie escorts.
Counting Boobies
By Crewmember Nick | Is motoring across a calm sea boring? Not when there are boobies at the bow!