2026-2A | FALKEN | Isla del Coco Mission
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.
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
Professional, well-paid staff
knowledge & community
Why it costs what it costs...
"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."
"It was such an experience! Meeting all the people and being part of the crew is something very special. We were so lucky to spend the passage on FALKEN; the nature and weather gave us the best, and I really wish it could have lasted longer."
"At 65, I was anxious about my first ocean passage from Antigua to Bermuda, but 59º North provided a unique opportunity to experience the magic of passage making while learning new skills. Mia Karlsson was inspiring and supportive while sailing FALKEN and cooking amazing meals, and Captain Chris Kobusch brought a wealth of knowledge and experience. This was truly the experience of a lifetime."
"I'm AKA Andy’s Dad, so my opinion of the skipper may be slanted a bit. I admit to being wrong on my initial reaction to FALKEN—at first sight she seemed like a hard-to-handle race boat, but she is easy to handle and shrinks once you get used to her. The refit work done below is flawless, with comfortable bunks, a spacious galley, and plenty of storage. A trip with 59º North on any of their boats is truly a life-changing experience. Highly recommended!"
"Cruelling and unforgettable! I knew I would be inspired by Nikki and Alex—true professionals—but it was the inspiration I took from my crewmates that will stay with me for a lifetime. As a blue water cruiser, this experience definitely made me a better ocean sailor!"
"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."
"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."
THE BOAT
Farr 65
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FALKEN
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🇬🇧
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.