2026-3 | FALKEN | Costa Rica-Galapagos
The exotic Galapagos Archipelago is FALKEN’s destination after having spent a month in routine maintenance in Costa Rica. Join the boat in Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica and get ready to sail south towards the famed islands explored and documented by Darwin. This is an 800-mile offshore passage, so will be roughly 5 days at sea, yet we’ve allowed ample time to explore the Galapagos islands on arrival.
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:
March 17, 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.
March 19, 2026
Scheduled departure, weather dependent.
March 29, 2026
Latest date (12:00 noon) for crew to depart FALKEN from San Cristobal, Galapagos.
PASSAGE DETAILS
We are planning to end the passage in San Cristobal, Galapagos, there are no marinas in the Galapagos and we’ll be on anchor in the harbor.
To help you plan your flights, there are two airports in Galapagos, on San Cristobal and Seymour Airport on Baltra Island. You can fly out from either, there is a ferry in between the two islands. Things may change and if we would end up on a different island, there are inter-island flights and ferries so please come with a flexible attitude.
We will not be cruising the Galapagos islands when we arrive and encourage you to explore the islands on your own, after the passage.
TRAVEL LOGISTICS
Playa Flamingo
San Cristobal
Weather conditions
Expect a warm, tropical passage that starts settled but turns increasingly lively as you near the equator, with steady trades filling in and a few squally patches keeping the crew on their toes—generally a fast, downwind-favored ride.
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 sailed on ISBJØRN in March 2024 from Bergen to Tromsø and it was fantastic. 59º North truly lived up to expectations—Mia and August were always helpful, and our skipper Jon Amtrup did a fantastic job, balancing safety with giving everyone the right tasks and space. We had incredible anchorages, great sailing, fun dinners, and unforgettable experiences under the stars on the North Sea. ISBJØRN is a wonderful boat with character, and I highly recommend the trip."
"This passage was literally my first time sailing. My goal was to get as far as possible from my daily life and desk-bound comfort zone, and Andy assured me I would be looked after. I could not have asked for a better skipper (thank you, Jon), better crew mates, or a more enjoyable passage. I'll be forever grateful to 59º North for this opportunity, and I hope to sail with them again soon."
"Gathering with 10 other like-minded women aboard FALKEN was amazing! I learned more than I ever expected from Nikki and Emma. Being 'allowed' to mess up and actually learn from your mistakes without anyone getting stressed was freeing! I'd recommend this trip to any women with a desire to sail."
"In 11 days on the North Sea with a crew of 9 women, 59 feet of boat, 1350nm, and two episodes of heaving-to, we gained experience that would take years to acquire alone. The mentorship, leadership, training, and kindness from the crew at 59º North helped us become better sailors by leaps and bounds. Sharing this journey with sailors from around the world was pure joy, and every passage with 59º North is a legacy of knowledge we benefit from."
"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."
"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."
"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
'
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
Between Passages
After some nice rest and time to explore the Galapagos, it's now time to welcome a new crew to FALKEN and start a new adventure!
Galapablog
You’d think this crew bonding is borne on the back of shared mild discomfort - life’s steadfast instructor. But we have all of the mod cons - showers 2 - 3 times a day*, ice in our drinks **, great food (without fail!).
Life of luxury
Today started with a Blue-Footed Booby on the bow amongst his Red-Footed, Nazca, and Brown Booby friends.
A Dark & Stormy Night
We were guided by the Southern Cross off the bow, and approximately 35 Brown Boobies who were hitching a ride.
Under Way!
AND WE WENT SWIMMING TODAY!
Lectures and food
Big thumbs up to the crew for listening to my voice for that long.
Playa Flamingo, Gyrocopter Style
I can’t say that taking a spin in a gyrocopter was on my 59° North bingo card.