learn to cruise in Mexico!
Join us to get the full-on cruising experience in the Sea of Cortez & mainland Mexico
Education + Adventure
at it's finest!
Our Mexico Cruising chapter is in full swing, and Lintika and crew are geared up for another incredible season of cruising around the Sea of Cortez! Courses this year will be running from October 2023 to May 2024 and vary in lengths, location, cost and crew, all of which are laid out in detail below.
This will be a dynamic learning environment, with the opportunity to put to work any sailing experience you may already have with lots of room to include new lessons and first hand experience of living the sailor lifestyle. Students will be taking part in every crew role , from sailing and navigation, anchoring, jumping into the cooking rotation, taking care of Lintika, and learning how to be the best crew member possible.
You've seen how we roll, taking every moment as a teaching opportunity but also keeping things light hearted and having as much fun as possible. Each course presents a unique opportunity to learn about all things cruising including...
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Weather forecasting - A deep dive into why and how we use PredictWind
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Passage Planning - How we get safely from A to B
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Essential Safety Offshore - Learn about our safety equipment and protocals
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Boat systems - Explore our electrics, water maker, and more!
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How to keep watch day & night - How to be efficient and safe with any crew
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'Best Practices' aboard - Our tips from over a decade of cruising around the world
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International sailing logistics - How to choose where we go and check in/out
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Anchoring - Tons of hands on experience to get a good nights sleep!
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Provisioning & cooking underway - Storage, keep food fresh, eating well
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Crew dynamics and responsibilities - Expectations are key in tiny spaces
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Highs and lows of living aboard - Setting you up for making the most of time aboard
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Lots of time at the helm and working the lines - All positions in all conditions
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How to adapt to whatever Poseidon throws at us! - It's almost something!
In addition to learning each day, you get to start each morning with a coffee in the cockpit , explore beautiful Baja beaches, snorkel, paddle board, relax with a book on deck, or do anything else you'd like on this educational vacation!
what's included?
Each leg is laid out with details below including dates, mileage, which airports to fly in and out of, potential weather and stops, pricing per person, and which crew/instructors will be running Lintika. Bunks will be assigned depending on applicants, and the chance to upgrade to a more private bunk may be a possibility.
Pricing includes your bunk/bedding, all meals on-board Lintika, safety equipment, personalized coaching and instruction.
Pricing does not reflect any of your travel to or from the boat, extra days of accommodation before or after the listed dates, any on-shore food/adventures or national park fees.
Also included is a damn good time!
tell me about lintika!
Lintika is Cruisers Academy's 1980 Passport 42', an incredibly well built and beautiful boat made in Taiwan by the reputable Passport Yachts. This classic sailboat, designed by Stan Huntingford, has gotten a massive refit over the last several years and is as modernized as they come. As a cutter rigged sloop with a fin keel and skegged rudder, her canoe stern and additional sail set up allows her to sail incredibly close to the wind while her 20 tons keep her comfortable downwind and in heavy conditions.
Equipped with a new Yanmar 54hp engine, a Cruiser RO Zen 100 water maker, new holding tanks for both fuel and water, new rigging and sails, new interior cushions and bedding, a new arch with 820 watts of solar and 810 amp hours of lithium batteries- she is set to sail offshore and chomping at the bit to cruise the Sea of Cortez!
She is also kitted out for optimum safety at sea with satphone capabilities, star link internet, a 6 person life raft, a MOM-8 device, EPIRB, AIS and brand new radar.
In addition to the full galley, one head, and shower with hot water, her cabin/bunk layout is described below. While all options are listed, not all will be full for each trip. We will assign crew to different spots on each leg depending on who applies and what will work best for the overall success of the leg.
For photos and layout of bunks, please click through above photo carousel.
SEMI PRIVATE BUNK FOR ONE PERSON:
This semi-private bunk provides a sleeping space for one person in a bunk about the size of twin bed. The bunk is tucked away on the starboard-aft side of the boat with a privacy curtain, so sleeping head facing aft means you will have some privacy.
V-BERTH FOR ONE-TWO PEOPLE
This cabin has a door for privacy and a bed that is the size of a full at the aft end and much narrower forward. This would be best suited for either one person who values privacy, or a smaller couple that doesn't mind cozying up and is comfortable sleeping in small spaces together.
PRIVATE CABIN FOR TWO PEOPLE:
This fully private cabin provides a sleeping space for two people in a bed slightly smaller than a queen sized mattress. The cabin has its own door and can also be booked by just one person who wants a large private cabin to themselves.
SALON BUNK FOR ONE PERSON:This bunk provides a sleeping space for one person in a bunk a little narrower than a twin sized bed. It is located in the main communal salon, so it's best for someone who is a strong sleeper and feels comfortable sleeping in a bunk without much privacy. It's unlikely this bunk will be filled for longer passages but may be for shorter stints.
season schedule
trip 1: Sea of Cortez crossing!
San Carlos->Bahia Los Angeles-> puerto escondido
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CREW: Captains Brady & Blue
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TOTAL TIME ABOARD: Oct. 23 - Nov. 5, 2023 (13 days)
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PRICE: $10,900 per person
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DISTANCE: ~300 nautical miles
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BEST FOR: Those interested in a longer adventure with a mixture of learning but also downtime for relaxing & truly settling into the cruising lifestyle... Complete with a Sea of Cortez crossing and a mission to find whale sharks!
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ENTRY AIRPORT: Hermosillo (HMO) & ~1 hour taxi to San Carlos
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EXIT AIRPORT: Loreto, BCS (LTO) with possible ~30 min taxi to/from Puerto Escondido/Loreto depending on weather conditions.
Our first mission of the season is to load up on provisions, and sail across the Sea of Cortez from San Carlos on the mainland, back to the Baja peninsula. We have our eyes set on Bahia Los Angeles, a Biosphere Reserve established by the Mexican government in 2007. The natural beauty found off the beaten track here includes an extraordinary ecosystem with 16 islands that are home to Sea Lions, a coast where 5 different species of Turtles lay their eggs, and the 'Canal de las Ballenas', where Whale Sharks and Fin Whales visit August-November. With the backdrop of turquoise water, centuries-old cactuses, and white sand beaches- Baja doesn’t get much better than this!
An example timeline would mean students would hop onboard in San Carlos and spend the first couple days getting settled and prepping for the trip. This would include everything from learning how to provision, wrapping up any boat preparations, participating in weather routing and passage planning, jumping into a crew cooking and cleaning rotation, and mixing in random bouts of fun that always accompany sailing adventures. Once we have our weather window, we would begin the SOC crossing towards Bahia Los Angeles. This would give us the opportunity for an overnight sail and to share all that comes with night time navigation. After exploring Bahia LA, we plan to point Lintika South and head towards Puerto Escondido. There are several coastal anchorages and islands along the way to explore! Upon arrival into the Puerto Escondido area, we may have the chance to explore the quaint town of Loreto and or Mulege. Depending on conditions, we will drop crew off in Loreto, or pull into Puerto Escondido and taxi the 20 miles north to the Loreto Airport.
If you're looking for a longer adventure off the beaten path and want to see what it feels like to truly be a cruiser- this leg is definitely for you!
Temps in October range from a high of 87°F to a low of 67°F .
trip 2-3:
Puerto Escondido island hopping
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TRIP 2 & 3:
- CREW: Captain Brady & First Mate Phoebe Rogers
- Trip 2: Nov. 8 - 15, 2023 (8 days)
- Trip 3: Nov. 18 - 25, 2023 (8 days)
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PRICE: $6,900 per person
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DISTANCE: ~100+ nautical miles
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BEST FOR: Anyone looking to spend about a week exploring the beautiful anchorages of the Baja Islands. Easy flights in/out of Loreto make the logistics of this trip as easy as can be!
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ENTRY/EXIT AIRPORT: Loreto, BCS (LTO) with possible ~30 min taxi to/from Puerto Escondido/Loreto depending on weather conditions.
Puerto Escondido is a protected bay sitting 30km south of the historical town of Loreto on the Eastern side of Baja. Our main goal is to sail out to the nearby islands of Isla Carmen, Isla Danzante, or possibly to the Baja peninsula anchorage of Agua Verde. These islands offer protected anchorages from many angles that offer beautiful hiking, paddle boarding, snorkeling or exploring a natural a salt flat. This trip may also offer an evening enjoying the authentic cuisine and local music that can be found in the beautiful town of Loreto.
All students will step into a crew member role aboard Lintika. From sailing and navigation, to cooking to holding watch, students will learn about the boat systems and best practices we utilize to run a blue water boat.
Temps in November range from a high of 84°F to a low of 63°F, December temps range from 77°F to a low of 56°F.
Trip 5 & 6: WOMENS only TRIP!
Puerto Escondido Island hopping
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CREW: Captain Heather Richards & First Mate Phoebe Rogers
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We're running three trips dedicated to Women's Sailing with Captain Heather Richards
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TOTAL TIME ABOARD: (6 days)
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Trip 5: Dec. 7 - 12, 2023
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Trip 6A: Dec. 15 - 20, 2023
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Trip 6B: Jan. 16 - 21, 2024
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PRICE: $4,900 per person
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DISTANCE: ~100+ nautical miles
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BEST FOR: Women looking to learn in a woman's only learning environment from an experienced female Captain in the unique islands of Baja.
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ENTRY/EXIT AIRPORT: Loreto, BCS (LTO) with possible ~30 min long taxi to/from Puerto Escondido/Loreto depending on weather conditions.
We're excited to be offering our first Women's Only cruising courses! We are honored to be teaming up with Captain Heather Richards of Sausalito for these two courses. Heather is a USCG Captain, live-aboard mother of three, and has been sailing since the age of 4! She raced competitively on the Boston University sailing team, has worked for the US Navy in Japan, Sail Caribbean Voyages, Modern Sailing School, Tall Ship Matthew Turner, the Saint Francis Yacht Club, and even raced with the America’s Cup. In 2014 she purchased and refitted her own sailboat, and lives aboard with her 3 children in a maritime co-op in Sausalito. Heather is passionate about volunteering with youth programs and welcoming people of color who have traditionally not had access to sailing. Heathers safety record, high attention to crew experience, and wide range of knowledge in a huge variety of vessels is rare among sailors, and even more rare among women in this industry!
Puerto Escondido is a protected bay sitting 30km south of the historical town of Loreto on the Eastern side of Baja. This trip may offer an evening enjoying the authentic cuisine and local music that can be found in Loreto. Our main goal is to sail out to the nearby islands of Isla Carmen, Isla Danzante, or possibly to the Baja peninsula anchorage of Agua Verde. These islands offer protected anchorages from many angles that could include beautiful hiking, paddle boarding, or exploring a natural Salt Flat.
Heather and Phoebe will be running two women's only courses out of Puerto Escondido this winter. Our goal is to promote a safe and encouraging space for women interested in learning cruising from and with other women! All students will step into a crew member role aboard Lintika. From sailing and navigation, to cooking to holding watch, students will learn about the boat systems and best practices we utilize to run a blue water boat.
December temps range from 77°F to a low of 56°F.
Trip 7: offshore crossing!
Puerto Escondido -> Mazatlan (mainland mx)
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CREW: Captain Brady & First Mate Phoebe Rogers
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TOTAL TIME ABOARD: Jan. 27 - Feb. 5, 2024 (10 days)
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PRICE: $9,500 per person
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DISTANCE: ~350 nautical miles
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BEST FOR: Those interested in experiencing the perfect mix of island hopping and offshore sailing, complete with at least one overnight passage.
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ENTRY AIRPORT: Loreto, BCS (LTO)
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EXIT AIRPORT: Mazatlan (MZT)
This unique trip will offer cruising at its finest through the islands of Baja, as well as a multi-day/night passage from the Baja side of the Sea of Cortez to Mazatlán on mainland Mexico! This will be our first time making this passage across, and are hoping for a downwind cruise on this 300 nautical mile sail.
This adventure is ideal for those who want to experience the highs of cruising: beautiful water, snorkeling, hiking, and relaxing with the sunset and a cold bevy in hand- but also want to lose site of land and learn about best practices for night watch and offshore sailing.
An example timeline would mean students hop onboard in Puerto Escondido and learn about passage prep by learning to provision, diving into weather routing, night navigation, cooking underway, holding a watch in rotation, and lots of hands on sailing through beautiful islands. There should be options to check out anchorages along the way at either Isla Carmen, Isla Danzante, Isla San Francisco, Isla Espiritu, or Playa Balandra. All of these offer up crystal clear waters, beautiful beaches, great snorkeling and pure relaxation- cruiser style! We'd be aiming to arrive into Mazatlán with at least a day to explore the cities rich art, music and foodie culture!
Because the passage itself is weather dependent, we may need to stay longer in the Sea of Cortez, or cross sooner and spend more time exploring Mazatlán and the mainland side of Mexico.
January temps range from a high of 78° and low 54° in the Sea of Cortez, and a high of 80° and low of 62° in Mazatlan.
Trip 8:
Mazatlan -> la cruz huanacaxtle
(with a possible stop at isla isabela)
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CREW: Captains Brady & Blue
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TOTAL TIME ABOARD: Feb. 9 - 17, 2024 (9 days)
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PRICE: $7,900 per person
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DISTANCE: ~200 nautical miles
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BEST FOR: Those interested in practicing coastal navigation and exploring chill cultural hotspots on mainland Mexico.
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ENTRY AIRPORT: Mazatlan (MZT)
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EXIT AIRPORT: Puerto Vallarta (PVR), ~1 hour taxi from La Cruz
An example timeline would mean students hop onboard in the culturally rich city of Mazatlán and learn about passage prep by learning about provisioning, weather routing, navigation, cooking underway, holding a watch in rotation, and lots of hands on coastal sailing and exploring anchorages. If conditions permit, we'd love to make a stop at Isla Isabela. This small 2 square km island is well known by the naturalists, scientists, scuba divers, photographers, fishermen and those who seek adventure off the beaten track. This national park is also a UNESCO’s World Heritage Site and is often called the The Galapagos of Mexico. The local birds and iguanas of the island have no natural enemies, and their fearless demeanor made this unique island the feature of a 1975 Jacques-Yves Cousteau film title 'The Sea Birds of Isabela'.
Depending on conditions, we may check out other coastal anchorages as we make our way to the fun and funky town of La Cruz Huanacaxtle. There's plenty to explore in this zone including the Mercado del Mar, a seafood market coveted by local chefs! The town is also home to beautiful beaches with the option to add in a sport fishing trip to your adventure, or pop over to Sayulita to get in some surf before heading home.
February temps range from a high of 80° and low of 62° in Mazatlán/La Cruz.
Trip 9:
la cruz huanacaxtle -> Mazatlan
(with a possible stop at isla isabela)
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CREW: Captains Brady & Blue
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TOTAL TIME ABOARD: Feb. 21 - 29, 2024 (9 days)
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PRICE: $7,900 per person
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DISTANCE: ~200 nautical miles
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BEST FOR: Those interested in practicing coastal navigation and exploring chill cultural hotspots on mainland Mexico.
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ENTRY AIRPORT: Puerto Vallarta (PVR) ~1 hour taxi to La Cruz Huanacaxtle
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EXIT AIRPORT: Mazatlan (MZT)
An example timeline would mean students hop onboard in the fun and funky town of La Cruz Huanacaxtle and learn about passage prep by experiencing provisioning, weather routing, navigation, cooking underway, holding a watch in rotation, and lots of hands on coastal sailing and exploring anchorages. If conditions permit, we'd love to make a stop at Isla Isabela. This small 2 square km island is well known by the naturalists, scientists, scuba divers, photographers, fishermen and those who seek adventure off the beaten track. This national park is also a UNESCO’s World Heritage Site and is often called the The Galapagos of Mexico. The local birds and iguanas of the island have no natural enemies, and their fearless demeanor made this unique island the feature of a 1975 Jacques-Yves Cousteau film title 'The Sea Birds of Isabela'.
Depending on conditions, we may check out other coastal anchorages as we make our way to the culturally rich city of Mazatlán.
February temps range from a high of 80° and low of 62° in Mazatlán/La Cruz.
Trip 10: Offshore Crossing!
Mazatlan -> la paz, baja
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CREW: Captain Brady & First Mate Austin Long
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TOTAL TIME ABOARD: March 8 - 19, 2024 (12 days)
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PRICE: $10,800 per person
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DISTANCE: ~350 nautical miles
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BEST FOR: Those interested in a longer sail from mainland Mexico back to up to Baja, with some island hoping in between! This has the potential of being an upwind sail!
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ENTRY AIRPORT: Mazatlan (MZT)
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EXIT AIRPORT: La Paz (LAP), or a shuttle to San Jose Del Cabo (SJD)
This unique trip will offer both a multi-day/night passage from Mazatlan on mainland Mexico to La Paz in the Sea of Cortez, as well as cruising at its finest through the islands of Baja. This ~300nm passage could potentially offer upwind/challenging conditions and will provide a great experience for anyone looking to have a proper offshore sailing experience.
A perfect timeline would mean students hop onboard in the culturally rich city of Mazatlan, and learn about passage prep by covering provisioning, weather routing, night navigation, cooking underway, holding watches in rotation, and lots of hands on sailing and cruising through beautiful anchorages. If conditions permit, we may spend some time at Cabo Frailes, Isla Espiritu or Playa Balandra as we make out way into La Paz. All of these offer up crystal clear waters, beautiful beaches, great snorkeling and pure relaxation- cruiser style!
Because the passage itself is weather dependent, we may need to stay longer on the mainland side, or cross sooner and spend more time exploring the islands and anchorages around La Paz.
March temps range from a high of 85° and low 57° in the Sea of Cortez, and a high of 80° and low of 59° in Mazatlan.
Trip 11:
la paz ISLAND HOPPING TO ISLA ESPIRITU & PARTIDA
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CREW: Captain Jon Totten
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TOTAL TIME ABOARD: March 25 - 31, 2024 (7 days)
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PRICE: $5,500 per person
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DISTANCE: ~100 nautical miles
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BEST FOR: Those with a shorter timeline that want a mix of island hopping, day sailing, and experiencing cruising at its finest!
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ENTRY/EXIT AIRPORT: La Paz (LAP), or a shuttle to/from San Jose Del Cabo (SJD)
Our good friend and experienced Captain Jon Totten is making a guest appearance on Lintika this season! Jon has started a badass therapy sailing program in Idaho after many years of being an ASA instructor in the Caribbean where we originally met. We are honored to have him on our Captain roster and anyone joining in on this trip will not only learn massive amounts but undoubtedly be inspired by Jon's contagious stoke for life.
This adventure is ideal for those who want to experience the highs of cruising: beautiful water, snorkeling, hiking, and relaxing with the sunset and a cold bevy in hand. That being said, cruising always presents unforeseen conditions and we will be rolling with the punches of weather, a sailboat calling the shots, and whatever else comes our way.
A perfect timeline would mean students hop onboard in La Paz and immediately set sail for the Islands. These trips would be more focused on exploring and cruising rather than long distance passage making. Lintika will be prepped to go upon your arrival, but students will still learn to crew and have watch responsibilities, hop into cooking/cleaning rotation, practice anchoring, weather routing, and learn about boat systems.
Potential anchorages are all about a day sail away from each other which means students will still experience a ton of sailing and hands on learning experience. For potential anchorages, we have our eyes on Playa Balandra as well as the many anchorages of Isla Espirito and Partida. All of these offer up crystal clear waters, beautiful beaches, great snorkeling and pure relaxation- cruiser style!
March temps range from a high of 85° and low 57° in the Sea of Cortez.
Trip 12:
la paz -> PUERTO ESCONDIDO
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CREW: Captain Jon Totten
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TOTAL TIME ABOARD: April 12 - 21, 2024 (10 days)
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PRICE: $7,400 per person
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DISTANCE: ~120 nautical miles
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BEST FOR THOSE: Interested in a longer sail up the Baja Peninsula, with some island hopping in between!
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ENTRY AIRPORT: La Paz (LAP), or a shuttle to/from San Jose Del Cabo (SJD)
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EXIT AIRPORT: Loreto, BCS (LTO) with a possible ~30 min taxi depending on weather.
Our good friend and experienced Captain Jon Totten is making a guest appearance on Lintika this season! Jon has started a badass therapy sailing program in Idaho after many years of being an ASA instructor in the Caribbean where we originally met. We are honored to have him on our Captain roster and anyone joining in on this trip will not only learn massive amounts but undoubtedly be inspired by Jon's contagious stoked for life.
This adventure is ideal for those who want to experiences the highs of cruising: beautiful water, snorkeling, hiking, and relaxing but also get in some nautical miles to sail Lintika from La Paz to Loreto/Puerto Escondido.
An example timeline would mean students hop onboard in La Paz, help provision and prep the boat to head North through the islands towards Loreto. Students will learn to crew and have watch responsibilities, hop into cooking/cleaning rotation, practice anchoring, weather routing, and learn about boat systems we utilize to stay off the grid.
Potential anchorages are all about a day sail away from each other which means students will still experience a ton of sailing. For potential anchorages, we may explore Isla Espirito, Isla San Francisco, and Isla Carmen, Agua Verde or Isla Danzante. All of these offer up crystal clear waters, beautiful beaches, great snorkeling and pure relaxation- cruiser style!
March temps range from a high of 84° and low 64° in the Sea of Cortez.
Trip 13:
PUERTO ESCONDIDO -> San Carlos (mainland mx)
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CREW: Captain Brady & First Mate Phoebe Rogers
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TOTAL TIME ABOARD: May 4 - May 12, 2024 (9 days)
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PRICE: $8,650 per person
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DISTANCE: ~200 nautical miles
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BEST FOR THOSE: Interested in exploring the Baja side of the Sea Of Cortez before crossing to the mainland side.
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ENTRY AIRPORT: Loreto (LTO), ~30 min taxi from Puerto Escondido
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EXIT AIRPORT: Hermosillo (HMO), ~1 hour taxi from San Carlos
This leg will take Lintika from the Baja side of the Sea of Cortez to San Carlos. This will be a great trip to hone in on weather routing skills, passage planning and the possibility of an overnight sail.
An example timeline would mean students hop onboard in Puerto Escondido and learn the ins and outs of prepping for crossing the Sea of Cortez. Depending on weather we will be able to stop at a few islands enroute to our crossing and enjoy calm protected anchorages and crystal clear water. We will then discuss conditions and how to chose a safe window to cross the Sea of Cortez. You will learn to crew and have watch responsibilities, hop into cooking/cleaning rotation, practice anchoring, weather routing, and learn about boat systems.
May temps range from a high of 84° and low 64° in the Sea of Cortez.
didn't see your thing?
We are constantly expanding our cruising and offshore program in Mexico and beyond! Please take a moment to join our offshore waitlist if you want to be the first to hear about future sailing opportunities with Cruisers Academy.
If you haven't already joined us for our flagship CA-1 course in Tahoe, you can learn more about this 4-day consecutive course below. Summer 23' dates are now open!
Cheers!
