Mexico Sailing Courses
Sailing from the Baja Peninsula across to mainland Mexico is an incredible offshore cruising experience. The route covers hundreds of miles and provides tremendous opportunities for offshore sailing, exploration, anchoring, and appreciation of the natural beauty found throughout mainland Mexico.
For anyone interested in Mexico sailing courses or a true liveaboard and learn to sail in Mexico experience, this region offers an unforgettable combination of offshore passage making, tropical anchorages, wildlife, culture, and long-distance cruising.
One of the most fascinating aspects of this route is experiencing the gradual transition from the desert environment of Baja into the increasingly tropical environment found along mainland Mexico as you continue south.
Some of the destinations we may visit include Isla Isabel, often referred to as the “Galapagos of Mexico,” along with places such as Mazatlán, Chacala, San Blas, Puerto Vallarta, Banderas Bay, Punta Mita, Yelapa, Chamela, Barra de Navidad, Tenacatita, and even areas farther south such as Zihuatanejo.
There are many, many incredible places to explore throughout mainland Mexico, and the cruising grounds are absolutely beautiful.
San Blas is particularly special because of its rich history, beautiful estuaries, tropical jungle environment, and the famous jungle tours that explore the surrounding rivers, wildlife, and historic ruins.
Once we are exploring throughout mainland Mexico, we are cruising in a foreign country and in a much more remote environment. There are no commercial towing or marine assistance services readily available the way there are in places like Los Angeles. This is one of the reasons offshore cruising in mainland Mexico places a much greater emphasis on self-sufficiency, seamanship, onboard systems knowledge, preparation, and good decision making.
Beyond the incredible cruising grounds and beautiful destinations available throughout mainland Mexico, the training itself becomes extremely valuable because these voyages naturally introduce many of the realities associated with offshore cruising and long-distance sailing.
During these expeditions, we place a heavy emphasis on passage planning, weather routing, onboard systems management, standing watches, night sailing, navigation, anchoring, and offshore decision making.
As you move through certain parts of mainland Mexico, you also begin encountering real cruising challenges and hazards such as fishing gear, long lines, changing weather, Pacific swell that is not typically experienced in the Sea of Cortez, remote anchorages, and the constant use and maintenance of all onboard resources and systems.
Students learn how to manage power consumption, charging systems, water production, fuel management, vessel balance while sailing, anchoring strategy and techniques, and general offshore vessel operation while actively cruising. Many of these decisions must constantly be evaluated and adjusted based on weather, location, equipment status, and changing offshore conditions.
One of the best parts about cruising mainland Mexico is that you get to experience all of this while traveling through an incredibly beautiful environment and visiting amazing destinations along the way. The experience is not just about the sailing education itself, but also about the journey, the exploration, and the lifestyle that comes with offshore cruising.
Mexico is an incredible country for sailing. It has a rich culture, amazing food, welcoming people, beautiful coastlines, and countless outstanding cruising destinations.
In my many years of cruising throughout Mexico, I have personally found it to be a very safe and enjoyable place to travel and cruise. Like anywhere else in the world, logical precautions should always be taken to avoid petty theft or unnecessary problems, just as you would in the United States or any other country. Generally speaking, I personally believe many parts of Mexico feel safer and are safer than many areas of the United States. Tourists and visiting cruisers are generally valued, respected, and protected because tourism is an important part of many local economies throughout Mexico.
We offer seven-day and ten-day offshore sailing expeditions traveling to and along mainland Mexico. If your goal is to learn offshore cruising, offshore passage making, and blue water sailing, this is truly an outstanding place to do it.
Mainland Mexico naturally introduces students to many of the realities associated with serious offshore cruising while still allowing them to travel through some of the most beautiful cruising grounds imaginable.
It is also a major gathering place for like-minded cruisers and offshore sailors from all over the world. Many sailors arrive in mainland Mexico preparing for ocean crossings, extended cruising, or future circumnavigation plans. Others are heading north, south, across the Pacific, or simply exploring Mexico seasonally. This is a true cruiser’s hub.
One of the best parts of cruising mainland Mexico is meeting other adventurous cruising sailors who share similar dreams, goals, and aspirations. It is a fantastic cruising community, and many people quickly fall in love with both the cruising lifestyle and the people they meet along the way.
If your goal is to become a true cruiser, offshore sailor, or blue water sailor, and you want to gain real advanced cruising experience, we invite you to join us on one of our mainland Mexico sailing expeditions.