The Pacific is the largest ocean on Earth, and crossing it under sail is the dream of many cruisers. It offers some of the best trade wind sailing anywhere, remote atolls, volcanic islands and warm, welcoming island cultures. It is also huge: it is roughly 8,000 nautical miles from Panama to Australia, compared with about 2,700 for a typical Canaries-to-Caribbean Atlantic crossing.

Quick answer: most sailors cross the Pacific from east to west with the trade winds. The classic route, nicknamed the Coconut Milk Run, runs from Panama or Mexico to the Marquesas, then through the Tuamotus and Society Islands (Tahiti), on to the Cook Islands, Tonga and Fiji, and finally to New Zealand or Australia before the cyclone season. Most boats leave between February and April and aim to be out of the tropics by November. Other options include Hawaii routes, a southern route via Easter Island and Pitcairn, and the long North Pacific passage back to North America.

Pacific Winds, Currents and Seasons

Route planning in the Pacific revolves around a few big weather systems:

• Trade winds: the southeast trades south of the equator and the northeast trades north of it make westbound sailing mostly a downwind or broad-reaching affair.
• The ITCZ (doldrums): a band of calms, squalls and shifting winds near the equator. Its position varies by season and longitude; you want to cross it as quickly as possible.
• The SPCZ: the South Pacific Convergence Zone, a band of unsettled weather reaching southeast from the Solomon Islands area, brings squalls and cloud to the western half of the South Pacific.
• Cyclone seasons: the South Pacific season runs roughly from November to April. In the North Pacific, the eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from mid-May to the end of November, and typhoons can occur year-round in the western North Pacific, with a peak from late summer to fall.
• El Niño and La Niña: these cycles shift trade wind strength, cyclone tracks and rainfall, so check the outlook for your passage year.

For a detailed month-by-month look, see our guide to the best time to sail across the Pacific.

Main Pacific Crossing Routes at a Glance

Route	Typical start	Approximate distance	Main timing
Panama to the Marquesas via the Galapagos	Panama Canal	About 850 to 1,000 nm to the Galapagos, then about 3,000 nm to the Marquesas	Depart February to April
Pacific Puddle Jump	Mexico (Banderas Bay, La Paz)	About 2,700 to 3,000 nm sailed to the Marquesas	Depart February to April
Coconut Milk Run (South Pacific)	Marquesas	Thousands of miles through French Polynesia, Cooks, Tonga and Fiji	April/May to October/November
West Coast to Hawaii	California, Pacific Northwest	About 2,000 to 2,400 nm	Late spring and summer
Southern route via Easter Island and Pitcairn	Galapagos, Peru or Chile	About 2,000 nm Galapagos to Easter Island, then about 1,100 nm to Pitcairn	Southern summer (roughly January to March)
North Pacific return	Hawaii, Tahiti or Asia	Typically 2,000 nm or more back to the West Coast	Northern summer

Distances are rough great-circle figures; the miles you actually sail are often more because of the detours needed to find wind or avoid calms.

Starting Points

Panama Canal (East Coast and European sailors)

For sailors from the US East Coast, the Caribbean and Europe, the Panama Canal is the gateway to the Pacific. Allow time for transit paperwork, measurement and scheduling, which can take days to weeks in the busy season. Many cruisers spend time in the San Blas Islands (Guna Yala) on the Caribbean side and the Las Perlas Islands on the Pacific side before heading out.

The Gulf of Panama often has light winds and contrary currents, so expect to motor at first. Once clear, most boats head southwest toward the Galapagos, crossing the ITCZ, which is often narrow in this region at the right time of year.

Mexico (West Coast sailors)

West Coast cruisers typically spend the winter in Mexico and leave from Banderas Bay (Puerto Vallarta, La Cruz) or La Paz in spring. This passage to the Marquesas is known as the Pacific Puddle Jump, and a large fleet of boats makes it each year. It is a long passage of roughly 2,700 to 3,000 miles, usually taking around three weeks, with light air early on, an equator and ITCZ crossing in the middle, and then fresh southeast trades for the final stretch.

Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest

Some West Coast sailors first sail to Hawaii, a passage of roughly 2,000 to 2,400 miles depending on the starting point, then head south to the Line Islands, French Polynesia or Samoa. Sailors from the Pacific Northwest usually leave through the Strait of Juan de Fuca and head down the coast to California or Mexico first, rather than going directly offshore. See is it dangerous to sail from California to Hawaii? and the best time to sail to Hawaii.

Panama to the Marquesas via the Galapagos

The Galapagos sit on the equator about 500 miles off Ecuador. Stopping there breaks the crossing and offers an unforgettable wildlife experience, but Ecuador’s rules for visiting yachts are strict, change often, and involve permits, inspections (including hull cleanliness checks) and fees. Research current requirements well before you leave the mainland, and work with an agent.

From the Galapagos it is about 3,000 miles to the Marquesas. This is often one of the best long passages in the world: steady southeast trades, a favorable South Equatorial Current, and warm, mostly downwind sailing. Pack light-air and downwind sails, plan for chafe, and be self-sufficient; there is nowhere to stop on the way.

The Coconut Milk Run Through the South Pacific

Once you reach the Marquesas, the cruising begins in earnest. A typical season through the South Pacific looks like this:

1. Marquesas: dramatic volcanic islands with lush valleys, waterfalls and archaeological sites. Most boats clear in at Hiva Oa or Nuku Hiva.
2. Tuamotus: about 500 miles southwest, the world’s largest chain of atolls. Their reefs and pass currents once earned them the name “Dangerous Archipelago.” Time pass entries for slack water and use satellite imagery as well as charts. Popular stops include Ahe, Manihi, Rangiroa, Makemo and Fakarava.
3. Society Islands: a short hop further, Tahiti and Moorea (the Windwards) and Huahine, Raiatea, Taha’a and Bora Bora (the Leewards). Tahiti is the place for repairs, provisioning and paperwork.
4. Cook Islands and Niue: heading west, many boats stop at Suwarrow, a remote national park atoll, or at Rarotonga, Aitutaki or Niue.
5. Tonga: the Vava’u group offers sheltered, easy cruising with many anchorages, and humpback whales visit in the southern winter.
6. Fiji: a huge cruising area of hundreds of islands, with villages, reefs and resorts. You could spend a whole season here.
7. Vanuatu and New Caledonia: farther west, with active volcanoes, traditional culture and great diving.

French Polynesia Visas

French Polynesia is enormous, and many cruisers want more than the standard short-stay period. Non-EU visitors are generally limited to 90 days unless they hold a long-stay visa, which must be arranged in advance through a French consulate. Rules and procedures change, so check the latest requirements well before departure.

Northern or Southern Route From Tahiti?

From Tahiti, the choice of route depends on where you want to be when the cyclone season starts in November:

• To New Zealand: the most popular option. Cruise west through the Cooks, Tonga and Fiji, then sail south to New Zealand in October or November, a passage of roughly 1,000 to 1,200 miles. Choose a good weather window to avoid strong lows on the way.
• To Australia: continue via Vanuatu and New Caledonia and sail to Queensland ports such as Bundaberg or Brisbane by late in the year.
• Through the Torres Strait: if you plan to continue into the Indian Ocean, you need to keep moving and pass through the Torres Strait by around August or September to cross the Indian Ocean before its own cyclone season.
• North of the cyclone belt: some boats head north to the Marshall Islands, Kiribati or Hawaii, or spend the season in a protected marina or cyclone hole, with appropriate insurance.

The Southern Route via Easter Island and Pitcairn

A less traveled alternative leaves the Galapagos or the coast of Peru or Chile and heads to Easter Island (Rapa Nui), a passage of roughly 2,000 miles, mostly on a reach. From there it is roughly 1,100 miles to Pitcairn Island and a few hundred more to the Gambier Islands, the southeastern corner of French Polynesia. This route is usually sailed in the southern summer, when the weather is most settled, and allows you to explore French Polynesia “backward,” from the Gambiers and Tuamotus to the Marquesas and on to Hawaii later in the year.

The anchorages at Easter Island and Pitcairn are open roadsteads, and landing can be difficult or impossible in swell, so be prepared to wait or move on.

Sailing the North Pacific

The North Pacific is less commonly crossed under sail because of the stronger, colder weather and the typhoon season in the west. The most common North Pacific passages are:

• California to Hawaii: a classic downwind trade wind run, usually done from late spring through summer.
• Hawaii back to the mainland: because the trades blow from the east, boats sail north around the Pacific High and then turn east, usually in the northern summer, before reaching the West Coast or the Pacific Northwest.
• Tahiti to Hawaii: a route home from the South Pacific, usually sailed between May and October, crossing the equator and the ITCZ.
• Asia to North America: a long passage across high latitudes, typically made in summer, sometimes via Alaska.

Planning Your Pacific Crossing

• Timing: leave Panama or Mexico between February and April so you have the full season to enjoy the islands and still reach a safe harbor before November.
• Boat preparation: prepare for long downwind passages with chafe protection, spares, a reliable self-steering system and plenty of water and fuel. See our guide to what makes a good blue water cruising sailboat.
• Communications and weather: carry a satellite communication device for forecasts, and learn to read the ITCZ and SPCZ.
• Paperwork: research clearance, visas, cruising permits and fees for every country you plan to visit; rules change frequently.
• Navigation: many Pacific charts are based on old surveys. Use satellite imagery as a cross-check and enter reef passes with good light and at the right tide.
• Insurance: check that your policy covers the Pacific and the cyclone season plans you are making.

Pacific Crossing Routes: Summary

Most Pacific crossings follow the trade winds westward. Sailors from the East Coast and Europe go through the Panama Canal and often stop at the Galapagos; West Coast sailors usually make the Puddle Jump from Mexico. Both meet in the Marquesas and continue along the Coconut Milk Run through the Tuamotus, Tahiti, the Cooks, Tonga and Fiji, ending in New Zealand or Australia before the cyclone season. Alternatives include Hawaii routes, the southern route via Easter Island and Pitcairn, and the North Pacific passage home. Plan around the seasons, prepare the boat for long downwind passages, and give yourself time: many sailors find the Pacific so rewarding that they stay for years.

Before you go, read Atlantic vs Pacific: which is more dangerous for sailing?, our tips for sailing around the world and the best sailing routes around the world.