Best Beaches in La Jolla: A Complete Guide for 2026

If you're planning a trip to La Jolla, California, one of the first questions you'll face is which beach to visit. La Jolla has five distinct beaches within a short distance of each other, and each one offers a completely different experience. Here's a complete guide to help you choose — and to make the most of each one.

Windansea Beach — The Local's Choice

Windansea is La Jolla's most beloved beach among locals, and for good reason. The rocky reef creates powerful, consistent surf that has attracted serious surfers for decades. The beach itself is narrower and wilder than the tourist-facing stretches further north, with dramatic rock formations, tide pools, and a famous thatched surf shack that's been a La Jolla landmark since 1946. Go at sunset — the light here is extraordinary. There are no lifeguards, limited parking, and no amenities, which is exactly why locals love it. It's best for experienced swimmers and surfers; the shore break can be powerful.

La Jolla Cove — The Postcard

La Jolla Cove is the image that defines La Jolla for most visitors: a small, protected cove with turquoise water, sea lions lounging on the rocks, and snorkelers in every direction. The Cove sits within the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park, making it one of the best snorkeling and scuba diving spots in Southern California. The water is calm, clear, and teeming with garibaldi fish, leopard sharks, and sea turtles. It's busier than Windansea, especially on weekends, but the experience is genuinely world-class. Arrive early for parking and bring your own snorkel gear — rentals are available nearby but lines can be long.

Children's Pool — Where the Seals Live

Children's Pool was originally built in 1931 as a protected swimming area for children, but it has since been taken over by a thriving colony of harbor seals. Today it's one of the best places in Southern California to observe wild seals up close. The seals haul out on the beach year-round, with pup season running from December through May. During pup season, the beach is closed to humans to protect the newborns. The viewing area along the seawall is always open. Arrive early in the morning for the best sightings before the crowds arrive.

Shell Beach and Boomer Beach — The Hidden Ones

Tucked between Windansea and the Cove, Shell Beach and Boomer Beach are largely overlooked by visitors — which makes them worth seeking out. Shell Beach is ideal for tide pooling at low tide, with starfish, anemones, and hermit crabs in abundance. Boomer Beach is for experienced swimmers only: the shore break is powerful, the currents are unpredictable, and there are no lifeguards. But on a calm day, the swimming here is exceptional.

Practical Tips for La Jolla Beaches

Parking near the Cove on weekends is genuinely difficult — plan to arrive before 9 AM or walk from a nearby lot. All of our Scarella Stays properties are within easy walking or biking distance of at least one La Jolla beach. Water temperatures in La Jolla average around 65°F in summer and 58°F in winter — a wetsuit is recommended for extended swimming year-round. The best snorkeling conditions are typically in late summer and early fall, when visibility is highest and water temperatures are warmest.

Whether you're a surfer, a snorkeler, a seal-watcher, or someone who simply wants to sit on a blanket and watch the Pacific, La Jolla has a beach for you. All of our properties are positioned to give you easy access to the coast — it's one of the reasons we chose La Jolla as the home for Scarella Stays.