Swami's Beach
Swami's Beach
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
243 reviews
Excellent
172
Very good
58
Average
8
Poor
4
Terrible
1
sphoorti
Pune, India91 contributions
Mar 2022
Breathtaking views you can’t take your eyes off of. The weather was perfect when we went and the waves were stronger. The parking is right at the vista spot and a staircase takes you down to the shore. If you don’t want to go up/down, there are plenty of benches to enjoy the view from.
Written 24 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Amy D
arkansas91 contributions
Jul 2023 • Friends
So I’m not sure what happened to Swami’s Beach but in 2016 it was a beautiful white sand beach and now all the sand is gone and replaced with rocks. Very difficult to walk on as they are deep and one can easily fall as I did twice. I compared my pictures from 2016 and those I took yesterday and it looks completely different.
The view from the top is still beautiful but be careful if you go down to the “beach”.
I have added pics from 2016 to this review so folks can see the difference. Maybe someone offer some insight?
The view from the top is still beautiful but be careful if you go down to the “beach”.
I have added pics from 2016 to this review so folks can see the difference. Maybe someone offer some insight?
Written 9 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mara R
Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA68 contributions
Jun 2015 • Solo
Swami's can be the most beautiful show off spot on the Southern California Coast. There are days when this beach has it all but it is what I call a "season changer". The seasons are notable and noticeable here. Swami's is located on a cliff, has stairs and a lot of them. This is grand if you like to take in the surf views from atop the cliff and if you like a less crowded (usually) beach. Seasonally you can expect changes that are sometimes dramatic. During winter it can be the very best place to surf or to view the surf (especially during a nice north swell.) Because of the reef here the surf spot is one of the best winter breaks on the Southern California coastline. It is one of the few surf spots that will be ridable during a very large swell. In general the best months to surf here are November through April. It can and will break all year round but it sparkles during the winter. The low tides in the winter and early spring can be a perfect place to explore the tide pools. In the spring and fall the sand levels can change so much that walking may be more difficult. Summer can be beautiful with nice surf and a pretty beach. However, it can sometimes be stinky because the point can become a catch-all for loads of seaweed. South swells push piles of kelp up on the shore leaving a fishy smell and may be a deterrent for some swimmers and sunbathers. (I call it swimming through the salad.) There are lifeguards stationed at Swami's but they are only seasonal. If you are new to the area and want to swim keep to the south of the life guard tower where the bottom is mainly sand. The rock reef lies to the north of the tower and that is where the surf breaks best so you will see surfers there. If you are not a strong swimmer, only use beaches with a lifeguard on duty. If you don't like stairs to the beach I recommend Cardiff Reef (near restaurants in Cardiff) or Moonlight Beach Encinitas.
Written 15 June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
leafpeeper98
Gloucester, MA2,317 contributions
I don't surf, but this is a world famous surf break. It is considered to be world class. It tends to be crowded with surfers which is wonderful to watch. I am posting pictures of the beach itself and of the bluff overlooking it (which has a little memorial to John Denver - I am not sure of the connection). Another cool thing are the big wooden staircases that bring you down to the beach. They are very impressive and have built in benches and showers! They are a wonderful place to sit and take in the sweeping views.
I am also posting pictures of the meditation gardens overlooking Swami's beach. Wow are they beautiful and infused with peaceful meditation energy. Enjoy the winding paths, koi ponds, and impressive overviews.
I am also posting pictures of the meditation gardens overlooking Swami's beach. Wow are they beautiful and infused with peaceful meditation energy. Enjoy the winding paths, koi ponds, and impressive overviews.
Written 2 March 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lovewarmwater
San Diego, CA43 contributions
Nov 2018
Famous point break (it is pretty crowded most of the time) with a beautiful beach to the south. The steps down are a bit much, but the trip is worth it.
A beautiful walk down to Cardiff and the Cardiff State Beach begins here.
Sometime you can see whales off shore.
I will be back soon.
A beautiful walk down to Cardiff and the Cardiff State Beach begins here.
Sometime you can see whales off shore.
I will be back soon.
Written 6 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
claudia b
Sacramento, CA100 contributions
Jan 2016 • Friends
Entrance to this beach is from a (limited) parking lot next to Swammi's Self Realization Center. A steep set of stairs takes you down to the ocean. Nice place to watch the sun set.
Written 8 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heather H
San Diego, CA119 contributions
Jan 2016
This is a really beautiful beach and great surfing. The surf is a little easier here so it's a good spot to go if you're just learning. Really popular spot with locals.
Written 3 February 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vaninha D
Ilha do Mel, PR50 contributions
May 2015 • Family
Surfing is super, run along the cliffs....beach during summer or winter....sunset is amazing!
Easy to park, restaurants around...
Just makes me happy!
Easy to park, restaurants around...
Just makes me happy!
Written 12 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NovaScotia29
Truro, Canada24 contributions
Feb 2015 • Friends
My favourite pastime is beach walking and collecting seaglass. I was pleasantly surprised to find a few pieces of glass at Swami's Beach at the lowest tide amongst the rocks at the point.
At low tide you can walk from Swami's beach to Moonlight beach - it will probably take you around 1/2 hour. There are over 120 steps down to Swami's beach. The sand is very clean. I had no worries walking around barefoot. Its neat to watch the surfers. I didn't realize till later that this is one of the top 5 places for surfing in the world! Great to watch and if you are there in the evening, you won't be disappointed in the beautiful sunsets.
At low tide you can walk from Swami's beach to Moonlight beach - it will probably take you around 1/2 hour. There are over 120 steps down to Swami's beach. The sand is very clean. I had no worries walking around barefoot. Its neat to watch the surfers. I didn't realize till later that this is one of the top 5 places for surfing in the world! Great to watch and if you are there in the evening, you won't be disappointed in the beautiful sunsets.
Written 16 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wanderer90210
Anaheim, CA27 contributions
Jul 2014 • Family
Ooops, should I have not let out the secret in my title there? This is a surfer kind of beach and you never find very many kids there. But it is great for kids. I've never found rough currents, but there are decent sized waves. There are showers by the beach, and at the top of the many flights of stairs from cliff top to ocean there are clean well kept bathrooms.
Written 28 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
For tide-pooling in April which is better: Swami's or Cardiff?
Written 5 April 2019
The reef at Swami's is a little higher. If it is not a super low tide, I think Swami's is better.
Written 30 September 2019
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