El Matador State Beach

El Matador State Beach is a beautiful beach off of the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) in Malibu, just a few miles north of Los Angeles, and technically still a part of LA County. I’ve visited some of the most popular beaches in LA – from Hermosa, Redondo, Santa Monica, to Venice – but  nothing quite compares to this somewhat hidden gem. It's definitely my new favorite beach in LA (by far!) and moments after leaving last weekend, I was already craving to return. 

As you enter El Matador State Beach you will come to a somewhat steep walkway down to the beach, which includes a good amount of stairs. Wear comfortable shoes and be careful as you make your way down. Also, take a few breaks throughout the descent to simply stop and enjoy the breathtaking views. As you can see from some of the pictures above, this beach is covered in caves, cool rock formations, and large cliffs. The water seems much cleaner than other beaches in LA and the sand will be sparkling on a sunny day. This beach is adored by locals and especially popular in the summertime, so I would recommend going early in the day if you want to take some great pictures and claim a good spot. As you make your way onto the warm sand, you can spend your day relaxing under the sun, exploring the sea caves, taking pictures, climbing some of the rocks (if you’re feeling extra adventurous), and more. It’s a good idea to walk around and see all of the beach before deciding on your spot for the day.

Please note that there are no trash cans on the beach so if you plan on bringing a picnic or food items, make sure to take your trash with you when you leave.  Like they say, take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints. :)

I’d highly recommend you make the effort to drive to Malibu to explore one of California’s most unique and pretty beaches. El Matador State Beach is located at 32350 El Matador Beach Rd, Malibu, CA 90265. You can pay $8 to park in the small parking lot here but I wouldn’t suggest doing this as it gets packed early in the day. You can easily park on PCH for free but watch out for the “No Parking” areas so you don’t get ticketed. Also, pay attention to the cars zipping by on PCH and make sure you wait until the roads are COMPLETELY clear before you cross.