Zuma Beach

Rose Dewitt Bukater of James Cameron's Titanic may have ridden beaches by the Santa Monica pier, but a trip to Zuma in the summer often brings sights of smiling dolphins bobbing up and down through the waves. In Malibu, they get so close to the shore you'll get the urge to run into the water and join them. Zuma is often less crowded than the more touristy Santa Monica and Venice (not to mention cleaner), and is located near multiple scenic and challenging hikes with ocean views. On a clear day, you can see Catalina!

If you want a beach that is more family oriented and less party central then Zuma Beach may be what you are looking for. Even though the beach does get crowded, it is a lot of locals and family’s which may distinguish it from the more well known beaches. Instead of paying for parking you may try parking at Malibu High, which will provide you with a free place to park and is still be close to the beach. If you keep your eyes open, chances are that you may be able to see dolphins swimming out in the distance. Not only is the beach beautiful, the drive to the beach also provides exquisite scenery as well. Your journey to Zuma beach will send you through beautiful mountains and vineyards before reaching the beach. They say getting there is half the fun, right? The cons of Zuma Beach would be the bathrooms and the fact that it seems to be cloudy frequently. The bathrooms at the beach are wet and dirty and not the most pleasant bathrooms to use. Also, for some reason it seems that when the sun is shining every else there is still a chance clouds will be hanging over Zuma Beach. Not to say that it is always cloudy 100% of the time, but it does happen frequently.

This is a very private, quite beach but it still attracts a decent amount of people. The beach is very clean, which gives it extra points for me. The one thing I love about this beach the most is the fact that it features a private area away from the main beach, called Pirates Cove. You have to climb over a few rocks to get there, but it's definitely worth it. You will see some people trying to climb up the giant cliff on the beach. Others come with family. A lot of people bring their dates here, since it is a pretty secluded beach. It's a great place to get away from the city but still be close to it. This is the spot not a lot of people know about. Just bring a cooler packed with food and cold drinks and spend a day in the sun tanning and enjoying the breeze of the ocean.

I have been to this beach twice now and I have no complaints at all! The beach is absolutely beautiful. The sand is a great place to lay down and relax. The beach is always quiet. It is busy during nice days but what beach isn't. The amount of people is no where near the amount of people who attend beaches such as Santa Monica or Venice. The beach also includes volleyball nets for the active type. So whether you are looking to sun bath or go in the water with the family, this is the place for you. Also who knows who you might see here. My friend once saw Owen Wilson here so you just never know. This is LA!

I have never had a bad experience at this beach. It's never very full, and it's great to get away from the city and crowds of the beaches in the Los Angeles basin. Parking is a breeze, and there are miles of beach to explore, plus the scenery is gorgeous. It's also nice and close to Paradise Cove and Point Dume, which are definitely worth checking out as well. Four stars all the way!

I love Zuma because it is so mellow and relaxed compared to a touristy location. The beaches are very clean and it is not over saturated with people. This is one beach I can stand to swim in because the view is amazing without a pier or something that might turn me off such as floating trash. There is plenty of space to play sports, fly kites, or just lay out. There are food vendors but they are pretty spread out so I recommend you bring your own food. There is opportunity for renting equipment there as well. As far as parking, there are a lot of space in the lots, but park on the side of PCH if you can find a spot for free parking. If I wanted to go swimming at a beach, this is the place to go. It is not too far from Santa Monica and its worth the trip to Zuma Beach.

This is by far the best-kept secret in Southern California. Zuma offers white sand, clean water, and free highway parking. Although the drive to Zuma is a bit longer than Santa Monica or Manhattan Beach, it is definitely worth the trip. You’ll find the temperature to be about fifteen to twenty degrees cooler than LA or the Valley and you get to enjoy the beauty of the mountains all around. Whether you want to take the family out for a beach day, spend some time alone, or take your significant other to watch the sun set, this beach offers privacy, fun, and a few snack shacks if you get hungry. There’s even a great little seafood pub just north of Zuma beach called Neptune’s Net. I’d suggest you check out this hole-in-the-wall beach right away!

Zuma Beach is one of my favorite beaches. It is a really nice beach. If you want a nice getaway I suggest going to Zuma Beach. The beach is so big that even a crowd doesn’t seem like that much. It is a perfect hangout place during the summer. If I had to pick a beach to go to I would definitely pick Zuma beach just because I love the atmosphere there. It isn’t dirty there so you don’t have to worry about that. When it is quiet the sound of the waves is really soothing. Just talking about it makes me want to back.

I love Zuma beach. I would drive an extra 20 minutes past the first each I see just to visit zuma. I've never had trouble parking there. And they have volleyball courts (tons!) which makes it so much more fun! Just bring a volleyball and you're entertained for at least an hour. Bringing a football, soccer ball, and frisbee is fun too. I also like to bring a deck of cards. Just spread out a towel underneath you, and you have yourself a card towel! I always take snacks, although I don't usually get hungry until after we leave, making the snacks pointless. Take water and a camera. I saw a seal here once! I also tried learning how to skim board here, but I ended up getting hurt. The only downside to Zuma is that the police are strict. No BBQ on the beach. Or alcohol. I was eating jack in the box there once, and they came asking us if we spiked our drinks. Mind you, we were all under 21, the youngest one being 10. Watch out for those cops when you're on PCH too.

My favorite beach in Southern California. A nice getaway from the bad beaches of Los Angeles. Short drive on the 101 (relatively). Large strip of sand, not too much tide movement. Great surf for boogie boarding and surfing. Generally not too crowded, however on peak weekends it can be. Great place to spend a whole day, and getting dinner somewhere else in Malibu. No alcohol allowed on the beach, but patrols are semi-infrequent. Big beach.

It’s difficult to know where to start singing the praises of Zuma Beach. I’ve been coming here since I was a kid to enjoy the wildlife and beautiful scenery in addition to getting to spend a day at the beach with friends and family. I always enjoy the drive north along the PCH; on a clear day you can see as far as Catalina, and I still get excited watching the dramatic Malibu cliffs loom closer with every mile. Almost every time I’ve been here, I’ve seen dolphins, whales or sea lions. I once found a family of sea lions and their adorable puppies sunning on the rocks by the bluff, which might have been the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. It’s hard to believe that such wildlife exists peacefully so close to such a busy city! But although sea lions are fairly unusual, dolphins are not; it’s pretty normal to see one, two, or even a pod of them breaching and playing. It’s an animal-lovers beach paradise. Zuma Beach is always pretty clean and never very crowded, allowing for intimate conversation without feeling isolated and alone. For a little more privacy, a short clamber around Point Dume opens up into a beautiful protected cove, dramatically flanked by steep rocky cliffs, where you can sun in the sand, and explore cavernous rock formations and tide pools. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous you can climb, scramble and wade further down the coastline until you come out into yet another beautiful Malibu beach. I like to pack a picnic (nothing like sandwiches and sand!) and a thermos of tea. If you’re not up to preparing food, you can try the varied culinary options at the Malibu Country Mart on the way. There are public bathrooms (sandy but passable) and although the parking lot can get crowded but there is always free parking along the PCH. You can even park up on top of the bluff and walk along a planked path that winds down to the beach. On the way you can walk out onto Point Dume and feel the wind through your hair, surrounded by sand and sea, and see south along the coastline all the way to the Santa Monica Pier and north up Zuma Beach. And more horizon than you can imagine. Even on a cloudy day this is one of the most outrageously beautiful and special views in the world. Sometimes there are weddings here, and it’s easy to understand why couples choose Zuma Beach; with the looming bluff “Point Dume” as a backdrop to crystal-clean blue Malibu waters and the expanse of golden sand, it would be hard to find a more dramatically romantic place to tie the knot. I highly recommend this beach for lovers (and fun-lovers)!

If you're looking to escape to the beach for a day, head to Zuma Beach. Pack up your beach bag, grab an ipod, roll the windows down, and enjoy the gorgeous scenery as you cruise down PCH. It's a little over 30 miles away from downtown LA, but the road trip is definitley worth it. Zuma is very much away from the hustle and bustle of the city, allowing you to soak up the sun and relax without the crowd of the beaches closer to the heart of LA. The sand is soft and the water is clear, and the beach overall is very clean. I find Zuma to be the most beautiful and serene of them all, have seen dolphins every time I've gone. The beach is huge and stretches quite a ways down the road, with plenty of free parking right on PCH. There are sand volleyball courts scattered along the beach and lots of space for other beach activities. Unlike Santa Monica, Venice, Manhattan, or Hermosa beaches, there is not much to do around Zuma-- there are no piers or boardwalks to hang out or grab a bite to eat at. Zuma is also not nearly as crowded as Santa Monica or Venice. It is more of an escape. There is a shopping center a couple miles out from the beach with some eateries you can get some food, or if you'd like Zuma is the perfect place for a beach picnic. It's not the place to go if you're looking for a quick trip to the beach-- but if you're looking to relax and have an entire day to do so, check out Zuma. You won't be disappointed.

Zuma Beach is my favorite spot for getting away and relaxing oceanside. It's easy to access from the PCH and has multiple options for parking. If you want to spare some cash you should skip the official parking lot and set up shop on the south-side of the beach. Turn left off PCH onto Westward Beach Road and you'll be able to park along the road for free. You'll open your car door and step into the sand! The south end of the beach connects with Point Dume State Beach which is also one of the greatest places on Earth. You can leave your car on Westward Beach Rd and walk along the water all the way down to the point, or you can drive to a paid lot at the end of the road (prices go down after 4 P.M.). Dume offers more than just the sunbathing, the surfing, and relaxing of Zuma. Here you can watch climbers scale the rock faces or even climb/repel yourself. If that's too intense for you then scramble over ocean sprayed rocks to discover a more secluded beach called Pirate's Cove. This is the perfect place to watch for the spouts of migrating whales and dolphins during the winter months. It's truly a breathtaking experience. Seals and tide pools populate the coast south of Pirate's Cove. Make sure to check them out after you're done meditating on the majesty of where you are. Zuma itself is always clean with receptacles for trash and recycling, and the the water is that perfect blue-grey. Restrooms are located right where Westward Beach Rd turns south and runs along the beach. The water temperature is chilly, but in the summer when the sun is beating down on you chill is what you want. Rip currents happen here a lot so be careful if you plan on swimming out. You'll never feel unsafe though because lifeguards are always nearby, either in their SUVs, planes, or boats. Zuma can get pretty populated with families, but that's much more preferable to the crowd that hangs out on Santa Monica Beaches. It's a perfect place for kites, football, beach volleyball, frisbee, skim boarding, surfing, and chilling with your close friends. It can get windy here, especially as the sun sets, so you'll want to pack a jacket if you plan on staying for a long time. The downsides: 1. The Birds. Alfred Hitchcock might have found inspiration back in 60's on this beach. If you're planning on having a picnic here be prepared for the barrage. If you have a dislike for birds at all, don't be discouraged from coming here because they only bother you if you're eating or around people eating/feeding the birds. DON'T FEED THE BIRDS! 2. The Industry. A lot of commercials and photo-shoots choose this beach for their location and they can limit parking, accessibility to the good spots, or just be generally irritating if you're looking to get away from LA living. However, for non-residents this could be entertaining. Escape the city and head to Malibu. It's the perfect place to getaway by staying close.

Zuma beach is great any time of the year. It never gets too terribly cold and in the summer it never gets too terribly hot. The summer months offer the most beach weather and this is when you can see nothing but umbrellas for miles. I have to say that you shouldn't let the idea of this discourage you, because Zuma beach is not only family friendly, but a great place to just hang out with a few buddies. This beach overall is super clean and pretty well kept up. I have to say that if you like going in the water remember to watch out for rip tides because Zuma tends to have a lot of them. This said, the lifeguards to a pretty good job of keeping the masses out of harms way. One year there was trouble with jellyfish, they were everywhere and I do mean EVERYWHERE, however it seems to be that it was only that one year as I have not seem them before or since that incident. I talked to a lifeguard as well and he informed me that this was kind of an unusual problem and that he hasn't seen anything like that since the one year. If you are a surfer, I recommend something in a short board range as bringing a longboard to Zuma does not seem to be idealistic. The surf is usually not bad, especially in the morning. The morning crowd there is great too. Just a few surfers, the occasional couple with their dog, and some runners- all friendly and mostly keep to themselves - not to mention the idealistic parking. If you hate to walk, there is a paid lot that runs directly on the beach which is convenient, especially if you bring a lot of things for a long beach day(coolers, blankets, boards, games, boombox, etc.) Last, but not least, Zuma can be nice in the evening hours, especially around sunset. I would recommend taking a camera and/or a friend and just enjoy the beach.

Zuma Beach is my favorite beach in Los Angeles County. Admittedly, it's a bit of a drive to get to, but: there is no better free beach in the County; forget Manhattan Beach, Ocean Park or anything south of there: Zuma Beach is the epitome: a classic LA beach. Zuma harbored my surfing lessons, countless musical memories -- both solo and with fellows -- not to mention my first Dolphin and Seal sightings on this coast! Go at night with a blanket and a pal -- the constellations here on clear nights rivals what I've seen up on Angeles National's peaks -- or pick a magic hour: sunsets and sunrises burden the ocean horizon and coastline with beauty that has serious photographers (myself included) getting portraits and landscapes alike. I've seen a canvas there too (nothing but private artists there for the lush surroundings). This is a clean beach and will quickly attach itself to sentiment for beachists looking for more removed, raw ocean. It's recommended to take food and drink with you-- there are local stores in Zuma off Heathcliff, but that might not be walkable for all folks. On most days, parking is aplenty along the PCH on the coast side. There is more paid parking with direct access to sand -- ideal for anyone who wants to unload more than just their shortboard before slicing some lines...like, all the families the beach neatly accommodates. Parking on hot weekends can be in high demand, but for the most part, there are always spaces. The waves here can reach a good five feet coming into sand, so children IN the sea here?— maybe I’d hazard you doing that. Serious swimmers should expect surfboard traffic on any given day, and in any conditions. All Surfboard sports are welcome here, the ocean asks of it. A warm day, long, low waves and a longboard… There aren’t enough hours to love all of Zuma.

Zuma is one of my favorite beaches in the LA area. It is really nice, beautiful, and very accessible. There are a couple parts of the beach: the main stretch of zuma where you can either park along PCH or in the lot (you have to pay) Westward beach, where you can park along the street and don't have to pay to park, and further down westward by point dume where you have to pay to park. I recommend westward beach if you can find a place to park! Overall though, Zuma is a great place and a very popular destination for those looking for a nice day at the beach. The waves can be a little strong there so be careful! Its a beautiful place !

I like this beach, but I prefer the Santa Monica beach. But that's probably because as someone native to LA, i'm a bit biased. It's a pretty teeny-bopper beach; meaning it's a lot of high schoolers but that's not necessarily a bad thing! Zuma is especially fun for beach volleyball players. Pepperdine volleyball players have practice at this beach, so that's pretty fun to watch and incredibly inspiring if you have any interest in beach volleyball! The ocean seems extra cold at Zuma, but again that might be because I'm biased and sensitive (hehe). But don't worry, there are plenty of hot surfers to check out while you bronze by the shore. If you're in the area for some reason, definitely check out Zuma.

This is a really popular beach for teenagers and serves as a popular meeting spot for many high school kids. Many people will say "meet me at tower 7" which is where you can find tons of teens. This is a great beach because there are food stands, showers, tons of parking, and public restrooms. Zuma is super long so planning a tower to meet at is important if you are meeting up with people. The waves are usually big and there's always surfers there! The downside of Zuma is that sometimes it can be quite windy. Definitely a beach to check out though, especially since you're also almost sure to see some dolphins!

I grew up going to Zuma beach with my high school friends. We would always meet at tower 7 which was the cool spot to be. I havent been to Zuma in a while but when i go to the beach I choose to come to Zuma. There is also free Zuma which has free parking, it is basically the same but if you go all the way to the end there is a gorgeous view with a cliff. A lot of weddings happen here and it is gorgeous. Zuma however isnt known to be one of the most beautiful beaches, but it is still a lot of fun. Families and groups of friends get together here but no alcohol is allowed. If you are visiting you have to come to Zuma.

I have grown up in Los Angeles and every time I wanted to go to the beach I have gone to Zuma. It is far enough away that there are not a lot of tourists and even when its summertime and a lot of people are heading to the coast, Zuma is large enough that it is still peaceful and open. There is plenty of parking, places to eat on the beach and some great restaurants nearby, and it is clean! It is the perfect place to get away for a day or an afternoon and just lay out and enjoy the sweet sounds of the waves crashing on the beach. Zuma is my favorite beach and i recommend it to anyone!

It depends on when you go, but the very first time I went to Zuma there was absolutely no one there. It was an awesome place to swim or lounge and read and there were quite a few people surfing (though I think it is more of a beginner area). There a few restaurants within driving distance and we had some pizza from a local pizzeria that was delicious. We saw quite a few lifeguards while there that made us feel really safe, and the few people on the beach were really friendly. Awesome experience that I would really recommend if you were looking for a nice beach.

Zuma beach is one of my favorites. It is a bit of a hike from downtown LA but it is so worth it. The water is so much prettier then the LA beaches. I don't think you can even compare Manhattan Beach or Santa Monica beach to Zuma. I love the beautiful scenery of Malibu and getting away from the city. The cliffs and rocky backdrop of Zuma are beautiful. Zuma beach makes a great day trip. Pack a picnic and go for the whole day. You can find parking along the road or on PCH if you are willing to walk a little bit. You don't necessarily have to pay the 10$ for the lot.

Zuma beach is friendly and fun and big enough for all visitors. It is a surfers destination as well but the waves aren't incredible. There are food stands and restrooms of course, but with such a big beach it can be a bit of a trek. Be warned that parking can be an annoyance and the street signs are not clear so definitely take a look at those before you park the car. Also the area surround Zuma is fun and you can find some great unknown places to eat and shop.

Zuma Beach is great - it's clean, family-friendly, huge, and clean. The community of locals and beachgoers are really friendly, open, and respectful, which is great when trying to escape the rush of LA. If you plan on getting wet, be warned, water from the Pacific Ocean doesn't get too warm. I like sitting between towers 6 and 7 because it is usually filled with younger people and isn't too far from the food stand and restrooms. Head to Zuma in the morning (around 8:00-9:00am) if you want to save money and find street parking. IMPORTANT: Be sure to read the street signs for any parking regulations and restrictions.

I got engaged on Zuma Beach so I am a little partial to it, but this is a great beach in general and gets you away from LA a little without taking too long. Way less crowded than anything in LA and even some of the Malibu beaches and there is plenty of parking. I recommend staying left as you come down Westward Beach Rd. and then trying to park for free along a long stretch before you get to pay parking. If there is nothing available parking is still cheap. This stretch of beach to the south is even less crowded than to the north and you can also be close to the Sunset for a drink or dinner after a day on the beach. There are some big bluffs and a road leads up to some fancy houses but the walk along the beach to Point Dume is pretty awesome as well. The Sunset gets its share of Malibu celebs, Matthew McConaughey and Sean Penn have both been around when I was there hanging out with some Pepperdine grad students. Across the PCH is Spruzzo for some decent Italian and if you don't want to drive home the Malibu Country Inn is right there and then you can wake up on with a patio facing the beach which is pretty great as well. Drive up from LA and take the whole day there to relax, get some food, and unwind.