About Windansea Beach:
Windansea Beach is a beautiful, rock-strewn beach famous for its surf break, hard-breaking waves right at the shoreline. It's also a great place to go whale-watching during their migrations to and from Mexico.
In 1940s Windansea surfers built a Polynesian-style, sideless hut on the beach. Legend says it was nicknamed "Sugar Shack" for romantic encounters that happened there, despite its lack of privacy.
Author Tom Wolfe memorialized 1960s-era Windansea surfers in The Pumphouse Gang.
Windansea Beach Fees:
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Entrance Fee: None
Parking Fee: None
Creature Comforts at Windansea Beach:
- No restrooms in the area
- Lifeguard on duty daily in summer, and on weekends spring and fall.
- Alcohol is permitted on the beach from 12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m. only, but not in the parking lot, on the walkway or grassy area.
- Pets allowed only between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m., and they must be on a leash.
Windansea Beach Activities:
- Surfing. The surf breaks are very close together and can get quite crowded. Novice surfers may be better off at La Jolla Shores.
- Swimming. Enter and exit the water carefully to prevent injuries on the rocks.
- Scuba diving IS NOT recommended because of the surf break.
Lodging Near Windansea Beach: Any of our La Jolla hotel picks are near Windansea Beach.
Highs and Lows at Windansea Beach:
The rocky cliffs make it somewhat difficult to get down to the small beach, and at high tide, sand is scarce.
Beachgoer Beware:
- In summer, San Diego beaches are subject to red tides.
How to Get to Windansea Beach: To get to Windansea Beach from downtown La Jolla, take Prospect Street south. As it curves left, it becomes La Jolla Blvd. Turn right at Nautilus Street and take it to the end. Park in the small parking lot or on a nearby street.
From I-5, take Torrey Pines Road to Prospect Street and follow the directions above.
