Bona Ventura

Malibu · Los Angeles

El Matador State Beach

ParkLocal favourite

A small cove of sand among rocky outcrops below a bluff, reached by a steep path and stairs; Time Out calls it SoCal's most beautiful beach. Angelenos come for sunset and to spread a towel in the rocks, far west of the Santa Monica crowds.

Address
32350 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265
Hours
Day-use parking 8:00-sunset (parks.ca.gov, 2026-10)
Best time to go
Evening · About 2 h
Price
Vehicle day use $10, or $3 per hour (parks.ca.gov, 2026-10)
Price level
$

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Details can change. Check hours and prices before you go.

Good to know

  • Wear shoes and pack light; the path down is steep and gravelly
  • Check the tide: at high tide there is little sand
  • El Pescador and La Piedra beaches nearby form the same state beach; walk to Lechuza for fewer people

Nearby

The Bona Ventura app

Plans your days, reads the walks aloud, finds what is open near you and works offline.

Download on the App Store

Android version coming soon.