Officially named Tourmaline Surfing Park, this beach is located at the base of Tourmaline Street just south of
La Jolla in the city of
Pacific Beach. Tourmaline sits north of the downtown Pacific Beach. The beach offers a wide stretch of sand for sunbathing or just strolling along the shore. Tourmaline is mainly a surfing beach and has enough space and several different breaks to accommodate the summer crowds.
This is a popular beach for surfing, but with the consistency of
Good waves comes the inevitable consistency of large crowds.Tourmaline is considered a “locals spot” and is very noticeable upon entering the beaches parking lot. The locals are friendly, but very serious about respecting their territory. It’s best to be considerate and respectful at this beach and leave the hot shot attitudes at home.
This is not a bad place to bring the family. There is plenty of space on the sand to stretch out and accommodate everyone and there is easy access parking available. There is a separate area for swimming and surfing and the water is shallow enough for kids to play in. This is also a fun place to bring the boogie board, for
Nice mellow shore breaks.
Just a short distance from Tourmaline beach is Tourmaline canyon, which is great for tide pooling. You can get to it by walking north from the beaches entrance. The beach is at the base of large cliffs, which offer a paved sidewalk guiding you from Tourmaline beach all the way into downtown Pacific Beach. The path would make for a nice walk or run. It’s approximately one mile.
Tourmaline is a City of
San Diego park, complete with restrooms, showers and a parking lot. The Tourmaline parking lot is heavily used by surfers and beach goers year round. Parking is free but finding a spot can be tricky, especially during the summer months. There are also places to park along Tourmaline Street (the street leading to the beach) and along the Coast highway.
