Everything You Need to Know to Visit El Matador State Beach
Last Updated: August 13, 2023
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Everything You Need to Know About El Matador State Beach: Table of Contents
- What is El Matador State Beach famous for?
- What movies have been filmed at El Matador Beach?
- Is there parking at El Matador State Beach?
- How much does parking cost at El Matador State Beach?
- Is El Matador State Beach free?
- How long is the hike down to El Matador State Beach?
- Are there bathrooms at El Matador State Beach?
- How crowded is El Matador State Beach?
- Is there food and water at El Matador State Beach?
- Is it safe to swim at El Matador State Beach??
- Is El Matador State Beach dog friendly?
Complete Guide to El Matador State Beach in Malibu
What is El Matador State Beach famous for?
El Matador Beach in Malibu is known for its stunning rocky cliff formations and sea caves. This unique beach makes for beautiful photos 📸 and fun exploring. If you are looking for a scenic California beach near Los Angeles, you should give El Matador Beach a try. El Matador was also the site of several filming locations.
What movies have been filmed at El Matador Beach?
The famous beach scene from The Notebook was filmed at El Matador State Beach. “If you’re a bird, I’m a bird.” While we can’t promise you’ll find a lifetime soulmate at this beach, we can promise great views. And you can always pretend to be Rachel McAdams running giddily through the water.
The music video for Alessia Cara’s How Far I’ll Go from Moana was also filmed at El Matador State Beach, so feel free to tap into your inner Moana ocean energy. 🌊
Here are some other activities nearby if you want to do some more exploring in Malibu:
Is there parking at El Matador State Beach?
Yes, there is a small parking lot at El Matador State Beach. You may have to wait a few minutes for a spot to come available, especially if you go on a weekend during the summer. We went to El Matador State Beach on a Sunday in July, and we only had to wait about 5 minutes for a spot. But we heard other people saying that they had waited 10-15 minutes for a parking spot.
What about street parking? Is there street parking at El Matador Beach? Yes and no. Near the entrance to the parking lot for El Matador Beach, there are many signs along the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) that say No Parking, Tow Zone. But nevertheless dozens of cars were parked along the PCH in the tow zone. It seemed like everyone made a collective decision to ignore the No Parking signs. So, we can’t recommend you park on the street near El Matador Beach, as there is always a chance you could get towed. But the risk is up to you.
How much does parking cost at El Matador State Beach?
It costs $10 to park all day at El Matador State Beach. The sign says that you can pay hourly for $3/hour, but that option did not seem to be working when we were there—it defaulted to $10. There is a pay station right at the beach trail entrance. You can pay with credit card or cash. You do not need a California Adventure Pass to park at El Matador State Beach.
Is El Matador State Beach free?
There is a $10 fee for parking, as mentioned above, but otherwise El Matador State Beach is free and open to the public.
How long is the hike down to El Matador State Beach?
The walk from the parking lot down the stairs and trail to El Matador Beach took about 10 minutes. There are 3 staircases in total, interspersed by sloping trails.
If you’ve seen the photos, you know that part of what makes El Matador Beach so impressive are its gorgeous towering cliffs and rock formations. But that means you have to park on top of the cliffs and walk down several flights of stairs to get to the beach from the parking lot.
How difficult is the trail to El Matador Beach? Not terribly difficult. We saw young children and elderly adults making the trek down to the beach and back up to the cars. So the trail to El Matador Beach is doable for all ages.
However, if you have mobility issues, El Matador State Beach might not be the place for you. Unfortunately, there is no wheelchair accessible way to get down to El Matador Beach. Only the overlook area from the parking area is wheelchair accessible.
Are there bathrooms at El Matador State Beach?
Yes, there are about 4-5 porta-potty bathrooms at the parking lot of El Matador State Beach. One of the porta-potties was an accessible bathroom. However, there are no bathrooms down below at the actual beach.
How crowded is El Matador State Beach?
On the weekends in the summer, El Matador State Beach gets pretty crowded. When we went, there were lots of people lining up to take photos at the scenic rock formations, particularly at the sea cave. If you want to avoid the crowds, go to El Matador State Beach in the morning or on a weekday.
However, the best sunshine definitely comes out at El Matador Beach in the later afternoon, so if warmth and sun is your priority, it may be worth it to brave the crowds. When we were there, it was still somewhat gray around 12:30 pm, but by 2:30 pm the sun was shining brightly. Though it was crowded, there was still plenty of space to plop down your beach chair or towel.
Is there food and water at El Matador State Beach?
No, there is no concession stand or drinking fountain at El Matador State Beach. So be sure to bring plenty of water, especially if you go in the afternoon when it gets quite hot.
There is also nowhere to buy snacks at El Matador State Beach, so you’ll want to pack lots of food to snack on if you plan to stay for a few hours. We only brought a few snacks and honestly our hunger was what ultimately forced us to leave this beautiful beach earlier than we planned.
Another option is simply to eat lunch nearby right beforehand. (Our personal favorite restaurant on the way from Los Angeles to Malibu is Malibu Farm Pier Cafe—farm fresh local ingredients right ON the Pacific Ocean in Malibu… what more can you want?!)
Is it safe to swim at El Matador State Beach?
Swimming is allowed at El Matador, but it is somewhat risky due to the rocky coastline. There are several areas of the beach that are flatter and less rocky, and you will see some people wading into the water there.
But you have to be incredibly attentive when swimming at El Matador State Beach, because the waves are strong and could toss you towards dangerous rock formations. You also need to watch your step when wading in the water, and consider wearing water shoes to protect your feet if you want to spend a lot of time in the rocky sea.
Though there is a lifeguard station high on the cliffs by the parking lot, there is no lifeguard down below at the beach. So you swim at your own risk.
Is El Matador State Beach dog friendly?
No, dogs are not allowed at El Matador State Beach. We saw one pup there whose owners ignored the signs prohibiting dogs. But the lifeguard at the station at the top of the beach could ask you to leave if you bring your dog. Additionally, the rock formations and multiple staircases could be dangerous for your pup, so best to leave your canine friends at home when visiting El Matador Beach.
Overall, we loved El Matador Beach as a day trip from Los Angeles. It’s a unique, gorgeous beach with lots to explore. We highly recommend checking out El Matador Beach in Malibu! 🏝