El Matador State Beach

El Matador State Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in all of Malibu located a couple miles south of Leo Carrillo State Beach. There is a small parking lot designated for El Matador and the spots fill up quickly, especially on a nice summer day. The parking fee in this lot is eight dollars and subject to change during holidays. There is also street parking available on Pacific Coast Highway for free, but these spots are limited as well. If you do park on the street, pay close attention to the parking signs about when you can and cannot park.

The path down to the beach is a small trek, so make so to bring shoes with some traction for this part of your day. This trail unfortunately is not handicap accessible. However, once you get down there it is well worth the walk. Down at the beach you can find large rocks that attract many beach goers to this beach in particular. Also, the views from the upper cliffs are incredible, looking down on large boulders and deep blue water filled with kelp forests.

The beach is long and there is plenty of sand for sunbathers. Be careful because there are some scattered rocks in the water. There is no lifeguard tower, but the beach will be manned with a lifeguard. Some of the beach activities include body surfing, boogie boarding, swimming, fishing, and more. There are no bathrooms, except for a porta-potty in the parking lot and no showers. We also recommend bringing your own food and drink but no alcohol. There are no concession areas.

Open 8am to Sunset