San Diego Beaches: Swami’s Beach Encinitas

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Encinitas is a classic Southern California beach town.  Swami’s Beach is a noted surfing spot right below the famed Self-Realization Fellowship.

• Beach Type: Isolated sandy beach backed by cliffs
• Access: Either from La Shores North parking lot or 15^th Street in Del Mar
• Parking: Free street parking, paid parking at La Jolla Shores North and Del Mar
• Facilities: Restrooms at either end
• Good For: Surfing, avoiding crowds, sunbathing, walking/jogging, tide pools
• Not Good For: ease of access, family day at the beach

The name Swami’s comes from the famed Self-Realization Fellowship built in the 1940s by Swami Paramahansa Yogananda.  Swami’s is located right below the fellowship just north of San Elijo State Beach.  Downtown Encinitas is just a few blocks away.

Swami’s Beach is mainly about surfing.  This is recognized as a prime international surfing location.  To the north the swell is referred to as the Boneyards and to the south is the Pipes.  On our visit in mid-October we counted over 50 surfers in the chilly water.

There is a small parking area by the steep staircase down to the beach.  This is a nice little park where during Halloween they decorate the statues.

We like to visit Swami’s during the off-season where it is a peaceful place to take a beach walk.  Usually we combine this with a visit to the Meditation Gardens at the Self-Realization Fellowship.

Meditation Gardens at the Self-Realization Fellowship Center

Encinitas is a beach town just north of San Diego.  One of the best places to visit is the free Meditation Gardens at the Self-Realization Fellowship.  Located on the cliffs above the beach, this is one of the most scenic areas in coastal San Diego County. WEBSITE: http://www.encinitastemple.org/ You cannot miss the Self-Realization Fellowship as […]

Swami’s Beach is not really about hanging out for a day at the beach.  If we want to bring a group to swim and spend a day at the beach we will generally head a mile or so south to Cardiff State Beach or head a short distance to the north to Moonlight State Beach in downtown Encinitas.

One of the joys of San Diego is that you can visit the beaches year-round. Swami’s Beach is right near the top of places to visit in the fall and winter.  The scenery is beautiful and you can watch some of the best surfers around.

For the beach areas to the direct north you can see our guide to D Street and Boneyards Beach.  This is the isolated half-mile section along coastal bluffs to the popular and family-friendly Moonlight State Beach.

Directly to the south is the Encinitas community of Cardiff-by-the-Sea.  This is home to several popular state beach areas.

Be sure and check our full guide to all San Diego beaches.

Guide to San Diego's Best Beaches

The ocean is a major San Diego attraction.  San Diego County has 70 miles of beach along the Pacific Ocean.  Deciding which beach is most appropriate can be a difficult decision.  Fun Diego Family is mapping out the entire San Diego coastline.  This is our guide to San Diego’s Best Beaches. The San Diego County […]

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