Map of the La Jolla sea caves and kayak launches
Where the caves are, where the tours actually start, and how far apart those two things are. Tap a pin for details — and note the dashed line, because that is the paddle.
The dashed line is the part most descriptions skip. The caves are not at the launch: you paddle roughly a mile and a half of open ocean to reach them and the same again to come back, inside a two-hour tour. That crossing is why swell forecasts matter here more than anything else, and why lifeguards can close the launch or turn a tour around at any point — their decision is final. If you are weighing up renting a kayak and going alone, look at that distance on the map before you decide.
Note the four colours too. Only the first three groups are in La Jolla. The Mission Bay and Coronado paddles are good trips in their own right, but they are separate places on flat water with no caves, and this site is not going to pretend otherwise. Coronado or La Jolla compares them properly.
Launches from La Jolla Shores
- La Jolla Sea Cave Kayak TourThe flagship. Two hours from the Kellogg Park boat launch, past all seven caves and into Clam’s Cave. Helmet included, age 5 and up.
- Sea Cave Kayaking Tour with GuideThe premium small-group option, 90 minutes with a dedicated guide. Check in 30 minutes early — late arrivals are not refunded.
- Kayak and Snorkel TourChecks in on Avenida de la Playa. Two and a half hours despite the title: paddle out, then snorkel the rocky reef and the sandy flats. Swimmers 8 and up.
- Sea Caves Sunset Kayak TourThe flagship route moved to golden hour. Same reserve, same caves, same crossing — better light and a quieter beach afterwards.
- Stand Up Paddle Board RentalTwo hours, no guide. City rules mean you carry the board on foot between the shop and the sand — about five minutes each way, and it is heavy going.
- Full-Day Snorkel Gear RentalThe cheapest way into this water. Mask, snorkel, fins and a wetsuit option for the whole day, plus staff advice on where to swim. Refundable deposit required.
- 1.5-Hour Surfing LessonThe Shores break. Worth knowing about for one reason: when the swell is too big for the caves, it is often exactly right here.
Snorkel tours from La Jolla Cove
- Cove Snorkeling Tour: Sea Lions & CavesMeets at the Cove flagpole, not the Shores. Straight in off the beach and out past Emerald Cove. Age 12 and up, 90 lb minimum, no flotation devices allowed.
- Cove Sea Lions & Cave Snorkel Tour90 minutes with a 3 mm wetsuit, towels and snacks. Age 14 and up. A new listing with very few reviews so far — judge it accordingly.
The caves and the coast
- The seven sea cavesWhite Lady, Little Sister, Shopping Cart, Sea Surprize, Arch Cave, Sunny Jim’s and Clam’s Cave, cut into the cliffs below Goldfish Point. Six of the seven can be reached only from the water.
- Sunny Jim’s Cave (the walk-in one)The only one of the seven you can enter on foot, down 145 stairs from the Cave Store on Coast Boulevard. $13 adults, $7 youth 3–17, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No boat involved.
- Kellogg Park boat launchThe only beachfront boat launch inside San Diego city limits, open 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. The beach lot is free, which is exactly why it fills by mid-morning on summer weekends.
- Matlahuayl State Marine ReserveRoughly a square mile of protected water covering the Cove, the caves and part of the Shores. All take is prohibited; kayaking, snorkelling and diving are permitted. Designated in 2012.
Not in La Jolla
- Clear Kayak Sunset Tour, Mission BayLaunches at Crown Point on Mission Bay, well south of La Jolla. Flat bay water, illuminated kayaks, city lights — and no sea caves at all.
- Coronado Guided Kayak TourSan Diego Bay from Coronado Ferry Landing, under the bridge. Flat water, 90 minutes, age 4 and up, parking and gratuities included. Also no caves — but the right answer for young children.
Frequently asked questions
Where exactly are the La Jolla sea caves?
In the sandstone cliffs below Goldfish Point, just north of La Jolla Cove. Six of the seven can be reached only from the water. The seventh, Sunny Jim’s Cave, is entered on foot down 145 stairs from the Cave Store on Coast Boulevard.
How far is the paddle from La Jolla Shores to the caves?
About a mile and a half each way. Tours launch from the Kellogg Park boat launch at La Jolla Shores and paddle south-west down the coast — the dashed line on the map above traces the route. A typical cave tour spends most of its two hours on that crossing.
Do all the tours leave from the same place?
No. Most launch from Kellogg Park at La Jolla Shores, but the two Cove snorkel tours meet at the flagpole at La Jolla Cove, about half a mile south, and the Mission Bay and Coronado paddles launch miles away and never see the caves. Check your confirmation for the exact meeting point, and allow 30 minutes for parking on top of check-in.