Swami’s is a beauty.
It has the look and feel of a deserted island in paradise, with the added bonus that it is a popular snorkeling spot and a surfing mecca where, on days when the surf’s up, you can watch top-notch amateur surfers catching waves with aplomb.
Lifeguards on duty 8am-sunset (mid June-Aug); weekends only (Sept-May). Restrooms on left side of parking lot; outdoor shower under staircase on beach.
Smoking, alcoholic beverages, glass containers, fires, skateboards and dogs not permitted
On summer weekends (June-Sept), holidays and days when surfing conditions are ripe, lot and street parking can be extremely hard to come by; arrive early or take public transportation
Train + Metro Bus: Encinitas station, then take the 101 bus to South Coast Hwy & Swami’s Pedestrian Xing (by lotus columns). Walk 1 block south to a parking lot where you can take stairs down to the beach.