Bolsa Chica / California / United States

Effectively dividing Sunset Beach and Huntington Beach, this place is a bit more secluded and laid back as it is in the middle of a nature reserve.  It breaks quite regularly and is suitable for surfers of all abilities.

This state beach requires a pass or an entry fee to be paid before you can access it.  It is quite big and consists of clean golden sand, but it can still get crowded at weekends. Water temperatures here will be about 12° C in winter to around 21° C in summer, so pack your wetsuit accordingly.

Although it is suitable for everybody including beginners, you can get  decent sized waves here which will start at about 1 m and quickly build to a maximum of 3 m on a good day. Timing is important as you need to catch it at the mid tide position with the swell coming from the south-west for it to work best. It is a beach break, both right and left, and the waves are pretty average in terms of power and speed.  The length here can be up to 150 m, but more commonly you will find that it is about 50 m.

Lifeguards patrol the beach and there is a snack bar here, along with plenty of parking close by the beach and just off the road.  For anything else, such as accommodation or nightlife, Huntington Beach is just a short drive away.

There are no hazards here whatsoever, the beach and water are both safe and the people are friendly.