🇺🇸 Malibu (Zuma Beach)
USA · North America · All USA spots →
Best directionW
Wind speed12–20kt
SeasonApr – Sep
Skill levelIntermediate
WaterChop + waves
One of LA County's most iconic beaches, part of the broader Southern California coast that gets consistent afternoon sea breeze through spring and summer.
View live 5-day wind forecast →Good to know
Getting thereNorthern Malibu along the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), about 45 minutes west of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). A car is essential; a large paid municipal lot runs the length of the beachfront. The stretch near parking lot 8 gives the cleanest launch away from surfers.
HazardsOpen Pacific exposure means a real, dumping shorebreak and rip currents that can drain energy fast. Watch for the fast transition to deep water, summer swimming crowds, and the lack of dedicated public marine safety or kite rescue boats.
Best time of dayAfternoon, spring through summer, when daytime heating over the Santa Monica mountains triggers a steady thermal sea breeze from the NW. Stabilizes after 2pm for a clean cross-onshore breeze.