2 carmel monastery beach

Monastery Beach

The views are absolutely gorgeous from Monastery Beach, so it’s definitely worth a stop. It’s a public beach with free parking, and is between Carmel by The Sea and Point Lobos.

This is a beach where you go to enjoy the views and sunshine, not the water. You can’t miss the warning signs, when you arrive. This can be a dangerous spot, and it has earned the nickname “Mortuary Beach.”

The beach consists of a wide flat area and a steep drop off where the waves break hard right on the sand. Rip currents are easy to spot in the water and on the sand, since it’s obvious the waves don’t break evenly. Also, the sand is very course and deep, so it would be hard to get a solid footing with waves breaking on and around you.

However, I still recommend a visit, as long as you stay back from the water’s edge. You can sit or walk while admiring the beauty of it all or you can bring a picnic or Frisbee. Dogs are welcome on the beach, but you’ll need to keep a safe distance from the water.