Tourmaline is where a lot of San Diego surfers — including plenty of our own guests — first learned to stand up on a board. The break is forgiving, the crowd is famously laid-back and welcoming to beginners, and there’s an actual designated surfing zone free of swimmers, which takes a lot of the stress out of a first lesson. It’s an 8-minute drive from the property, making it realistic to squeeze in an early surf session before the rest of the day’s plans. If you’re renting boards or booking a lesson, this is the beach to request, and the surrounding parking lot has a genuine local surf-park feel with regulars who are happy to point beginners in the right direction. Check surfline.com the morning of for conditions before you head over.
