Sea Caves of La Jolla, San Diego, Guía del visitante y qué hacer cerca

The Sea Caves of La Jolla are a string of seven caves cut into the sandstone cliffs along Coast Boulevard in La Jolla, San Diego. They sit just east of La Jolla Cove, a small beach beside a protected underwater park, and they are best known for the White Lady, a ghost legend that kayakers have told for generations.

The story behind it

The cliffs here are being slowly hollowed out by the Pacific. East of the Cove the sea has carved seven caves, named Clam's Cave, Sunny Jim, Arch, Sea Surprize, Shopping Cart, Little Sister and, furthest along, the White Lady. Most can only be reached from the water, and some only at very low tides. Below the surface lies the San Diego-La Jolla Underwater Park, a protected marine area where bright orange garibaldi swim among the kelp and sea lions bark from the rocks.

The legend of the White Lady is the oldest ghost story on this stretch of coast. It tells of a bride on her honeymoon who was gathering shells near the caves when the tide rushed in. A wave swept her out to sea and she was never found. Some say she was seen at the cave mouth in her white gown. Others say the opening itself took on her shape, a pale arch like a veiled figure in the rock. The smaller cave beside it, shaped the same way, is called the Little Sister. Nobody has proved or disproved the tale, which is part of its pull.

What to look for

• Look east from the Cove along the cliff line, where the dark openings of the caves show in the sandstone.
• Find the pale, arched opening of the White Lady and the smaller cave beside it, the Little Sister.
• Watch the water around the Cove for sea lions on the rocks and orange garibaldi flashing in the kelp.
• Listen when the swell pushes into the cliffs, as the boom of water inside the caves can roll back along the coast.

Tips for your visit

• Give it 30 to 60 minutes if you are looking from the cliffs and the Cove, longer if you add a kayak or snorkel outing.
• Check the tide tables before you go, since the sea decides what can be reached, and never enter a cave on foot when the tide is rising.
• Late afternoon light and a lively swell make the caves most dramatic, while calm mornings are better for the water.
• The Cove and the grassy clifftop park beside it are right next to the caves, so combine them in one walk and check current conditions for any access or tour details.

See it on a quest

The caves are one stop on Ghost Hunt in San Diego, a self-guided walk with a ghostly theme. You reach the place on foot as part of a longer route through the area, the app tells you about each spot as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle right in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like, with no guide and no set departure time.