Portuguese Beach(Sonoma Coast State Park)

Located three miles north of the town of Bodega Bay in Sonoma County, Portuguese Beach is a large beach that is a part of Sonoma Coast State Park. The beach has light brown sand, sandy beaches, and is below a blufftop parking area - and is bordered by tall rocky cliffs that overlook the Pacific Ocean.

While Portuguese Beach does not have lifeguards or any amenities, the blufftop area above the beach has picnic tables and restrooms. The beach also allows dogs on leash.

Portuguese Beach offers many activities including boating, beachcombing, tide-pooling, sunbathing, jet skiing, fishing, picnicking, and wildlife watching. Recreational aquatic activities including swimming and surfing are unsafe in Portuguese Beach as the water near this beach is known for its sharp waves, strong water currents, and extremely cold temperature. Be careful here – the rocky shoreline near Portuguese Beach can be dangerous and visitors have suffered very grave injuries here. In fact, in 2009 the Santa Rosa newspaper The Press Democrat listed Portuguese Beach as one of the "deadliest beaches" along the Sonoma County coastline. The water near Portuguese Beach is home to many animals including seals, sea lions, dolphins, and migrating grey whales (between December and April). The beach also has tidepools in its rockier northern and southern parts. A popular activity at Portuguese Beach is fishing - you can catch a large array of fish here including halibut, perch, and salmon. However, we advise reviewing the water conditions near the beach before fishing as it can be difficult during rough water conditions. The blufftop area near the beach offers a marvelous view of the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding Sonoma County Coastline.

Getting to Portuguese Beach is easy - the access trail to the beach is located near the intersection of Eureka Drive and Pacific Coast Highway, where there is also a free parking lot. The other access trail to Portuguese Beach which also has a free parking lot is located south of this intersection.

There are many attractions near Portuguese Beach. The Ren Brown Collection is an art gallery that displays mesmerizing Asian-Californian artworks and has a koi pond, a Japanese garden, tea house, a stone garden, and a bamboo grove that is occasionally open for public viewing. Bodega Head is a rocky headland that has walking trails that offer an interesting insight into the topography and biodiversity of Bodega Bay and northern California. If you are looking for another attraction near Portuguese Beach, the Mammoth Rocks is a prehistoric site that has blueschist rocks that bear interesting scratch marks from Colombian mammoths. For those interested in exploring more natural beauty, the nearby Russian River area offers picturesque scenery and additional sandy beaches to enjoy.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Portuguese Beach. Terrapin Creek is an upscale restaurant that offers excellent seafood and steaks. The restaurant has been also mentioned in a variety of publications including the MICHELIN Guide and ZAGAT. La Bodeguita Mexican Grill offers delicious tacos,enchiladas, chili verde, and camarones al mojo de ajo. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Portuguese Beach, the modestly priced Roadhouse Coffee offers fantastic quiches, coffee, and deserts and has a homely ambiance.

If you are looking for a hotel near Portuguese Beach, there are many great options. The 4-Star Bodega Bay Lodge offers many amenities including a restaurant, complimentary coffee and evening wine tasting sessions, a lounge with a fire pit, a fitness center, a spa, a pool, a hot tub, and a sauna. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Bodega Coast Inn & Suites that offers many amenities including complimentary breakfast and a hot tub. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Portuguese Beach, the modestly priced 2-Star Bodega Harbor Inn has a lawn with ocean views, picnic tables, barbecue area, lounge chairs, and seasonal complimentary continental breakfast.