Malaga Cove Beach(Haggerty's, Rat Beach)

Located in the northernmost point of the city of Palos Verdes Estates, Malaga Cove Beach is one of the sandiest beaches you can find in the city. This beach is part of a long continuous shoreline along the California coast which also has other beaches including RAT Beach and South Redondo Beach. The southern portions of the beach are rocky while the sandier portions are toits north. The beach sees fewer visits than other Palos Verdes Beaches due to its partially remote location.

Although Malaga Cove Beach has lifeguards and restrooms, it does not have any other amenities so prepare your visit accordingly. Dogs are not allowed on the beach.

Malaga Cove Beach has many activities such as swimming, sun bathing, skim boarding, and snorkeling.

You can get to Malaga Cove Beach easily - the access path to the beach is located near the intersection of Paseo Del Mar and Via Arroyo, where there is also a free parking lot open between 5am to 9pm. You can take the access path to the beach from the northern part of the parking lot.

If you are looking for attractions near Malaga Cove Beach, the iconic Malibu Pier is a 40-minute drive away. The Malibu Pier is a fun tourist attraction that’s famous for its dual white towers, rough-hewn planks, two restaurants, five stores, and an observation deck where you can fish and look for dolphins. If you like hiking, Big Rock Trail is 1,895 feet tall and provides many trails to the peak which provides an incredible view of the area and is a great spot to take Instagram-worthy pictures. Another good hiking option near Malaga Cove Beach is Topanga Lookout Trailhead – it’s spread across 9,000 acres in the Santa Monica Mountains 2,375 feet above the Pacific Ocean and offers two-mile round-trip hikes with spectacular 360-degree mountain and ocean views. It is also popular with mountain bikers. Another great attraction near Malaga Cove Beach is Venice Beach Boardwalk, a lively and famous seaside promenade featuring street performers, bodybuilders, restaurants, tourist shops, a great skateboard park, and kayak and boat riding facilities.

If you get hungry, there are many restaurants within a 20-minute drive of Malaga Cove Beach. If you are looking for an upscale restaurant, the always-crowded Mastro's Ocean Club is situated on the famous Topanga Beach and features seafood and the well-renowned 24 oz. Porterhouse steak – which was mentioned in "The 100 Most Scenic Restaurants in the US" by Business Insider. If you like Thai food, Cholada Thai Beach Cuisine is a vegetarian-friendly beachside eatery on Pacific Coast Highway that serves Thai curries, noodles, and salads. Another great restaurant near Malaga Cove Beach is Reel Inn Malibu which offers several seafood dishes including oysters, shrimps, groupers, and fish at very reasonable prices.

If you are looking for a hotel near Malaga Cove Beach, there are many options within a 25-minute drive. Nobu Ryokan Malibu is an intimate, 16-room 5-Star, very expensive, and private beachfront hotel with Asian-themed rooms and a small gym. The upscale 4-Star hotel Malibu Beach Inn has many amenities including a bar, spa, and restaurant – it is located on Carbon Beach, which has been nicknamed Billionaires’ Beach due to the many ultrawealthy homeowners and incredibly expensive homes there. (In 2019, a home on Carbon Beach sold $110 million.) The Surfrider Hotel, Malibu is a 4-Star hotel featuring a lounge, rooftop bar, and restaurant. If you are looking for an affordable hotel near Malaga Cove Beach, the pet-friendly Malibu Country Inn has a pool and an outdoor fireplace.