Experience iconic pink-sand California beaches at Pfeiffer Beach
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Picture this: digging your toes into cotton candy pink sand while watching turquoise blue waves crash against the shore. You can make this image a reality on the California coast, a place with miles or rugged coastline, rolling hills of vineyards and some of the biggest trees on earth. Taking a Princess cruise of the California coast takes you to the most iconic beaches, its best cities like San Francisco and the Redwoods while enjoying the luxury Princess is known for.
It’s also a great way to check a pink-sand beach off the bucket list and relax on a beach so beautiful it might seem fake. Read on to learn more about visiting the pink-sand beach — Pfeiffer Beach — in Big Sur during your California cruise.
Pfeiffer Beach
Pfeiffer Beach is a world-famous secluded wild beach known for its unique purple and pink sands. Sink your toes into the colorful sand and gaze at the spectacular Keyhole Arch, a large formation in the ocean right off the shore. Photographers flock to this beach to capture shots of the sunsets and sunrises in the keyhole of the arch, hopefully reflecting the purple sand. Nature lovers looking for a less-crowded California coastal experience will love Pfeiffer Beach.
Accessing Pfeiffer Beach
Pfeiffer Beach is located in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, but getting to the beach itself typically requires a car. It’s best as a day-trip if you’re renting a car in San Francisco or Santa Barbara before or after your cruise.
Travel along CA Highway 1 in Big Sur to Sycamore Canyon Road. It’s worth noting that Highway 1 can close due to mudslides, rain and other inclement weather. Always check the weather forecast before heading out to avoid getting stranded. Sycamore Canyon Road is a small, winding road that isn’t well-marked, so if you’re coming from the south, watch for the bridge and Big Sur Village and turn left shortly after that. If you see signs for Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, you’ve gone too far.
If you’re coming from the north, you’ll pass through Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and take a sharp right turn at mile marker 45.64. Once you’re on Sycamore Canyon Road, you’ll find the beach two miles down the way. There’s a short, sandy path that leads to the beach itself that’s not wheelchair accessible.
Parking at the beach costs $15, and there will be an attendant there to help you. The beach is only open during the day, so don’t head out too close to sunset.
What causes the pink sand?
Pink sand comes from the ground-down shells of tiny organisms called foraminifera. These single-cell ocean creatures build shells around themselves using the minerals in the water, like calcium carbonate. Their shells range from light bubble gum pink to vibrant reds. When the foraminifera die, the remains of their shells wash ashore and mix with the traditional quartz of the beach, and that’s what creates a pink color.
The purples at Pfeiffer Beach come from manganese garnet. This mineral is found in the hills surrounding the beach, and weather and erosion wash the manganese garnet onto the beach where it mixes with the quartz sand particles. The more rain, the more vibrant the color. If you can time your visit with recent rainfall, you’ll see better purples, especially around the bushes.
Things to do near Pfeiffer Beach
A pink and purple beach is worth the trip, but it’s certainly not the only spot worth visiting in the area. Pfeiffer Beach is in Big Sur, a world-famous spot with a rugged California coastline, the famous Bixby Creek Bridge spanning the cliffs, playful sea lions diving in the waves, Carmel Valley vineyards and legendary coastal redwoods towering above you. When you visit Santa Barbara or San Francisco with Princess, this stunning area of California is only 3–4 hours away — making it a perfect spot to visit before or after your cruise.
Or check out the similarly named Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, a secluded beach with turquoise waters and jagged tree-topped cliffs — the perfect California photo op. Venture into Limekiln State Park for calming walks along the creek through a redwood forest and bay views where you could spot orcas in the summer. Note that both of these state parks are currently inaccessible due to a mudslide.
Calling all readers. Visit the Henry Miller Memorial Library, a venue dedicated to his prolific writing career and a popular spot for performers. Catch some live music while looking at the quirky art exhibits out back and dangling currency displays inside.
Rainy day? Have no fear. If you’ve already traveled to the Big Sur area, the Monterey Bay Aquarium is considered one of the best aquariums in the U.S., and you can see African penguins, jellyfish, sea otters, starfish and tufted puffins. Don’t miss the 28-foot-tall Kelp Forest — one of the tallest aquarium exhibits in the world. Or stay in Santa Barbara for a Princess food tour or spend the day inside San Francisco’s notorious Alcatraz instead.
Ready to see the pink sand California beaches?
Quit daydreaming about seeing colorful sand and check Pfeiffer Beach off the bucket list. Experience the beauty of purple and pink sand California beaches, the towering redwoods, the rugged coastlines sea lions call home and so much more on Princess cruises from California. Book now to explore stunning coastal gems and create unforgettable memories.
