Big Sur California: Pacific Coast Highway self-drive tour

Free cancellation

Place: Monterey

Duration: 3 hours

Language: English

Mobile voucher accepted

Instant confirmation

Tour with Audioguide

e-Voucher

Do this because

Discover the stunning Big Sur drive in California at your own pace
Travel the most scenic stretch of the famous Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1)
Explore picturesque Carmel cottages and Instagram-famous Bixby Bridge
Admire beautiful McWay Falls and the amazing Elephant Seal Vista point
Drive from Monterey to San Luis Obispo or in the opposite direction

What to expect

Embark on an adventure along the most beautiful coastline in the US. Begin your road trip of a lifetime in Monterey, California.

Continue on the quaint Carmel-by-the-Sea, renowned for its picturesque beauty. You'll check out several of its most famous fairytale cottages. Afterwards, you may enter the world-famous Big Sur portion of the PCH. The Pacific Coast Highway, popularly known as PCH, Highway 1, or Route 1, is one of the most scenic road trips in the US. Pass through Garrapata State Park, where you'll have the chance to stop at the Garrapata Beach. As you drive, you'll learn about the wildfires that often rage through forests like these.

Then head to Bixby Creek Bridge, which is one of the most photographed bridges in California due to its aesthetic design, graceful architecture, and magnificent setting. It is a reinforced concrete open-spandrel arch bridge. Continue through the Pfeiffer Beach in the Big Sur area which is definitely off the beaten path, but well worth the detour. Just south of Big Sur Station on Highway 1 is unsigned Sycamore Canyon Road which winds its way down to the shore. Nothing beats the Elephant Seal Vista Point. Admire the largest seal in the northern hemisphere, the Northern Elephant Seal migrates to the rookery, twice each year. While offshore, the elephant seal spends eight to ten months diving up to 5,800 feet deep for up to two hours. In the remaining months of the year, they mate, birth, molt, and rest onshore between trips.

Finally, you'll reach Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, and Pismo Beach, where this segment of our PCH tour ends. You've now experienced the beauty of Big Sur.

Important to know

Know in advance:

This is a self-guided tour; no guide will accompany you. The Action Tour Guide app functions as a guide, an audio tour, and a map all in one
Please arrange for a vehicle before you take the tour. You only need to book one tour per vehicle, not per person
After booking the tour, search your email for the phrase "Set up your self-guided tour now." Follow these instructions immediately to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do not wait until you are onsite
Works perfectly without cellular or Wi-Fi with offline maps
This tour has been developed by local guides, curated by creative writers, and narrated by professional voice artists
The audio stories play on their own based on your location. You can start anytime and pause anywhere
Most stops along the tour have animated videos allowing you to visualize what you cannot see, such as snapshots from different centuries or interior rooms
This tour is valid for an entire year - from the moment of booking. You can use it multiple times over multiple trips
This tour is an audio tour guide and not an attraction entrance ticket