Tours/La Jolla/La Jolla Coast & Cove Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour
La Jolla Coast & Cove Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour
3.6(10)La Jolla1–2 hours
VIATOR3.7(7)TRIPADVISOR3.3(3)
+5 photos
At a glance
Duration
1–2 hours
Price from
$10 / person
Location
La Jolla
Rating
3.6 / 5 · 10 reviews
Languages
DE, DE, EN, EN
Group
Private
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Confirmation
Instant
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operator
Drives & Detours
Meeting point
Use your favorite navigation app to make your way to the corner of Park Row and Prospect Place in La Jolla. Once there, open the Drives & Detours app to begin.
Description
Explore La Jolla’s coastline on a self-guided walking tour featuring sea caves, coastal views, and iconic stops like La Jolla Cove and the Children’s Pool. This GPS-guided audio tour follows the scenic Coast Walk Trail, with stories and directions that play automatically as you walk.
Start with sweeping views of La Jolla Shores, Scripps Pier, and Torrey Pines in the distance, then hear the story of Sunny Jim and the hidden staircase beneath your feet. As you continue toward La Jolla Cove, you’ll spot cormorants, seals, and sea lions along the rocky shoreline.
Learn about Ellen Browning Scripps and her lasting impact on La Jolla before visiting the Children’s Pool, a favorite gathering place for seals. The tour continues into the village, where you’ll pass art galleries, local landmarks, and a few great spots to eat before finishing near where you started.
This flexible, self-paced tour lets you explore on your own schedule with the freedom to stop, detour, or linger at viewpoints.
Tour Options
La Jolla Coast & Cove Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour
Itinerary
15 min
Take in the views from this beautiful section of La Jolla's Coast Walk Trail. We'll point out prominent landmarks such as La Jolla Shores, the Scripps Pier, and Torrey Pines Golf Course.
La Jolla Underwater Park
5 min
Learn about the unique underwater environment in the waters between La Jolla Cove and Scripps Pier.
10 min
Learn about the secret history of Sunny Jim Cave (as you stand above it) and how it got its name. If you decide to pay for admission (not included) you can descend the dark staircase and get a chance to view the cave for yourself.
La Jolla Cove
5 min
Take in the iconic sights of La Jolla Cove as you hear about some of the birds and marine animals that share this beautiful location.
Ellen Browning Scripps Park
10 min
Hear the fascinating history of Ellen Browning Scripps and the enormous impact her philanthropic activities have had on San Diego.
Children's Pool
5 min
Soak up more incredible views as you gaze out over the La Jolla Children's Pool, another historical piece of La Jolla's past.
10 min
Pop your head into this historic La Jolla hotel as you hear about its interesting history that involves some of Hollywood's early celebrities.
10 min
Browse some of their exquisite photography collections spanning culture, landscape, and wildlife.
10 min
Discover some truly stunning and unique works by photographer Peter Lik.
What's included
Included
Flexible Timing—start anytime and go at your own pace
Mobile app with interactive route map
Flexible Access (use the tour anytime, no expiration)
Self-guided audio tour with GPS-triggered narration
Works Offline (no cell service required after download)
Not included
Smartphone
Transportation
Admission to Sunny Jim Cave (not required)
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
3.6
10 reviews
5
5
4
2
3
0
2
0
1
3
Important Information
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Tour length varies depending on time spent at each location
Children under 11 are free
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does La Jolla Coast & Cove Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour take?
La Jolla Coast & Cove Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour lasts about 1–2 hours. The itinerary has 9 stops.
How much does La Jolla Coast & Cove Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour cost?
Prices start at $10 per person for this La Jolla experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
Can I cancel La Jolla Coast & Cove Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Use your favorite navigation app to make your way to the corner of Park Row and Prospect Place in La Jolla. Once there, open the Drives & Detours app to begin. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is La Jolla Coast & Cove Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour offered in?
The experience is available in DE, DE, EN, EN, ZH-CN, ZH-CN, ES, ES.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a private experience: only your party takes part. Up to 10 travellers can book together.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Children under 11 are free
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is La Jolla Coast & Cove Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour worth it?
Travellers rate it 3.6 out of 5 across 10 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Drives & Detours.
Reviews(10)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
S
Stephanie_P
March 2, 2026 · via Viator
Skip the expense
This is a waste of money if you're just looking to not get lost. There's no clear access code on the ticket and who is going to spend time on contacting support when you can clearly see where you need to go right in front of you.
Operator response
Thanks for the feedback. The access code is included in the confirmation email you receive from Viator under the “Important – Please Read” section. We also send reminder messages through Viator three days before and again the day before to help make access easier.
The experience isn’t meant as a navigation tool; it’s designed to share the history, stories, and people who shaped La Jolla as you walk past some of the notable landmarks and viewpoints.
We’re sorry the access instructions weren’t easier to locate, and we appreciate you giving it a try.
C
Cathi_L
November 19, 2025 · via Viator
This was a beautiful walk...
This was a beautiful walk along the coastline of La Jolla that ended with a stroll through downtown. Come prepared for changing weather.
Operator response
Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, always good to carry layers this time of year. Thank you for leaving us a review!
D
Dixie_S
August 4, 2025 · via Viator
Poor quality
Couldn't get the app to work...was waste of money trying ...spent to much time trying to figure it out...gave up
Operator response
Hi Dixie, sorry to hear you had trouble with the app, that's not the experience we want. If you had reached out we would have been happy to walk you through it. Your activation code is still valid, and we’d be happy to help you get started or issue you a full refund if you prefer. Please contact us directly so we can make this right for you.
S
sholley8765
April 18, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Useful App to Guide You
Once I figured out the app & how to follow along I found this quite a cool experience. It appears that you have 90 minutes from when you purchase the tour to download & start the walk. The drop off point is confusing until you start the tour. There are steps down to the path by wheee you get dropped off but you don’t know about them until you start the guide in the app. Then it guides you an interesting audio tour based on your location. Very cool to see all the seals along the coastline.
The automated text sent me to a web page that doesn’t exist but I could follow the instructions on the email.
Operator response
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for taking the time to leave a review! Just to clarify, you actually have 90 *days* to download and activate the tour.
T
Tourist31286884233
March 21, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Misleading.... do not recommend
Extremely misleading with no times posted. After booking with orbitz, the time appeared as only between 7am-9am. Booked about 8 hours prior and wanted to tour around 10am, because we were unable to, tried to cancel but told it's non-refundable. TOTAL RIP OFF! DO NOT RECOMMEND
Operator response
Actually you can take the tour anytime during the day within 90 days of your reservation, no need to reschedule. I apologize for how it may have been described on Orbitz, but if you reach out to us directly at support@drivesanddetours.com we would be happy to assist you.
D
Departure26295503331
December 6, 2024 · via Tripadvisor
Great little walking tour
This little walking tour was affordable and perfect. Informative and clear. The views were incredible. Would definitely recommend it.
Operator response
Glad to hear you enjoyed the tour!
R
Rebecca_O
June 18, 2024 · via Viator
Informative and fun!
This was a really fun tour I did with my children. Of course the most memorable moment was seeing the seals and sea lions. It was nice to hear the tour guide mention the difference between the two. I also would have never known why it was originally called “children’s pool”. I’m so glad we did this tour. It took us to some incredible places and the information was so interesting.
Operator response
Thanks for the review, we're glad you enjoyed the tour!
W
William_B
April 1, 2024 · via Viator
Feels like a local's guide to La Jolla
This walking tour hit all the top spots around La Jolla Village. It was nice learning more about all the beaches and coastal parks. Restaurant recommendations were great. Also had so many hidden facts about the area. Who knew there was an actual smugglers cove in La Jolla? Highly recommended!
Operator response
Glad you enjoyed the tour and thanks for leaving a review!
L
Lamont_W
January 7, 2024 · via Viator
Beautiful. Suprisingly Breathtaking.
Being up close to the marine life(seals, birds). The cliffs and the waves are breathtaking. Sunset was
Pure Awesomeness!!!
Operator response
Glad you enjoyed it! And thank you for taking the time to leave a review!
A
Aimee_L
November 22, 2023 · via Viator
Wonderful afternoon in La Jolla
The tour’s local insights brought La Jolla’s history to life, while the picturesque views of cliffs and marine life added a touch of natural beauty. A perfect blend of culture and scenery for an immersive experience. The interactive map also enhanced my exploration, it was very user-friendly.
Operator response
We're glad you enjoyed the tour!
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La Jolla Coast & Cove Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour
