Las Gaviotas is situated on a south-facing beach. At its best, and when conditions are right, Las Gaviotas surf is a world-class long or short-boarding break. In the winter, head high or double over-head swells can appear on the ocean horizon, thrilling surfers and spectators alike.

In the worst of conditions, Las Gaviotas almost always manages to offer an opportunity to catch a few waves at least once or twice a day. On windy afternoons, kite-boarders surf north to south with ease. The surf zone is rarely crowded, particularly in contrast to Southern California surf-breaks.

As an added bonus, there are numerous surf-breaks near Las Gaviotas that pick up on different swell directions and overall conditions. K-38 is a very short drive to the north. The famous San Miguel surf break is approximately 45 minutes to the south.