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El Caminante Bar & Bungalows

4.0 star property

Photo gallery for El Caminante Bar & Bungalows

On the beach, white sand, sun-loungers, beach umbrellas
Room, 1 King Bed, Balcony, Ocean View | Terrace/patio
Room, 1 King Bed, Balcony, Ocean View
Lobby lounge
Lobby lounge

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Restaurant
  • Air-conditioning
  • Bar

Explore the area

View map
34862 Pacific Coast Hwy, Dana Point, CA, 92624
  • Place, South Day Use Beach
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Capistrano Beach Park
    ‪7 min walk‬
  • Place, Doheny State Beach
    ‪18 min walk‬
  • Airport, Orange County, CA (SNA-John Wayne)
    ‪36 min drive‬

Room options

Room, 1 King Bed, Balcony, Ocean View

  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

Ocean View King ADA Accessible with Patio & Chiminea

  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

Room, 1 King Bed, Ocean View

  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

Hacienda Suite

  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

El Camino Suite

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

Room, 1 King Bed, Patio (Ocean, chiminea)

  • Sleeps 3
  • 1 King Bed

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About the area

Dana Point

With a stay at El Caminante Bar & Bungalows in Dana Point (Capistrano Beach), you'll be a 4-minute drive from Dana Point Harbor and 6 minutes from Mission San Juan Capistrano. .This beach hotel is 4.6 mi (7.4 km) from San Clemente Pier and 0.4 mi (0.6 km) from Capistrano Beach Park.

What's nearby

  • South Day Use Beach - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Pines Park - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • Poche Beach - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Capistrano Beach Park - 7 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Doheny State Beach - 18 min walk - 1.6 km

Getting around

  • San Juan Capistrano Depot - 14 min drive
  • John Wayne Airport (SNA) - 35 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Doho Cafe - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Better Buzz - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪A's Burgers - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Sunsets Bar & Grill - ‬3 min walk
  • ‪The Habit Burger Grill - ‬5 min drive

About this property

El Caminante Bar & Bungalows

El Caminante Bar & Bungalows offers 28 air-conditioned accommodations with coffee/tea makers and bathrobes. Pillowtop beds feature premium bedding. Refrigerators and microwaves are provided. Bathrooms include showers, slippers, and complimentary toiletries.

Guests can surf the web using the complimentary wireless Internet access (speed: 250+ Mbps (good for 3–5 people or up to 10 devices)). 47-inch flat-screen televisions come with digital channels. Additionally, rooms include irons/ironing boards and ceiling fans. In-room massages and hair dryers can be requested. Housekeeping is provided daily.

Recreational amenities at the hotel include complimentary bicycles.

The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.

Make yourself at home in one of the 28 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and flat-screen televisions. Your pillowtop bed comes with premium bedding. Complimentary wireless internet access keeps you connected, and digital programming is available for your entertainment. Bathrooms feature showers, complimentary toiletries, and bathrobes.
This smoke-free hotel features complimentary parking nearby, bodyboards on site, and complimentary bicycles on site. Recreational activities include hiking/biking trails on site, boat tours nearby, and snorkeling nearby.
Enjoy a meal at El Caminante Bar or snacks in the hotel's coffee shop/cafe. Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at the bar/lounge. Cooked-to-order breakfasts are available daily from 7:00 AM to 11:30 AM for a fee.
Free self parking is available onsite.
Cooked-to-order breakfasts are available for a surcharge and are served each morning between 7:00 AM and 11:30 AM.
El Caminante Bar - Onsite café.

Property amenities

Internet

  • Available in all rooms: Free WiFi
  • In-room WiFi speed: 250+ Mbps (good for 3–5 people or up to 10 devices)
  • Available in some public areas: Free WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Free 24-hour offsite parking within 6 metres
  • Street parking available
  • Free self parking on site
  • Limited on-site self parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking available

Food and drink

  • Daily cooked-to-order breakfast available 7:00 AM to 11:30 AM for a fee: USD 10 to 25 per person
  • A bar/lounge
  • A coffee shop/cafe
  • A restaurant

Restaurants on site

  • El Caminante Bar

Things to do

  • Bodyboard
  • Free bicycle rentals
  • Hiking/biking trails

Family friendly

  • In-room microwave
  • In-room refrigerator

Conveniences

  • 24-hour front desk
  • Guidebooks

Guest services

  • Housekeeping (daily)

Outdoors

  • Beach loungers
  • Beach towels
  • Beach umbrellas
  • In a nature reserve
  • On the beach

Spa

  • In-room massages

Accessibility

  • If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
  • 2 accessible parking spaces
  • Assistive listening devices
  • Front entrance ramp
  • Grab bar near toilet (84 centimetre high)
  • Tile flooring in room
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Visual alarms in hallways
  • Well-lit path to entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible (may have limitations)
  • Wheelchair-accessible parking
  • Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
  • Wheelchair-accessible restaurant

More

  • 2 floors
  • Smoke-free property

Room amenities

Bedroom

  • Pillowtop mattress
  • Premium bedding

Bathroom

  • Dressing gowns
  • Free toiletries
  • Hair dryer (on request)
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Slippers
  • Soap
  • Toilet paper
  • Towels provided

Entertainment

  • 47-inch flat-screen TV with digital channels

Food and drink

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Microwave
  • Refrigerator

More

  • Air conditioning
  • Ceiling fan
  • Free local calls
  • Iron/ironing board

Policies

Check-in

Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 11 AM

Special check-in instructions

Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival at the property
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Access methods

Staffed front desk

Pets

Pets not allowed (service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees)

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome
Rollaway/extra beds are not available
Cribs (infant beds) are not available

Payment types

Important information

Fees

You'll be asked to pay the following charges at the property. Fees may include applicable taxes:

  • Resort fee: USD 35.00 per accommodation, per night
The resort fee includes:
  • Additional inclusions
  • Beach access
  • Concierge service
  • In-room coffee

We have included all charges provided to us by the property.

Optional extras

  • Fee for cooked-to-order breakfast: approximately USD 10.00 to 25.00 per person

The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
The name on the credit card used at check-in to pay for incidentals must be the primary name on the guestroom reservation
This property accepts credit cards, debit cards, and cash
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property; the policies listed are provided by the property

We should mention

This property does not have elevators
This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly)

Property is also known as

Capistrano Seaside
Capistrano Seaside Dana Point
Capistrano Seaside Inn
Capistrano Seaside Inn Dana Point
Capistrano Seaside Hotel Capistrano Beach
El Caminante
El Caminante Bar Bungalows
El Caminante Bar & Bungalows Motel
El Caminante Bar & Bungalows Dana Point
El Caminante Bar & Bungalows Motel Dana Point

El Caminante Bar & Bungalows Reviews

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 241 out of 299 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 30 out of 299 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 18 out of 299 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 8 out of 299 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 299 reviews

9.8/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Staff & service

9.0/10

Amenities

9.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Pamela, San Diego

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Room was nice and we loved the out door fire pits they had. Right across the beach and a great location
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jodie

Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Stephanie

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Everything was wonderful
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

carmen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
This is the 2nd time I stay here. The place is gorgeous and super comfortable. I had an ADA room and it was much roomier. I have a bad hip and the extra space made it easy to get around the room. Everything was clean and the room smelled great. I love the toiletries. Plush towels and perfect bedding. I put on my jammies and wrapped myself in the robe and sat by the chimney in the patio. I read for hours with the sound of the waves and the fire. El Caminante is a great getaway.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Katrina, ALPINE

Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Shawn

Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025

6/10 Okay

Dat

Liked: Cleanliness
Not good experience
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

6/10 Okay

Roxanne

Travelled with family
Good location. Older and not updated in years.
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nicholas

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Chad

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities
Loved the room, it had a nice vibe with the fireplace. Staff was friendly and the bar is a nice quaint place to have have a drink before you explore the local area. Will be staying here again!
Stayed 1 night in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kendra

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Hannah

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service
Beach view in the morning and evening was lovely. Excellent breeze flowing through with dutch doors to room entrance and porch.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mary

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Location was beautiful and convenient. The room had a view of the ocean and a porch to sit on (we were on second floor. The door to the room was a dutch door which was fun and let in the breeze. Great amenities including a record player and records. Very charming lobby with a fireplace and small bar and bookshelves - almost like a B&B. They serve food albeit limited. We just had a drink outside. I wish we could have stayed more days.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

2/10 Terrible

Carlos

Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tonya

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

James

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Patrick

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Ashley

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Dana

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Great stay - cute rooms, comfy beds, conveniently located, friendly staff. Had no problems with parking or staff availability for questions or help. (Contrary to some karen reviews) The little bar had great service and decent food, breakfast in the am and tapas later. It's a quick walk to the beach, just you just have to walk to a crosswalk. Manage your expectations - look at pics and remember this is a beach hotel on the PCH. I always bring my sound machine to drown out train and hwy sounds. I had a great stay and everything I needed for vacation. Loved the grounds and took a nap on the cozy lounge in the sun. Probably won't stay in the same room for a business trip since there's no desk, but would totally recommend this hotel overall. Will stay again.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

David

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Really cute spot. Great location. Staff is amazing.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jordan

Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kristen

Travelled with partner
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Staff was great very helpful
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2025

2/10 Terrible

Cory

Travelled with family
Liked: Cleanliness
Disliked: Staff & service, room comfort

Beware…bait and switch!

The reservation was for 3 people. But they said after we arrived that while they allow reservations for 3, they only can sleep 2. So where does the 3rd person sleep? Boo rollaway beds. So then they try to sell you a second room at a discount. BEWARE… it’s a bait and switch. Also, the hotel sits in the 1 right across from the train tracks. Very noisy.
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Stephen

Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities, room comfort

Fantastic!

Fantastic place. Absolutely loved it. Very classy. Service incredible. Lovely beachside bar, too!
Stayed 1 night in Oct 2025

10/10 Excellent

Peter

Business traveller
Liked: Cleanliness, staff & service, property conditions & facilities
A hidden gem at the base of Capo Beach. Chill vibe, “glamping” at its best. The bar is terrific and the staff are wonderful.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025