Monterrey In The United States: Meet The Sea Lions

Monterrey, in the United States, (not to be confused with that of Mexico) is located in Baja California. It is a small coastal city that receives 4 million tourists every year. It is located about 500 miles north of Los Angeles and about 200 south of San Francisco. What is it that makes it special? Let’s see it.

This town has a very interesting marine nature reserve. In it we can find a multitude of different species, including sea lions. This is proof that the state of California is much more than just its spectacular and famous beaches.

Monterrey in the United States also has a great historical and natural heritage. We take a tour of the area and show you the best places to enjoy this special animal.

Sea lions in Monterrey, in the United States

In the city of Monterrey itself, on its beach, you will find some specimens, but there are other places that are worth visiting and we want to show you.

Although before, we will give you an important advice. The best way to enjoy the area is by renting a car and touring its mythical roads. Both the interiors and those facing the sea are a real pleasure. In addition, it will give you a lot of freedom to move and manage your own time.

Piedras Blancas Beach

Less than half an hour from Monterrey in the United States is Piedras Blancas beach. We will find it touring the famous Big Sur, which connects the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco.

There, the colony of sea lions reaches 8000 specimens. The best time to see them is between December and April, although there is always a group of them in the area.

It was also here that the colony that now populates the entire Californian coast began. In 1900, a few dozen sea lions arrived on this beach, which grew and have become what they are today.

The beach is currently fully protected, so to see the lions it is advisable to go up to one of the viewpoints that surround it. It is very easy to access them, as they are very well signposted on the same road.

In addition, there are always cars and tourists marveling at the views and spotting the sea lions that are stranded on the sand.

17 Mile Drive

This second proposal is not a specific place, but it is a whole road that borders the coast and in which you will be able to see some colonies of sea lions. To access this you have to pay a toll of 10 dollars, but it will be worth it.

While you are driving its 17 kilometers you will see wild beaches and spectacular views. But the protagonists will, of course, be the sea lions.

You may think it’s a small place, but it’s actually a real show worth paying for. But yes, it is only advisable to visit it if you have enough time because, precisely, it is a very extensive place.

Pier 39

The third place that we propose is the one that is furthest from Monterrey. Specifically, it is located in San Francisco itself, which, as we have said before, is about 200 kilometers from the city.

One of the main attractions of this city is Fisherman Wharf, the entertainment area of ​​the port. There are dozens of bars and restaurants where you can have a good time, and we also find Pier 39: a pier where you can see the colony of sea lions in the freedom of the city.

By the way, this same pier is an ideal place to contemplate not only these curious animals, but also the famous Golden Gate or from the Alcatraz prison itself. A place that you must visit, without a doubt.

If you want to see something very different from what you thought the West Coast was, you can do this route. Monterrey, in the United States (remember, not its namesake in Mexico), will allow you to meet some very peculiar animals. But remember not to disturb the sea lions, sometimes they may not be as friendly as they seem.