San Diego Private Tour: Hotel Del, La Jolla, Cabrillo & Old Town

See five San Diego landmarks in one morning without driving yourself

A private guided tour of San Diego covering Hotel Del Coronado, Balboa Park, La Jolla Cove, Sunset Cliffs, Cabrillo National Monument and Old Town, with hotel or airport pickup included. The route is flexible—you can spend more time at any stop and less at another. Five hours total, with an experienced driver-guide speaking English or Spanish, plus bottled water and snacks.

Step-by-step itinerary

San Diego city and coastal tour

• Drive along Orange Avenue to Hotel Del Coronado
• Visit botanical gardens and Spanish architecture at Balboa Park
• See sea lions basking in the sun at La Jolla
• Drive past cliffs and surfers at Sunset Cliffs
• Visit Cabrillo National Monument and lighthouse
• Stop at Old Town San Diego for sightseeing and Mexican food

The Experience

The tour starts at Hotel Del Coronado in Coronado, the oceanfront landmark built in 1888. From there you drive to Balboa Park to walk past Spanish colonial architecture and botanical gardens that were built to celebrate the opening of the Panama Canal. The route then heads south along the coast to La Jolla Cove, where you'll see sea lions basking in the sun and the rugged beaches the area is known for.

Next is a brief stop at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park to watch surfers and take in the cliff views as you drive past. Then comes Cabrillo National Monument, where the tour spends time at the visitor center and walking trail. The lighthouse there is climbable, and the views sweep across the Pacific, San Diego Bay, downtown and all the way to Coronado Island. This is the highest point on the itinerary for views.

The final stop is Old Town San Diego, the birthplace of California. You'll have time to walk around the historic park, watch hand-made tortillas being made outside Cafe Coyote on San Diego Avenue, and grab Mexican food and a margarita if you want before heading back to your hotel or the airport. The whole day runs five hours, and because it's a private tour, the guide can adjust the pace—spend longer at one stop and shorter at another depending on what interests you.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• bottled water and snacks.
• experienced driver-guide in English or Spanish.
• hotel or airport pickup and drop-off.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Alba Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see San Diego's main landmarks in one morning without renting a car or navigating between stops yourself. The private format means you set the pace at each location—linger at Cabrillo's views or spend more time in Old Town without affecting anyone else's schedule.

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Top questions

What is Hotel Del Coronado and why is it the first stop?

Hotel Del Coronado is an iconic oceanfront hotel built in 1888 in Coronado, just across the bay from downtown San Diego. It's the opening stop because it's one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city and sets the tone for the coastal tour that follows.

Can I spend more time at one stop and skip another?

Yes. The guide adjusts the itinerary based on what you want to see. If La Jolla interests you more than Balboa Park, or you want to linger at Cabrillo for the views, you can shift the time around—the five-hour window stays the same, but how it's divided is up to you.

What are the views like at Cabrillo National Monument?

Cabrillo offers sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean, San Diego Bay, downtown San Diego and across to Coronado Island. There's a visitor center, a walking trail, and a small lighthouse you can climb for even better vistas from the highest point on the tour.

Is there time to eat at Old Town?

Yes. Old Town is the final stop and you'll have enough time to walk around the historic park and grab Mexican food and a margarita at one of the restaurants there, like Cafe Coyote, before the tour ends and you head back to your hotel or airport.

What's included in the five-hour tour?

The tour includes private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle, an experienced driver-guide, bottled water, snacks, and hotel or airport drop-off if needed. The guide speaks English or Spanish.