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Private Charter: Explore Big Sur's Scenic Beauty
4.9
52 Ratings
Big Sur
Experience the breathtaking beauty of Big Sur and McWay Falls on a private full-day SUV tour. Explore Monterey, Bixby Bridge, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, and more with a knowledgeable local driver guide.
Experience the breathtaking beauty of Big Sur and McWay Falls on a private full-day SUV tour. Explore Monterey, Bixby Bridge, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, and more with a knowledgeable local driver guide.
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Big Sur - Travel south beyond Point Lobos and Garrapata, pause for photos at Rocky Point, proceed to Bixby Bridge, then pass Hurricane Point and Point Sur Lighthouse. After River Inn, continue to Nepenthe.
- Bixby Bridge - This renowned single-span concrete bridge, constructed in 1932, is featured in numerous films and TV shows. Stop to capture…
- Big Sur - Travel south beyond Point Lobos and Garrapata, pause for photos at Rocky Point, proceed to Bixby Bridge, then pass Hurricane Point and Point Sur Lighthouse. After River Inn, continue to Nepenthe.
- Bixby Bridge - This renowned single-span concrete bridge, constructed in 1932, is featured in numerous films and TV shows. Stop to capture photos of the bridge and the ocean.
- Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park - Stroll among the Redwoods, enjoy refreshments at Nepenthe / Phoenix / Café Kevah, and admire the Pacific Ocean. Many choose this as the final stop before heading back north. Optionally, extend the trip by an hour to visit the Henry Miller Library and McWay Falls – sturdy shoes are recommended. This marks the southernmost point of the journey, approximately 37 miles south of Carmel. Most travelers make this their last stop before returning north. Choose the 5-hour option to include McWay Falls, Julia Pfeiffer State Beach, and the Henry Miller Library.
What's Included
- Private transportation
- Bixby Bridge
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Parking fees
- Private transportation
- Bixby Bridge
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Parking fees
What's Not Included
- Gratuity
- Lunch
- Gratuity
- Lunch
Additional Information
This exclusive private charter tour is led by a local driver guide in a luxury vehicle or full-size SUV, offering a distinctive way to explore one of the most picturesque regions in the United States. The driver guide will make stops at your preferred locations, including Monterey, Big Sur, Bixby Bridge, River Inn, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park with its…
This exclusive private charter tour is led by a local driver guide in a luxury vehicle or full-size SUV, offering a distinctive way to explore one of the most picturesque regions in the United States. The driver guide will make stops at your preferred locations, including Monterey, Big Sur, Bixby Bridge, River Inn, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park with its Coastal Redwoods, and Nepenthe. *There is also an option to include McWay Falls and many other destinations. This is not a group tour.
Location
Big Sur
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(52 Ratings)
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Luxurymelcmb
Sep 12, 2025
A must do! - Outstanding day trip! We had amazing Tina as our guide. She showed us the most beautiful spots to enjoy the scenery from, was unhurried and super friendly. We got a tour of Carmel as a bonus which we loved! Highly recommend if you are short on time and want to see everything comfortably and efficiently.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joe_m
Sep 5, 2025
It was great to have a... - It was great to have a knowledgeable driver and not have to worry about driving the winding road. Try to work in Pfeiffer Beach to see the rock formations. Also, skip the lunch and stop at general store for snacks instead. Use that time to see the sites.
Review provided by Viator
Hyeley_b
Jul 25, 2025
The tour made the whole... - The tour made the whole Big Sur experience super easy. The driver picked us up from the hotel and dropped us off at the hotel.
We had Tina assigned to our tour, and she was awesome! We had five stops and took as long as we’d like at each stop. We didn't miss any views since we weren't driving, which is a huge plus, as the whole reason we booked this tour is to eliminate the hassle of driving ourselves around. We hopped off and on at each stop and did not have a worry in the world. Tina pointed at all spots and landmarks to look at, and she had great suggestions. Every time we got in and out of the car, she held the door for you with the biggest smile. We had a great time touring with her. The trip can be pricey, but given the rental car cost + gas and the stress of parking and missing out on the incredible views, the tour was worth it for us.
Review provided by Viator
Climber57494042677
Jun 30, 2025
Big Sur, California central coastline is Beautiful and Amazing. - Definitely drive the Pacific Coast Highway to Big Sur. You can leave from Monterey and head South on the PCH. It is some of the most beautiful and rugged scenery I have ever seen! This central California coastline is a National Marine Sanctuary and you will see beautiful wildlife, including sea lions, seals, so many species of sea birds, sea otters, and more! It’s more remote so cell connections are spotty and bring snacks. You definitely need a good portion of the day to drive Big Sur and back to Monterey to be able to enjoy everything (I did 10 AM to 4PM). There are LOTS of pullouts driving south so you can stop all along the way to enjoy the absolutely breathtaking scenery. Note though, there are not many pullouts coming back north on the PCH, so you will want to have plenty of time for pull-offs as you drive south to Big Sur and beyond, until you come to the road closure after McWay Falls, due to land slide repairs. The status for road closures can change, so it’s always a good idea to get this updated information before you head south on the PCH down the coastline. It’s super easy to turn around and come back north to Monterey. Travel tip- I combined the scenic 17-mile drive from Monterey along the beautiful coastlines, then got on the PCH and headed south to Big Sur. Also, bring binoculars.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Devin_h
May 23, 2025
Big Sur tour - Tina was fantastic and talked about many places and gave historical context. Super considerate! Fun!
Review provided by Viator
Maps66579539654
Dec 9, 2024
New adventures with no stress! - I typically rent a car when visiting Carmel but this time I really wanted to travel stress free and enjoy the scenic drive from Carmel to Big Sur. Juan and Ben were both awesome. Ben suggested places for our itinerary that we had not seen before and was excellent with pre and post trip follow up. Juan was a delight and adjusted the itinerary to stop whenever we asked him to for a photo op. He showed up at our hotel on time and was a very safe driver. We could not have asked for a more delightful stressfree trip. I would highly recommend California Pacific Excursions.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Curiosity25776475005
Oct 25, 2024
Must do. Worth it! - Must do! You will not regret. Carlos was amazing and showed us more than we could've ever done on our own. I highly reccommend this day trip, I'm so glad we did.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Elizabeth_b
Nov 15, 2024
Big Sur at its best - Afforded unparalleled views of the central California coast. Our tour from Carmel through Big Sur was very good. Our driver, Juan, was helpful in capturing the experience by allowing us to stop frequently at vistas along the way to take in the scenery and the views. Hit both Bixby Bridge and McWay Falls. Afterward, we did a portion of the 17 Mile Drive and hit the highlights of Pebble Beach. Good tour and very satisfying experience. Great way to spend a day!
Review provided by Viator
Chikwong_c
Oct 23, 2024
Beautiful coastal line - Carmel is the small city worthwhile to stay longer and coastal scenery is attractive. McWay falls is far away and small not justified to spend time there!
Review provided by Viator
Joe_d
Nov 28, 2024
Not worth the price!! - The scenery was spectacular and our Driver was very polite. However we expected a tour guide and not just a driver. Our driver was a little hard to understand and did not offer any commentary on the history of the area, what we were seeing, or any other information typically offered by a tour guide. There were no new learnings from this tour. Not what we were expecting, especially given the price for the tour.
Review provided by Viator
