The resort opened in 1984 on a bluff about 150 feet above the ocean in Dana Point, at the southern end of the Orange County coast. Its low buildings, in a Mediterranean style of cream stucco and red tile roofs, spread along the bluff so that many of the rooms, the lawns and the pools look out to sea. The rooms and suites were renovated in 2025, when ten two-bedroom suites were added.
Salt Creek Beach, a public beach popular with surfers, lies below the hotel, and a shuttle runs guests down to the sand. There are several restaurants and a lounge with fire pits over the ocean. From Dana Point harbor, boats go out to see gray whales from about December to April and dolphins all year. Laguna Beach, with its coves, tide pools and galleries, is a short drive north, and Crystal Cove State Park lies beyond it.
The Ritz-Carlton suits families and couples who want a polished resort an easy drive from Los Angeles, or a short one from John Wayne Airport. It is a large hotel that hosts weddings and meetings. The coast here is often gray in May and June, and summer weekends bring traffic and busy beaches.
The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel sits on a bluff about 150 feet above the Pacific in Dana Point, with Salt Creek Beach below. It opened in 1984 as the first Ritz-Carlton resort. It suits families and couples who want an easy, full-service coastal stay within reach of Los Angeles.
Like the Bacara, Laguna Niguel stands out for its beach access, and the views over the Pacific are amazing.
Marine life
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