At El Caminante Bar & Bungalows, you'll be within a 10-minute drive of Dana Point Harbor and Mission San Juan Capistrano. Guests looking for a bite to eat can check out the coffee shop/cafe, and the bar/lounge is the perfect spot to grab a drink at the end of the day. Also, this motel is within a short drive of San Clemente Pier.
Languages
English
At a glance
Hotel size
28 rooms
Arranged over 2 floors
Arriving/Leaving
Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime
Minimum check-in age: 21
Check-out time is 11 AM
Restrictions related to your trip
Check COVID-19 restrictions
Special check-in instructions
Front desk staff will greet guests on arrival
Required at check-in
Credit card, debit card, or cash deposit required for incidental charges
Government-issued photo ID may be required
Minimum check-in age is 21
Children
No cribs (infant beds)
Pets
Pets not allowed
Service animals welcome
Internet
Free WiFi in public areas
Free WiFi in rooms (speed: 250+ Mbps (good for 3–5 people or up to 10 devices))
Parking
Free onsite self parking
Wheelchair-accessible parking on site
Free 24-hour offsite parking within 20 ft
Street parking available
Other information
Smoke-free property
Property amenities
Food and drink
Cooked-to-order breakfast (surcharge) each morning 7:00 AM–11:30 AM
Restaurant
Bar/lounge
Coffee shop
Traveling with children
Bodyboard on site
What to do
Hiking/biking trails
Bodyboard on site
Beach nearby
Kayaking nearby
Scuba diving nearby
Whale-watching nearby
Services
24-hour front desk
Free bicycle rentals
Beach sun loungers
Beach towels
Beach umbrellas
Bodyboard on site
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible path of travel
Wheelchair-accessible parking
2 on-site accessible parking spaces
Assistive listening devices available
Wheelchair-accessible restaurant
Visual alarms in hallways
Front entrance ramp
Grab bar near toilet
Toilet grab bar height (inches): 33
Upper floors accessible by stairs only
Well-lit path to entrance
Stair-free path to entrance
Tile flooring in room
Room amenities
Be entertained
47-inch flat-screen TV
Digital TV channels
Home comfort
Air conditioning
Ceiling fan
Coffee/tea maker
Bathrobes and slippers
Iron/ironing board
Sleep well
Premium bedding
Pillowtop mattress
What to enjoy
In-room massage
Freshen up
Shower only
Free toiletries
Hair dryer (on request)
Towels
Toilet paper
Stay connected
Free WiFi (speed of 250+ Mbps (good for 3–5 people or up to 10 devices))
Free local calls
Food and drink
Refrigerator
Microwave
More
Daily housekeeping
Guidebooks/recommendations
Special features
Dining
El Caminante Bar - Onsite café.
Fees & policies
Mandatory fees
You'll be asked to pay the following charges by the property at check-in or check-out. Fees may include applicable taxes:
Resort fee: USD 35.00 per accommodation, per night
Resort fee inclusions:
Additional inclusions
Beach access
Concierge service
In-room coffee
Optional extras
Cooked-to-order breakfast is offered for an extra charge of approximately USD 10.00 to 25.00 per person
Policies
This property does not have elevators.
This property welcomes guests of all sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+ friendly).
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.
Please note that cultural norms and guest policies may differ by country and by property. The policies listed are provided by the property.
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
Frequently asked questions
Does El Caminante Bar & Bungalows offer free cancellation for a full refund?
Yes, El Caminante Bar & Bungalows does have fully refundable room rates available to book on our site. If you’ve booked a fully refundable room rate, this can be cancelled up to a few days before check-in depending on the property's cancellation policy. Just make sure to check this property's cancellation policy for the exact terms and conditions.
Are pets allowed at El Caminante Bar & Bungalows?
Sorry, pets aren't allowed, but service animals are welcome.
Is parking offered on site at El Caminante Bar & Bungalows?
Yes, there's free self parking.
What are the check-in and check-out times at El Caminante Bar & Bungalows?
Check-in start time: 4:00 PM; Check-in end time: anytime. Check-out time is 11 AM.
Is there an onsite casino at El Caminante Bar & Bungalows?
No, this motel doesn't have a casino, but Casino San Clemente (4-min drive) is nearby.
What is there to do at El Caminante Bar & Bungalows and nearby?
Have fun with onsite activities like cycling and hiking.
Are there restaurants at or near El Caminante Bar & Bungalows?
Yes, there's an onsite restaurant, El Caminante Bar.
What's the area around El Caminante Bar & Bungalows like?
El Caminante Bar & Bungalows is a short 17-minute walk from Doheny State Beach and 4 minutes' walk from Capistrano Beach Park.
El Caminante Bar & Bungalows Reviews
Reviews
9.4
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.More informationOpens in a new window
9.8/10
Cleanliness
9.6/10
Staff & service
9.4/10
Amenities
9.6/10
Property conditions & facilities
9.6/10
Eco-friendliness
What guests liked
The property offers convenient beach access and stunning ocean views from its patio rooms. (3 reviews)
From real guest reviews summarized by AI.
Reviews
10/10 Exceptional
5 Nov 2024
This was a totally revamped beach hotel with fantastic amenities, helpful and friendly staff, incredible cocktails, and a very comfortable, quiet, surprisingly cool room. Will absolutely be back when we are in the area.
Megan
Megan, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
8/10 Very good
18 Oct 2024
Cute hotel and nice staff.
You will need a car for this area though, not super walkable
Delainey
Delainey, 5-night business trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
13 Oct 2024
VARTUHE ROSE
VARTUHE ROSE, 2-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
6/10 Good
24 Sep 2024
Tara
Tara, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
9 Sep 2024
Amazing getaway for my wife and me. The location is wonderful, and the hotel is very nice.
Jesse
Jesse, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
22 Aug 2024
Craig
Craig, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
8/10 Very good
20 Aug 2024
The property was lovely as was the staff. The only downside was the room was very small.
Darlene
Darlene, 1-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
17 Aug 2024
Johnathan
Johnathan, 1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
12 Aug 2024
Anita
Anita, 1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review
6/10 Good
9 Aug 2024
No option to check-in early, or leave luggage. Staff not the accommodating.
Kipley
Kipley, 1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
7 Aug 2024
This is a cool, super well-appointed boutique Inn. Great people, immaculate property, tasty food. Highly recommend.
David
David, 4-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
5 Aug 2024
What a very nice upscale boutique hotel. Great views of the ocean on their patio rooms. The staff was amazing and extremely helpful.
Matthew
Matthew, 1-night trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
5 Aug 2024
Exceptional Service
I’ve stayed at several of the hotels in the area and this one is by far my favorite. It’s been so long since I’ve experienced customer service that I almost forgot it was a thing. The staff here truly care and go above and beyond to ensure exceptional service. It’s nice to see a hotel so clean! Hunter made me feel so welcome from the second I walked in. The bartender was attentive and quick and I even had a server check in on me while my drink was being poured to make sure I had been helped. Everyone is friendly and actually smiles! The other guests were all quiet and respectful. If you stay here you’ll want to park your car behind the building, then walk to the lobby which is in the little building with the bikes parked beside it. The bar and restaurant can also be accessed through there. Definitely go ahead and book it!
Casie
Casie, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
2 Aug 2024
Michael
Michael, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
1 Aug 2024
Debora
Debora, 1-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
10/10 Exceptional
29 Jul 2024
El Caminante was such a great find! We enjoyed our stay and the bar very much.
Jared
Jared, 1-night family trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
26 Jul 2024
Great staff, adorable boutique hotel/motel. Well appointed. Small rooms but well thought out. Situated between Capo and Dana Harbor.
Would definitely go again.
Lynne
Lynne, 1-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
26 Jul 2024
felt so spoiled staying here, though we checked in late around 10:30 still felt it was very much worth every penny. The cool gadgets we could use complimentary was a surprising perk. The detail to the hotel was insane - finally not a hotel that a big company slaps a name on and charges high room rates for a room that feels subpar and honestly less nice than my own bedroom. It was a quaint room but so fun to walk around and see all the attention to details and unique things they did. I’m already bugging my partner to come back and want my entire family to experience it! Thanks to the staff for being so friendly 10 to the team
Marina
Marina, 1-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
19 Jul 2024
sherwin
sherwin, 2-night trip
Verified Hotels.com guest review
8/10 Very good
11 Jul 2024
Construction on the beach was noisy and woke us up at 6:30 AM
Lisa
Lisa, 1-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review
10/10 Exceptional
6 Jul 2024
Very nice and quite property. Staff was very nice and answered any questions we had. Room was very nice. The view was amazing. The bar at the entrance was a plus!
Jesse
Jesse, 1-night romance trip
Verified Expedia guest review
8/10 Very good
5 Jul 2024
not enough parking lots, bed side left counter was broken, shower water leeks from the glass front door ,
their restaurant is very good !