A university town, Santa Cruz is a popular weekend spot with students taking a well-deserved break here, but the laid-back locals also make it a memorable destination. Several nearby beaches have often been referred to as the finest in the Western Hemisphere — how's that for a reason to visit? Book your Santa Cruz vacation rental for a date in paradise!
Top 15 most Recommended Vacation Rentals in Santa Cruz
Discover your ideal Santa Cruz vacation rental with real-time comparisons of 1,164 properties, featuring recommended options based on the property location, value for money, and verified guest reviews.
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Top-Rated Vacation rentals in Santa Cruz
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Popular Features & Amenities in Santa Cruz
Many users spend more time comparing vacation rentals offering pools. Nearly half of the properties have a pool for guests. In addition, more hotel room offer a pool than motel. Usually, hotel room with pools in Santa Cruz can welcome 8 vacationers and cost $446 per night. nearly half of Santa Cruz's rentals offering a pool are located within two miles of water, divide your time between the pool and the waterfront
Oceanfront Vacation Rentals in Santa Cruz
Price and Availability Index in Santa Cruz
Vacation Rental Price Information in Santa Cruz
The graph displays the average rental prices in Santa Cruz for the upcoming twelve months. The most expensive prices are in August (8/8 – 8/15). Prices reach an average of $539 per night. Prices decrease in a week of April (4/18 – 4/25), where average prices are $418.
Rental availability information in Santa Cruz
Learn how busy Santa Cruz is for the next year using our availability graph. It is in March that you will find the week with the least available rentals (3/13 – 3/20). Conversely, it is in May (5/16 – 5/23) that the highest percentage of rentals are available.
The Best Beaches Near Santa Cruz
1. Lighthouse Field State Beach: Also known as ‘dog beach,’ as it a pet-friendly area, this beach is one of California's urban area's last open headlands.
2. Natural Bridges State Beach: A fabulous place to whale watch and catch a glimpse of Monarch butterflies.
3. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk: With its world-class surfing amenities and beautiful landscape, Santa Cruz Beach is a favorite with both locals and visitors.
4. Seabright State Beach: Charming, grass-covered hills and the lighthouse that make this beach an alluring place to explore.
5. Wilder Ranch State Park: With nearly 7,000 acres, 34 miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian paths woven through seaside gardens and channels, the beach at this state park is a can't-miss.
Things to Do and See
The pedestrian-friendly downtown strip enjoys its proximity to the beach, and is perfect for a family stroll after dusk. Downtown Santa Cruz regales with its people-watching opportunities, restaurants with global cuisine, cool indie shops and clubs. The city's star attraction is the Beach Boardwalk, which is the only original boardwalk amusement park still in use on the West Coast. Municipal Wharf meanwhile is a great viewing point for the sea lions and pelicans. During winter, stop by Steamers Lane and watch the surfers and sea lions doing their bit to impress cheering onlookers.
Popular with tourists, the Mystery Spot is a visual illusion–based attraction that calls itself a 'gravitational anomaly' for the strange phenomena that take place here. See for yourselves and decide! A hike up to the University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC) will fetch you stunning bay views, redwood forests and the UCSC Arboretum. Rejuvenate at the clothing-optional family spa Kiva Retreat House, and unwind in your Santa Cruz vacation homes.
Excursion Destinations
The kids will love the Delaveaga Disk Golf Course, which offers free entry and superb views. Next is the oldest state park in California, Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Año Nuevo State Park is home to one of the highest populations of elephant seals. The Natural Bridges State Beach thrills with its monarch butterflies and windsurfing opportunities, while the heavily-forested Henry Cowell State Park boasts the San Lorenzo River that flows through it.
Watersports enthusiasts should definitely indulge in some surfing, sailing, kayaking and paddle boarding in Santa Cruz. Mountain biking is a popular activity in the Santa Cruz mountains — note that some inclines can get steep.
Creating Memories in Santa Cruz
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center
Overlooking the ocean, this hyper-modern building houses an exciting interactive marine animal sanctuary. Exploring the exhibits and marine inhabitants is rewarding for the whole family.
Seymour Marine Discovery Center
Make friends with a shark, learn about what scientists do, and enjoy views of the famous Monterey Bay at this center which is part of the University of California.
Mystery Spot
A supposed gravitational anomaly, this area has seen strange things happening ever since there have been people to observe them. Visit for quirky visual illusions and lots of fun.
Santa Cruz Wharf
Head to this lively wharf for great shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. It's also the starting point for various water sports and boat tours.
Natural Bridges State Beach
Monarch butterflies flood this stunning beach from the end of October until January. It's a natural wonder that the family won't forget in a hurry.
Information about vacation rentals in Santa Cruz
| 🏡 Vacation rentals available | 1,164 rentals |
|---|---|
| 🌙 Nightly prices starting at | $158 |
| ⭐ Popular amenities | Pets allowed, Pool and Hot tub |
| 🐾 Pet friendly homes | 285 homes |
| 🏊 Vacation rentals with pools | 557 homes |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average price per night for a vacation rental in Santa Cruz?
The price of a night's stay in Santa Cruz starts at $158. $893 is the average nightly price for house rentals in Santa Cruz. Bed and breakfast rentals in Santa Cruz cost on average $426 per night.
How many vacation rentals are available to book in Santa Cruz?
There are 1,164 rentals in Santa Cruz to choose from and rent for your trip.
What amenities are most popular for vacation rentals in Santa Cruz?
If you're looking to book a vacation rental in Santa Cruz, travelers search for vacation homes with these amenities: Pets allowed, Pool and Hot tub.
How many vacation homes with pools are there in Santa Cruz?
There are 557 vacation homes from 13 providers in Santa Cruz.
Are pets allowed in vacation rentals in Santa Cruz?
Sure, currently there are 285 vacation homes in Santa Cruz that allow pets , with an average nightly rate of $532.
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