
Waterfront holiday rentals in Santa Cruz
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Top-rated waterfront rentals in Santa Cruz
Guests agree: these waterfront rentals are highly rated for location, cleanliness and more.

Magical & Romantic Beachfront Home at Pajaro Dunes
Beautiful oceanfront condominium with an unobstructed view to Monterey Bay & the Pacific Ocean; just 20 minutes south of Santa Cruz & 30 minutes north of Monterey/Carmel. Newly remodeled with granite counters, new kitchen appliances, paint, furniture, tile and carpeted floors. Electric fireplace adds to the magical ambience this home embraces. High ceilings, just steps to the beach. Convenient parking. 2 bedrooms & 2 full bathrooms, 1200 sf. A great place to kick off your shoes and relax.

Santa Cruz A-Frame
This unique A-Frame cabin, in a quiet mountain neighborhood with private creek access, was handbuilt in 1965 and remodeled in the summer of 2024. Now a little slice of heaven on the creek in the redwoods. *5-10 min to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Roaring Camp Railroad, Loch Lomond Recreation Area, the Trout Farm Inn, Quail Hollow Ranch + Felton stores. *20 min to Santa Cruz, beach + Boardwalk. *1 min to Zayante Creek Market (EV charger) Find us on social: Insta @SantaCruzAFrame

Relax + Unwind in Brand New 2BD Modern Bch Retreat
Sea breezes and unobstructed 180-degree ocean views greet you from the private deck of RdM Lookout, a brand-new beach property with a bright open, mid-century modern beach design complete with a cozy fireplace hardwood floors, and quartz counters. A comfortable, chic space, guests tell us they love the amazing beds, soft linens, fluffy towels, and our gourmet kitchen with a stocked coffee bar with to-go cups for long beach walks. Come home to a relaxing, beach vacation in a charming beach town.

An oasis on a private retreat
A beautifully secluded area (40+ acres) surrounded by natural beauty with lovely views of Elkhorn Slough and the Pacific Ocean, away from the maddening crowd. Yet, accessible to Carmel / Pebble Beach / Santa Cruz. A variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, bicycling, kayaking, golfing and whale watching. A full breakfast is served daily. It should also be noted it is a gated property and the home is accessed through a dirt / gravel private country lane which is 0.75 mile from the gate.

Coastal Airstream (Sunrise) - new listing
On 9 private acres overlooking the stunning Beach and Ocean from a breathtaking cliff top view. Stunning sunsets. Famous surf views with large windows. Fully loaded with all the amenities to make your glamping experience perfect. Fire pit, outside BBQ, outside griddle, Heat, A/C and fully stocked kitchen. Full bathroom with shower. Within 10 mins of Half Moon Bay shopping. Beach access short walk or drive. If this one is booked, there are three other equally similar Airstreams on the property.

Ocean View 1 block from the beach Family Friendly
Beach & Lagoon Front! Views of the ocean from all decks and the kitchen/great room. 3 min walk to the beach. This house is centrally located to everything Santa Cruz has to offer. Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a spacious layout with a large eat-in kitchen, great room, formal dining room, living room with fireplace, along with an outside deck with a fire pit This house is ideal for family get-togethers. There is nothing like sitting around the fire and listening to the waves crash on the beach.

Copper Nest beach retreat with stunning views
The Copper Nest is an ideal getaway located steps from the beach in the gated community of Pajaro Dunes where the Pajaro River meets the Pacific Ocean. This newly designed three bedroom home is customized to create a serene beach retreat for you and your guests. This newly designed three bedroom home has a well equipped kitchen and outdoor seating, game, and BBQ areas. There are stunning ocean and agricultural views from every room. Close to California's popular food and travel regions.

Beach Front Dream House! Hottub/E-Bikes/Surfboards
Permit# 231467 Incredible modern home just steps from the best beach in all of Santa Cruz! Ocean and sand views, listen to the waves as you sleep on designer beds, cook in the chefs kitchen, and soak in the hot tub. Perfect central location, less than 5 minutes to boardwalk and downtown. 5 minutes to colorful Capitola village. 9 minutes to UC Santa Cruz Campus. 4 Electric bikes, 4 surfboards, and a kayak to take out and play in the waves! Plus the beach is right out front to enjoy!

Charming Beachfront Cottage
Oceanfront Beach House with views from every room! Steps from the beach. Gorgeous sunsets on the spacious deck with views of Santa Cruz coastline. Close to wine tasting, vineyards and breweries. Prime location, Rio-del-Mar beach, walking distance to coffee shop, restaurants, store and State Park. Perfect for a Romantic get away or family vacation! No more than 6 guests. Includes Outdoor shower, Boogie boards (2), sand toys, Beach chairs Beach towels, Wetsuit

OCEAN Views and Steps from the BEACH, New & Modern
Enjoy spending time with family and friends in this large 2 bedroom, 1 bath condo with a beautiful ocean/ beach view from Monterey to Capitola. . This single level unit offers a spacious floor plan with large picture windows and a full deck with patio furniture. BBQ on the deck while you listen to the soothing waves, watch the dolphins and view a gorgeous sunset. Walk to restaurants, delis, coffee shops and the beach in just a few seconds.

180°OceanView+HotTub+EBikes+Surfboards+SUPS+Kayak
Incredible beach home with sweeping views of the ocean. Watch the waves crash from your bed. Directly in front of Pleasure Point, a world class surf spot. 180° upstairs decks to lounge & enjoy the ocean and views of the ocean from every room in the home. Hot tub, cedar sauna, 4 electric bikes, surfboards, stand-up paddle boards, sea kayak, ping pong table, basketball arcade game, and dart board. permit#191362

2B/2B Pajaro Dunes with Dunes and Ocean View
Steps away from miles of beautiful, unspoiled beaches, this 2 bedroom beach front condo is located in the highly desirable, gated Shorebirds community at Pajaro Dunes. Either enjoying the picture-perfect sunset, taking long walks on the beach, surfing, fishing, or building sand castles, you are sure to capture memorable, relaxing vacations in our comfortable, charming fully furnished condo.
Popular amenities for waterfront rentals in Santa Cruz
Waterfront apartment rentals

OceanviewCondo-Steps to the Beach

Spectacular View! On the Beach! Pristine Interior!

Pink Venetian (Upper Unit)

Luxury Menlo apartment

30StepsToBeach-EBikes+Surfboards

Luxury Villa - Flora View - Ground Level -Seascape

Top Oceanfront 1BR Stunning View

Beachfront Condo with Ocean Deck
Waterfront house rentals

Oceanfront beach house with private hot tub

Oceanview Oasis Duplex -Capitola UPPER UNIT B

Oceanfront Views - Steps to the Beach

Beachfront Oceanfront Steps to Sand & Sunset Views

Seaside Sanctuary

Beach House with Stunning Lake and Ocean Views

Lagoonfront Retreat: 3BR House Near SFO

Capitola Beach house on Riverwalk w/dock by Ocean
Waterfront apartment rentals

Seascape Ocean View Condo

One of a kind full River and Ocean view!

Ocean View at Seascape with Private Balcony

Beachfront Condo in Watsonville, California

Seascape Resort Villa Beautiful Ocean View Sleep 6

Spectacular Ocean View- Heated Pool & Spa Seascape

Royal Villa - Ocean View - Heated Pool - Seascape

Your Coastal Sanctuary - Far from the Craziness
When is the best time to visit Santa Cruz?
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. price | £344 | £307 | £318 | £335 | £357 | £405 | £435 | £416 | £344 | £368 | £388 | £386 |
| Avg. temp | 10°C | 12°C | 13°C | 15°C | 17°C | 19°C | 20°C | 20°C | 20°C | 18°C | 13°C | 10°C |
Quick stats about waterfront rentals in Santa Cruz

Total holiday rentals
Explore 100 holiday rentals in Santa Cruz

Nightly prices starting at
Santa Cruz holiday rentals start at £29 per night before taxes and fees

Verified guest reviews
Over 7,610 verified reviews to help you choose

Family-friendly holiday rentals
70 properties offer extra space & child-friendly amenities

Pet-friendly holiday rentals
Find 20 rentals that welcome pets

Rentals with dedicated workspaces
60 properties have a dedicated workspace

Wifi availability
100 of Santa Cruz holiday rentals include wifi access

Popular amenities for guests
Guests love Kitchen, Wifi and Pool across Santa Cruz rentals

4.9 Average rating
Santa Cruz stays are highly rated by guests – averaging 4.9 out of 5!
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- Stanford University
- Santa Cruz Beach
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Capitola Beach
- Carmel Beach
- Rio Del Mar Beach
- SAP Center
- Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
- Seacliff State Beach
- Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park
- Montara Beach
- California’S Great America
- Winchester Mystery House
- Levi's Stadium
- Carmel Beach
- Asilomar State Beach
- Natural Bridges State Beach
- Gilroy Gardens Family Theme Park
- Davenport Beach
- Manresa Main State Beach
- Googleplex
- Pebble Beach Golf Links
- Twin Lakes State Beach
- The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
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