Boat Tours & water sports in Santa Cruz
THE 10 BEST Santa Cruz Boat Rides & Cruises
Boat Tours & Water Sports in Santa Cruz
- Traveler favoritesThings to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.
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Boat Tours & Water Sports
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33 places sorted by traveler favorites
Boat Tours • Fishing Charters & Tours
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Boat Tours • Dolphin & Whale Watching
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What travelers are saying
- Alina Z6 contributionsWe were on the first (and maybe only ?) all female crew trip. Excellent on all accounts: friendly, knowledgeable, smooth sailing despite some waves and saw all the animals we were hoping for ! We saw whales (mom and baby), a few juvenile Great Whites, otters and a few curious sea lions.Written August 6, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Karen K3 contributionsChardonnay II was our family choice for a burial sea for my husband.
They do a wonderful sailing for this sad but memorable event. Captain Tod is the kindest soul you could wish to meet. He is supportive and helpful and gets folks involved in the ceremony. He is also professional and knowledgeable. He makes a special day simply awesome.
The crew were also excellent- they are helpful and kind and take care of every possible thing- from coffee to flowers. They are so very compassionate and competent.
Thanks to Chardonnay II our day was one to be remembered fondly. I highly recommend them.Written August 7, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - jonZ9125CNSunnyvale, CA1 contributionWe were 5 guys in our 40s with no surfing experience and the instructors had us all up and surfing waves within minutes. Friendly, nice clean and comfortable wetsuits, etc. Would definitely visit again.Written August 7, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- shesler82San Jose, CA1 contributionWe had a wonderful time on our sail. The captain and crew were professional and friendly. The experience of being out on the bay sailing is like no other in Santa Cruz!Written August 6, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- SkipShankadelic1 contributionWe learned basic survival skills to prepare us for the apocalypse that may or may not happen in our lifetime. Not only was it a fun day out in nature, we learned real skills that will allow us to stay alive for a few days if lost in nature.Written August 1, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- jenmh4Roseville, CA10 contributionsI took my 14 year old daughter for her first lesson. And I had not surfed in over 10 years. Che was our instructor and was awesome! We both caught many waves, learned a lot and had an amazing session. Club Ed has been around for a very long time and has earned a great reputation. I would highly recommend them!Written July 21, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Tyler C.Menlo Park, CA19 contributionsI’m so grateful for Pacificsail. My friend and I chartered Calliope and spent a memorable day on Monterey Bay. The harbor teems with boats of all sizes, the beach is full of activity from volleyball to beach catamarans launching. We sailed out to about 4 miles offshore in a steady 15 knot westerly wind. Beautiful smooth swells and great marine life. At one point a pelican flew in formation with us, and time expanded as he glided along keeping an eye on us. The staff at Pacificsail are responsive, friendly and helpful.Written July 23, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Jeff P2 contributionsWhat can I say, Joe’s a swell dude. He had the party loaded up and headed out before the sun even peeked over the horizon. It was late November, and we weren’t sure what the weather or bite would look like, but Joe put us over the fish. Next thing you know, rockfish and lingcod started hooking up, and we brought in some decent fatties. Over the course of the day, the weather warmed up nicely, and we learned some great tips and techniques for catching lingcod. Nothing I’ll share here of course! But if you want some great lessons from the master himself, and come home with some good eatin’, I suggest you schedule a trip on the Taylor Gene yourself. You and your family or friends will have a wonderful time hunting for “the big one”!Written April 1, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- jeanhb6Seattle, WA1 contributionMy sister and I went out to scatter our mother's ashes. Captain Forrest came up with a plan of where to go. He and his crew mate, Carl, were sensitive to our need for space and time. They made the outing comfortable and pleasant. It would be great to go out again under more joyful circumstances.Written May 29, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Tj2ski1 contributionAwesome - Amazing. If they are out there, Dave from VENTURE QUEST will find them. We paddled out of Moss Landing, CA. looking for Humpback Whales. From the mouth of the harbor the sea was a blank canvas, slightly agitated under high clouds. The Whale Watching boats were past the horizon. Those on their way out sped past us. It did not look good. Dave, our guide, continued positive and kept us informed and paddling. It was as though he had a 6th sense as to where they might be. Eventual we came across 4-5 circling and feeding around us, a mother, a calf, a teen and 1- 2 adults. They are wild. They are enormous. With Dave we felt perfectly safe. As an individual this is a ‘once in a lifetime experience’.Written August 26, 2021This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- bradriggan1 contributionI cannot recommend Ocean Safari Monterey Bay tour enough. It was a truly magical adventure that left me with a renewed appreciation for the beauty of nature and the importance of preserving these precious creatures and their habitats. The Captain's expertise in navigating the waters and finding the best spots for spotting marine life is extraordinary. Do not miss the opportunity to embark on this unforgettable journey. It's an experience that will stay with you forever!Written July 20, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- b4i1eyKigali, Rwanda32 contributionsA friend and I booked a foil surfing lesson with Covewater. We started off with a miscommunication that resulted in a late start. We thought we had confirmed our lesson by discussing the plan over the phone the day before, but we missed the confirmation text. We were disappointed and a little frustrated until we clarified things over the phone with Olivier.
As soon as we met in person the experience continued to improve, exceeding initial expectations! Olivier apologized for the miscommunication and immediately set about making sure we had a great experience. He went out of his way to make sure we had a great time (not only during the lesson but afterward in the Santa Cruz area). We did not have any experience foil surfing before (although surfing experience and good balance is clearly required). Olivier was a very patient and enthusiastic instructor. I think he might have been even more stoked than us when we were progressing! He took pictures and video and shared them with us afterward.
Once we finished for the day he got us set up with SUP boards that matched our skill level and size. He gave us some recommendations for breaks and touring spots. He even gave us some suggestions for other things to do around Santa Cruz. Definitely a big part of trip to Santa Cruz.Written March 21, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - PetraFairfax, CA1 contributionKrista and Addie took us on amazing Halloween charter! They were super friendly and ran that ship like the boss ladies they are. They even let us hoist the sail! They were determined to find some wildlife for us to see and didn’t give up until we did. The families of sea otters were super cute, but the highlight of the trip was seeing two different types of whales popping up out of the water to say hello! I can’t say enough nice things about this duo. I highly recommend Nomad Sailing!Written November 2, 2020This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Christine D1 contributionRichard was a spectacular guide and we had an amazing SUP tour of Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary. We were given excellent instructions, he made it fun and learned about the marine wildlife. We had encounters with sea otters, harbor seas, sea lions and tons of birds. It was a perfect day, highly recommend!Written April 2, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- JamalSeattle, WA10 contributionsthis place is amazing from the boat rental to the guys who load the boat all around perfection. we had a great time and cant wait to get back out there its well worth the low low fee and time. just a awesome place and so much funWritten May 1, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions about Santa Cruz
- These places are best for boat tours & water sports in Santa Cruz:
- Chardonnay Sailing Charters
- O’Neill Yacht Charters
- Stagnaro Sport Fishing Charters & Whale Watching Cruises
- Sea Spirit Ocean Safari
- Pacific Sail
- These are the best places for kid-friendly boat tours & water sports in Santa Cruz:
- O’Neill Yacht Charters
- Stagnaro Sport Fishing Charters & Whale Watching Cruises
- Sea Spirit Ocean Safari
- California Classic Sail
- Nomad Sailing
- These are the best places for couples seeking boat tours & water sports in Santa Cruz:
- Chardonnay Sailing Charters
- O’Neill Yacht Charters
- Stagnaro Sport Fishing Charters & Whale Watching Cruises
- Sea Spirit Ocean Safari
- Pacific Sail
- These are the best places for groups seeking boat tours & water sports in Santa Cruz:
- Chardonnay Sailing Charters
- O’Neill Yacht Charters
- Stagnaro Sport Fishing Charters & Whale Watching Cruises
- These are the best places for budget-friendly boat tours & water sports in Santa Cruz:
- O’Neill Yacht Charters
- Stagnaro Sport Fishing Charters & Whale Watching Cruises
- Sea Spirit Ocean Safari
- Surf School Santa Cruz
- Club Ed Santa Cruz Surf School
- These are the most romantic places for boat tours & water sports in Santa Cruz:
- Chardonnay Sailing Charters
- Stagnaro Sport Fishing Charters & Whale Watching Cruises
- California Classic Sail
- These are the best places for adventurous boat tours & water sports in Santa Cruz:
- Stagnaro Sport Fishing Charters & Whale Watching Cruises
- Sea Spirit Ocean Safari
- Surf School Santa Cruz
- These are the best places for adrenaline seekers looking for boat tours & water sports in Santa Cruz:
- Stagnaro Sport Fishing Charters & Whale Watching Cruises
- Surf School Santa Cruz
- Adventure Out
- Club Ed Santa Cruz Surf School
- Chartle Charters
See what travelers are asking
Forum posts were selected by looking for forum titles asking specific questions and taking the top showtopic page by total pageviews as the optimal topic.
So I havent seen this post recently. Debating the merits of staying in Santa Cruz vs Capitola.
We are are a sports team of 15- 16 yr old boys traveling from Orange County ,ca to the area in end of July. Games can range from being in Sc, Aptos, cabrillo and San Lorenzo. We will be in the area for four days with some down time in the evenings.
Hotels are expensive in both areas. Looking into the Fairfield inn in Capitola (rates ave ~$300 but with breakfast & bocci ball court) with some of chain restaurants like chipotle & mall nearby.
The other option to to get a hotel in SC possibly Hotel Paradox in the higher end (~$330 but no breakfast) or Holiday Inn or Hyatt place same price as FI.
Pls lmk your thoughts of what would be a better city SC or C?
Would like a hotel where parents & kids have a nice common area to congregate during down time.
Also would like to have the boys have access to fun things to do during down time & have access to good food options since 16 yrs old boys playing sports are always hungry.
Will the team with 30+ people be frustrated trying to get into a non chain restaurant in Sc?
Hotel P is off the beaten path & expensive but has nicer facilities like pool area with nice lounge area. Is the hotel worth the extra $?
Any appreciate suggestions on the hotel I mentioned or any others that I have may have overlooked.
Thank you for your advice.
We are are a sports team of 15- 16 yr old boys traveling from Orange County ,ca to the area in end of July. Games can range from being in Sc, Aptos, cabrillo and San Lorenzo. We will be in the area for four days with some down time in the evenings.
Hotels are expensive in both areas. Looking into the Fairfield inn in Capitola (rates ave ~$300 but with breakfast & bocci ball court) with some of chain restaurants like chipotle & mall nearby.
The other option to to get a hotel in SC possibly Hotel Paradox in the higher end (~$330 but no breakfast) or Holiday Inn or Hyatt place same price as FI.
Pls lmk your thoughts of what would be a better city SC or C?
Would like a hotel where parents & kids have a nice common area to congregate during down time.
Also would like to have the boys have access to fun things to do during down time & have access to good food options since 16 yrs old boys playing sports are always hungry.
Will the team with 30+ people be frustrated trying to get into a non chain restaurant in Sc?
Hotel P is off the beaten path & expensive but has nicer facilities like pool area with nice lounge area. Is the hotel worth the extra $?
Any appreciate suggestions on the hotel I mentioned or any others that I have may have overlooked.
Thank you for your advice.
Answer: There is not much for boys that age in Capitola. Its core is a small village with boutique shopping. The hotel itself is on busy 41st Avenue, not very near the village. The mall you speak of is considering going out of business and turning into something else. It has a couple of semi-fast food restaurants. It is not something the boys could walk to from the Fairfield Inn, or has anything of interest to them, IMO.
The Holiday Inn Express in Santa Cruz is not near anything for the boys except Denny's :~). It is on Ocean Street as you come into the town. The Paradox is a new remake of a Holiday Inn and it screams 'businessmen'. It is also on Ocean Avenue, but further down and just across San Lorenzo Park (about two or three blocks) from the main street of town, Pacific Avenue, with lots of restaurants of various kinds, two movie theaters, ice cream parlors, a cookie company, pizza, etc.
Have you looked into the Dream Inn? This is of the same quality as, or better than, the others but near the Wharf and a block from the Boardwalk, an old fashioned historic amusement park with no admission charge.
The hotel has a pool and faces a beach. Surfing lessons happen there. There are volleyball nets set up on part of the beach near the Boardwalk. During the summer there are free movies and concerts and aerial acts at various times on the main beach there. Of your choices, I really think this is the best. It is not inexpensive, but I think it might be in the same ballpark as the Paradox. The boys *could* walk to Pacific Avenue from here, but it is about 8 or 9 blocks to the main area .
The Hyatt is new and I know nothing about it except its location. It is on the west side and not really convenient to activities for the boys.
I am going to give you a link to a traveler article on Santa Cruz. Trip Advisor has stopped supporting these, so there is a disclaimer that the information may be outdated. The information in this article is not outdated. I will be re-writing it to put in my own files.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g33048-c133677/Santa-Cruz:California:Santa.Cruz.Sights.And.Activities.html
Good luck and let me know if I can be of help....
Edit. The Paradox is not in a "shady area of town". Yes, homeless people do hang out in San Lorenzo Park, but there is no reason for the boys to go there. If you should pick that hotel they can walk on city streets, quite safely, to get to Pacific Avenue...
The Holiday Inn Express in Santa Cruz is not near anything for the boys except Denny's :~). It is on Ocean Street as you come into the town. The Paradox is a new remake of a Holiday Inn and it screams 'businessmen'. It is also on Ocean Avenue, but further down and just across San Lorenzo Park (about two or three blocks) from the main street of town, Pacific Avenue, with lots of restaurants of various kinds, two movie theaters, ice cream parlors, a cookie company, pizza, etc.
Have you looked into the Dream Inn? This is of the same quality as, or better than, the others but near the Wharf and a block from the Boardwalk, an old fashioned historic amusement park with no admission charge.
The hotel has a pool and faces a beach. Surfing lessons happen there. There are volleyball nets set up on part of the beach near the Boardwalk. During the summer there are free movies and concerts and aerial acts at various times on the main beach there. Of your choices, I really think this is the best. It is not inexpensive, but I think it might be in the same ballpark as the Paradox. The boys *could* walk to Pacific Avenue from here, but it is about 8 or 9 blocks to the main area .
The Hyatt is new and I know nothing about it except its location. It is on the west side and not really convenient to activities for the boys.
I am going to give you a link to a traveler article on Santa Cruz. Trip Advisor has stopped supporting these, so there is a disclaimer that the information may be outdated. The information in this article is not outdated. I will be re-writing it to put in my own files.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g33048-c133677/Santa-Cruz:California:Santa.Cruz.Sights.And.Activities.html
Good luck and let me know if I can be of help....
Edit. The Paradox is not in a "shady area of town". Yes, homeless people do hang out in San Lorenzo Park, but there is no reason for the boys to go there. If you should pick that hotel they can walk on city streets, quite safely, to get to Pacific Avenue...
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