Santa Cruz County
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Positives
- Wide swell window
- Spot variety
- Dominant offshores
- Laid back Santa Cruz
- Easy access and lodging
Negatives
- Cold water year round
- Chilly winter temps
- Competitive crowds
- Sharks
Santa Cruz County surf travel guide
Surf-wise, Santa Cruz is just about the most diverse county in California. It’s got the consistent, quirky reefs and beachbreaks of the north, user-friendly, ultra-clean and crowded points and reefs in ‘Town’ and the powerful, uncrowded, often merciless beachbreaks of south county. Just south of the county line, the coastline angles SSE before bending around into a south-facing arc, an inverted bowl on the north end of Monterey Bay that catches NW, W, SW and S swells, making ‘Cruz’ one of the most wave-rich areas on the entire West Coast, as long as you know where to go.
Surf spots in Santa Cruz County
Research the 11 surf breaks in Santa Cruz County and discover what spots suit the current conditions.
Break lowdown
We’ve collated the wave data giving you a unique insight into the 11 breaks in Santa Cruz County.
When to go
Surf and weather statistics to help plan your surf trip to Santa Cruz County
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Library
Helpful surf travel videos and articles featuring Santa Cruz County.
Travel Information
General
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- Tourist Info
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Security
Health
Money
- Currency
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Cost of living
Communication
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- Emergencies
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- Language
- English
Electricity
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Visas
Due to Covid there are special restrictions so it is essential to check the latest news before booking any trip. Normally most Europeans, Aussies, Kiwis and Japanese are part of the Visa waiver program so do not need a visa to enter the USA for up to 90 days, but they do need to apply for ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) which costs US$14.
https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta.
Other nationalities need to check as the rules are constantly being adjusted.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_policy_of_the_United_States
Getting There
Coming from abroad, most flights land in San Francisco international airport (SFO). It’s a 10h drive from Los Angeles ($35 with Greyhound buses).
Activities
Visit the Surfing Museum at the Memorial lighthouse or the Shakespeare Santa Cruz. Take a stroll along the Wharf or the beach boardwalk. The drive down Highway 1, south of Carmel is nice. Santa Cruz is an enjoyable and cool city with good nightlife, check out Catalyst and Palookaville
Hazards & hassles
The best way to avoid crowds is to surf the less accessible spots, as local surfers tend not to bother with these places too much. The N Coast and Monterey Bay usually has less crowd pressure. Be aware of Great White sharks in the N. If it rains many beaches become polluted.