Lower Ocean Travel Guide

Santa Cruz

A coastal road winding through a mountainous landscape with a view of the ocean.

Things to do

Santa Cruz Walking Tour: Discover Downtown & Mission Hill

Santa Cruz Walking Tour: Discover Downtown & Mission Hill

฿1,502
per adult
Santa Cruz Walking Tour: Discover Downtown & Mission Hill
Santa Cruz Scavenger Hunt Walking Activity

Santa Cruz Scavenger Hunt Walking Activity

฿1,669
per traveller
Santa Cruz Scavenger Hunt Walking Activity
Santa Cruz Beach Hill to Mission Hill Loop Via Downtown

Beach Hill to Historic Downtown Santa Cruz Loop

฿1,502
per adult
Beach Hill to Historic Downtown Santa Cruz Loop
Capitola Friday Night Food Tour

Capitola Friday Night Food Tour

฿4,307
per adult
100% of travellers recommend
Capitola Friday Night Food Tour
Santa Cruz Surf Walk: History and Culture Tour

Santa Cruz Surf Walk: History and Culture Tour

฿1,502
per adult
Santa Cruz Surf Walk: History and Culture Tour
Beginner Surfing Lesson - Pacifica or Santa Cruz

Beginner Surfing Lesson - Pacifica or Santa Cruz

฿4,641
per adult
100% of travellers recommend
Beginner Surfing Lesson - Pacifica or Santa Cruz
See all activities in Santa Cruz

Top hotels in Lower Ocean

The Aqua Pacific Hotel

The Aqua Pacific Hotel

2 out of 5
330 Ocean St. Santa Cruz CA
The price is ฿2,154 per night from 11 Oct to 12 Oct
฿2,154
฿2,997 total
11 Oct - 12 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and an outdoor pool. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their reviews. ...
7.8/10 Good! (1,000 reviews)
"Heated pool is not heated. Small rooms, not a lot of parking. Generally dirty"

Reviewed on 9 Oct 2026

The Aqua Pacific Hotel
Riverside Inn & Suites Santa Cruz

Riverside Inn & Suites Santa Cruz

2 out of 5
505 Riverside Avenue Santa Cruz CA
The price is ฿2,280 per night from 1 Nov to 2 Nov
฿2,280
฿2,653 total
1 Nov - 2 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this motel in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms in their reviews. ...
8.4/10 Very good! (1,002 reviews)
"Good service at affordable price, staff very friendly."

Reviewed on 7 Oct 2026

Riverside Inn & Suites Santa Cruz
Surf City Inn and Suites

Surf City Inn and Suites

2 out of 5
619 Riverside Ave Santa Cruz CA
The price is ฿2,037 per night from 8 Nov to 9 Nov
฿2,037
฿2,566 total
8 Nov - 9 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this spa motel in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and a 24-hour front desk. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
7.6/10 Good! (1,247 reviews)
"Simple & adequate, very minimalist. Conveniently located. Keep expectations in check."

Reviewed on 10 Oct 2026

Surf City Inn and Suites
Hotel Solares

Hotel Solares

2.5 out of 5
600 Riverside Ave Santa Cruz CA
The price is ฿2,184 per night from 12 Oct to 13 Oct
฿2,184
฿3,201 total
12 Oct - 13 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this hotel in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and a 24-hour front desk. Popular attractions Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Capitola Beach ...
7/10 Good! (1,004 reviews)
"We love staying here. Little patios, hot tubs, clean rooms! Awesome."

Reviewed on 10 Oct 2026

Hotel Solares
Motel Santa Cruz

Motel Santa Cruz

2 out of 5
370 Ocean St Santa Cruz CA
The price is ฿2,649 per night from 10 Nov to 11 Nov
฿2,649
฿3,272 total
10 Nov - 11 Nov
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this motel in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and dry cleaning or laundry services. Popular attractions Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Capitola ...
Motel Santa Cruz
Drift Inn

Drift Inn

2.5 out of 5
110 San Lorenzo Blvd Santa Cruz CA
The price is ฿2,354 per night from 11 Oct to 12 Oct
฿2,354
฿2,636 total
11 Oct - 12 Oct
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this motel in Santa Cruz. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, free parking and room service. Popular attractions Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Capitola Beach are located ...
8/10 Very good! (161 reviews)
"Clean room. friendly staff. Parking was so-so."

Reviewed on 8 Oct 2026

Drift Inn
See all 1,201 properties in Lower Ocean
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Where to stay in Lower Ocean

Find the best Lower Ocean areas for the activities you enjoy most.
A natural rock arch formation on a beach with waves crashing below.

Westside Santa Cruz

Travellers to Westside Santa Cruz praise its stunning beaches. If you've got some more time to explore, be sure to stop by Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Monterey Bay.

A white lighthouse with a green top, surrounded by large rocks and people.
Photo by Ian Durant
Open Photo by Ian Durant

Eastside Santa Cruz

Travellers come to Eastside Santa Cruz for its beaches, and you can see top attractions like Monterey Bay and Twin Lakes State Beach while you're in town.

A crowded beach with numerous boats and people.

Pleasure Point

While visiting Pleasure Point, you might make a stop by sights like Monterey Bay and 38th Avenue Beach Access.

A street with a clock tower, a tram, and a building with a sign.

Beach Hill - Beach Flats

While there might not be top attractions in Beach Hill - Beach Flats, you can explore the larger area and discover places like Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Exploration Center.

A clock tower, a church, and residential buildings in a hilly town.

Downtown Santa Cruz

Unique features of Downtown Santa Cruz include the beaches and restaurants. Make a stop by Pacific Avenue or Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History while you're exploring the area.

Lower Ocean Travel Guide