Imagine yourself on the 'Island' in a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home surrounded by ocean views and just steps from Rio del Mar Beach. Take a stroll along the beach to spot dolphins and seals, or enjoy activities like boogie boarding, surfing, or building sand castles.
Reviews
9.89.8 out of 10
Exceptional
Entire home
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6
Popular amenities
Ocean view
Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Free Wi-Fi
Outdoor space
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About this property
Seaside Sanctuary - Beach Front Home on the `Island`
Stunning Beachfront Home in Rio Del Mar - Your Coastal Paradise Awaits!
Location, Location, Location! This beautifully remodeled 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home offers the ultimate beachfront living experience on the coveted `Island` in Rio Del Mar. Step out of the living room through the door and onto the sand—perfect for beach strolls or relaxing by the ocean. Enjoy your morning coffee on the upper deck, where you can gaze out at the sparkling sea and listen to the calming sounds of the waves as you drift off to sleep.
The first floor features a fully equipped kitchen, a laundry room, a full bathroom, and a spacious living room complete with a cozy fireplace and a large window overlooking the ocean. Upstairs, you’ll find the second full bathroom and three comfortable bedrooms, two of which offer easy access to the upstairs deck.
House Rules:
This is a quiet, family-friendly home—not a party house.
Quiet hours begin at 10 PM.
Please respect our neighbors’ privacy and stay off their patio.
Enjoy our private patio with direct beach access.
What’s Included:
Private Beach Access: Step right onto the sand from your living room.
Convenient Amenities: The house is stocked with everything you’ll need, including a fully equipped kitchen and laundry facilities.
Beach Activities: Watch dolphins and seals swim by, go boogie boarding, surf, swim, or simply relax and collect seashells on the beach.
Local Attractions:
Walking Distance: Market, coffee shop, deli, and Cafe Rio Restaurant.
Nearby: Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, local golf course, downtown Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Pebble Beach Golf Course, and more.
Easy Parking: Limited to two cars per home; parking is first come, first served along the street.
Important Notes:
We do not advertise on Craigslist—please beware of scams.
For safety, avoid climbing on the seawall.
For peace of mind, we recommend purchasing traveler`s insurance. Permit#251008 Do not use walkway, rock seawall, or neighbors patio for personal use. No fireworks or parties.
Property amenities
Beach
Beach nearby
Internet
Available in the house: Free WiFi
Parking and transport
Parking on site
Kitchen
Coffee/tea maker
Cookware, dishware, and utensils
Dishwasher
Hob
Microwave
Oven
Refrigerator
Toaster
Dining
Dining table
Bedrooms
3 bedrooms
Bedsheets provided
Bathroom
2 bathrooms
Hair dryer
Towels provided
Living spaces
Dining table
Fireplace
Living room
Entertainment
Smart TV
Outdoor areas
Balcony
Barbecue grill
Laundry
Laundry facilities
Washing machine
Comfort
Heating
Pets
No pets allowed
Suitability/Accessibility
Smoke-free property
Location highlights
Near a hospital
Near the bay
Near the ocean
On the waterfront
Things to do
Birdwatching nearby
Fishing nearby
Horseback riding nearby
Motor boating nearby
Scuba diving nearby
Snorkelling nearby
Whale watching nearby
Wildlife walks nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
An adult aged 18 or older must assume all liability for the booking
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Rules
Do not use walkway, rock seawall, or neighbors patio for personal use. No fireworks or parties.
Pets
Pets not allowed
Children and extra beds
Children are welcome
Events
No events allowed
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
This property is managed by a professional host. The provision of housing is linked to their trade, business or profession.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with UK consumer law, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.
About the area
Located on the waterfront, this holiday home is in Rio del Mar, a neighbourhood in Aptos. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a popular attraction and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Capitola Beach and Monterey Bay. Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History and Boardwalk Bowl are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with scuba diving, snorkelling and power boating nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with horse riding. Visit our Aptos travel guide
Is Seaside Sanctuary - Beach Front Home on the `Island` pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much is parking at Seaside Sanctuary - Beach Front Home on the `Island`?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Seaside Sanctuary - Beach Front Home on the `Island`?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Seaside Sanctuary - Beach Front Home on the `Island`?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Seaside Sanctuary - Beach Front Home on the `Island` located?
Located in Rio del Mar, this holiday home is within a 5-minute walk of Rio Del Mar Beach and Seacliff State Beach. The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park and Aptos History Museum are also within 1 mile (2 km).
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Seaside Sanctuary - Beach Front Home on the `Island` Reviews
Reviews
Exceptional
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travellers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
This was the cutest place I've rented thru VRBO. Super clean, modern and well stocked. Beautiful view from a comfortable patio. Host was accommodating when I needed to make some changes. Super easy check in/out. Already rescheduled another stay.
This beach front property is in an excellent location with walking distance to cafes and a small market, and of course the beach at your door step.
The listing description is accurate and the house is clean.
We had a wonderful stay.
This house couldn't be in a better location...right on the beach, and we could still walk for coffee, lunch, or dinner. Kids each got their own rooms. Great for a relaxing beach trip!
We had a great time. The house was in the perfect location and the weather cooperated to give us a once in a lifetime long weekend. The house had lots of amenities and our group of 5 adults had plenty of room to spread out. Everything was as advertised and the owner was responsive and very helpful. Would absolutely stay again.
Gorgeous views of the ocean right outside our door! Issues with refrigerator were promptly addressed and workable solution provided. Great communication from owner.
Just as described. Access to the beach was perfect; weather this time of year was overcast but not cold. Beach house was comfortable for my husband and I. The place was stocked with great appliances and nice kitchenware and we enjoyed the instant fireplace warmup when needed. Definitely a spot to return to every anniversary!
Perfectly located...right on Rio Del Mar beach, short walking distance to Pixie Deli & Venus cafe/restaurant, short drive to other restaurants and grocery stores. It was everything we wanted in a wonderful beach holiday. Jaleh, rental manager, was excellent in responding quickly to any of our questions/concerns. We'd definitely stay again. Thank you
Worth every penny for the view, beach access, and accomodations.
We really enjoyed the location of this property. The accomodations worked great for our family, and being steps to the beach was so worth it. Furniture is a bit outdated, but still works great and gets the job done. Kitchen was well equipped and I greatly appreciated there was hand soap and basic showering soaps available. We would live to come back. The one thing that was a bit of a bummer was the neighbors back porch flood lights that were bright and ruined our ability to sit on the porch at night.
The location is perfect. Easy access to a beautiful beach, close to state parks, and in town amenities. The house was perfect for us (2 adults). The kitchen is well stocked if you plan to eat at home (which we did) We will definitely return
This place was perfect and we were lucky it was such a beautiful sunny weekend (still perfect of it was overcast). The view of the beach was right at our fingertips. We will no doubt stay here again.
Super clean and Efficient beach front rental in Aptos . Comfortable and convenient! We saw whales breaching all week long and Sea Otters near the shore -line. Pelicans and Seagulls. Such a memorable stay.
Right on the beach, with the sounds od surf at night. Close to neighbors, so fair amount of foot traffic around house and on beach, but nothing to interfere with our enjoyment.
This house was just perfect. It was very clean, beds are very comfortable, the property manager was super helpful and responsive. The view is very special - right on the sand. 3 nice size bedrooms and 2 that look out over the ocean. We can't wait to come back and stay here again!
Had a wonderful stay at this oceanfront home in Aptos. Highly recommend if you are looking for a getaway in the Santa Cruz area. Clean and well equipped. We enjoyed the outside BBQ and walking up and down the beach. Quiet and safe.
Although this property is a very small condo bedrooms right next to each other not good for couples. It’s great for families. Everything you need is there and you really are right in front of the ocean. The neighbors were friendly a few simple restaurants in walking distance and the whales were amazing. Parking can be a little rough, but I would definitely come to this property again it’s not the most inexpensive, but it’s definitely worth it.