Vacation rentals with beach access in Rio del Mar

Loved our stay at this little apartment near the sea! The apartment was beautiful, clean, and well stocked with towels, linens, and other amenities in case we forgot something. The washer and dryer were helpful after a long day at Refuge in Carmel (we took a dip in all the thermal pools). Kevin was so lovely and checked in on us and offered great recommendations. We will definitely be back!

Absolutely beautiful property! Studio was very spacious and comfortable. Jacuzzi was very relaxing. Location was perfect and close to shops and restaurants. The beach was close by and had magnificent views. We highly recommend this property and we can’t wait to visit again! Cheers!

We had a wonderful stay this past weekend! The place was very clean a day modern. We loved all of the amenities they offered. it was the perfect place for our family of 4 to relax in such a beautiful space. Thank you! We will be back!

Had a wonderful stay at this gem right in the heart of Capitola 💎 The location was unbeatable - just steps away from the beach, shops, and great local restaurants. The space was clean, cozy, and thoughtfully decorated with everything we needed. The host was super responsive and made check-in a breeze. Would definitely stay here again on our next coastal getaway!

A great weekend spent right next to the beach. Appreciate the intro message with a list of things to do right when I booked. Easy instructions for parking which really appreciate since it is busy there. Looked like photos and was exactly expected. Enjoyed the night :)

Well-stocked, simply furnished bungalow-type attached residence in the Seabright neighborhood, convenient to the northeastern residential sections of Santa Cruz and to supermarkets and natural food stores. Many new, easy-to-operate small appliances and good laundry set-up. Ample kitchenware and condiments. Quiet city surroundings, easy parking. Overall, staying at the unit (and interacting with owner) was a pleasure.

Nice hot tub and gas fireplace which we enjoyed every night! Our son is a surfer so we walked a couple blocks to the bluff to watch him. Great restaurants in the area and sites (surfing museum) to see. Abbot Square was a good venue to eat and enjoy music.

Place is exactly as described but also clean and inviting! Location location location- can’t beat it. Host is extremely responsive and helpful. Would definitely stay here again!

Nice place about a half block from Twin Lakes Beach. Location is great and the place was perfect for our family of 3 plus our dog. Our teenage son enjoyed sleeping in the loft and our dog loved barking at passersby from the deck... The unit is above the main house where the host lives, but felt private. We'd be happy to stay here again next time we're in town.

The place was great, literally across the street from the beach, super clean and comfortable, and the best part was the kayak, which we took out in the morning and we were able to see dolphins, sea lions, and otters fantastic!!

We selected the home to celebrate a 60th birthday with siblings. It was perfect for our group of five. We walked (and ran) on the beach, did puzzles, made meals together, and spent quality time just hanging out. Kitchen has everything one could need. Plenty of supplies. Clear instructions and expectations. We’d absolutely return.

Louise’s place was absolutely wonderful, and she was an exceptional host. The home was spacious and had the cutest porch—perfect for sitting around and catching up with my group of girlfriends. The neighborhood was peaceful and walkable, with easy access to Sea Cliff Beach and nightly visits to Marianne’s Ice Cream, which became a favorite treat. It was also a short, convenient drive to both Capitola and Santa Cruz. Louise was incredibly flexible and accommodating throughout our stay. She even went out of her way to help us retrieve an item we accidentally left behind. I would 100% recommend staying here!

I’ve stayed at many places. I can honestly say this home was one of my favorites. Absolutely everything you want and need PLUS MORE. The hammock outside was just what we needed after a long day at the beach. Everything was basically spotless. If you’re looking for a relaxing beach house to stay at, I can’t recommend this one enough. 10/10. I would definitely come back.

We had a wonderful stay at Sarah’s place! Excellent location and quiet streets. The house had everything we needed and communication was great. A lovely stay in Aptos!

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Jackie's beach house. The house was walking distance to all our favorite places to go. Honestly, we loved hanging out in the backyard too. The BBQ was perfect and ready to go. I wouldn't change a thing, it was perfect and we look forward to coming back again.

This is a really great spot and we would definitely stay here again! Jackie was a great host and the communication was excellent throughout our trip. The beds were nice, the house was clean, and the windows allow plenty of light to come in. The house is also well stocked with plenty of coffee, a variety of cooking and glassware, some and, some spices. The hosts have also prepared the house with games, toys, and small bowls and forks for kids. The backyard is also a really nice to hangout in and has a small yard that could be a great area for kids to run around as well. The house is in a quiet neighborhood that is about a 10-15 minute walk to the beach. There are also some nice restaurants, grocery stores, and cute shopping areas about a 5-10min drive away. Some areas in Santa Cruz have pretty hard water (including this spot) so if you aren't used to that grabbing some bottled water for your trip might be a good idea. We had a great time and highly recommend this spot!

I had a wonderful stay! The place was clean, cozy, and exactly as described. The hosts were incredibly kind and responsive, making sure I had everything I needed for a comfortable visit. You can really tell they care about their guests and take pride in providing a great experience. I would definitely stay here again and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a relaxing and well-managed place to stay. Thank you for everything!

Amazing views of the Pajaro River and Pacific Ocean. Short walk (300 yards) to the beach along a boardwalk or enjoy the views from the livingroom through the large picture windows or deck. Perfect for a couple or young family (the two twin beds in the second bedroom are quite small but my 20 something daughters had no complaints). Abundant bird watching opportunities along with the occasional sea lion\seal and otter.

Kristina’s place was absolutely beautiful and exactly as pictured. Breath taking ocean views and a short 5 minutes down to the beach. Kristina was very friendly checking in with us to make sure our trip was going good and if we needed anything. Would definitely stay here again !!! Great host great place and beautiful city !!

This stay is absolutely amazing. Comfy bed and furniture. Stocked Kitchen. Steps to the beach. Closet full of beachy things. We had fun flying the kite. Built bonfires just over the dune on the beach. 🏖️ Don’t hesitate to book. This place is it.

We had a wonderful short getaway at Sue’s place! The condo is just steps from the beach, pool, and jacuzzi. Falling asleep to the sound of the waves was relaxing, and the ocean breeze was very refreshing. It was exactly what we needed to reset and recharge. Everything was just as described, and we would stay here again! Thank you, Sue!

My family of 4 had a wonderful stay! The pictures didn't do it justice - all the upgrades were well worth it and my family thoroughly enjoyed the stay there. My was very responsive and helpful. So glad we found it! Would definitely stay there again.

We’ve stayed at Pajaro Dunes before, but it’s been decades ago. Marc’s place was perfectly situated for privacy and views and was very clean and well appointed. The peacefulness and serenity were exactly what we were looking for. The beachy feel of the furnishings was charming and the unit included all that we needed including an upgraded and well furnished kitchen, a gas fireplace, a comfortable, king size bed and other essentials like extra blankets and a Kuerig coffee maker. Our only difficulty was when inadvertently trying to use the TV remote to change channels…Don’t Do That, Use the cable remote like it says in the instructions. Spent a thoroughly enjoyable four days here with side trips to Monterey and Carmel. Perfect home base for dining out and exploring the coast, and an excellent, proactive host.

Lisa was very friendly and responsive. She not only provided clear instructions, flexible check-in, but also shared many great local dinning options, which were super helpful for our family of five. The condo was kept spotless with comfortable king size bed, bunkbed that my boys love, a beautiful swirling love seat that my daughter loved to sit in while watching sea birds catching fish using the binocular provided! Our family specifically loved the fireplace on the balcony. It was just perfect for us to enjoy the cozy night chatting and laughing by the fire while listening to the ocean waves NorCal beaches can be very chilling at night. The outdoor fireplace is such a thoughtful amenity. THANK YOU, Lisa!