California Coast: Santa Cruz to Monterey

6 Days & 5 Nights 5 Read 5 reviews

Visit the vibrant coastal city of Santa Cruz
Walk the coast of the spectacular Monterey Bay Peninsula
Enjoy numerous wildlife viewing opportunities - spot whales, seals, and more
Hike through towering redwood groves and along peaceful sandy beaches
Follow in Steinbeck’s footsteps along famous Cannery Row

Walk along sandy beaches and through redwood groves as you make your way from the energetic coastal city of Santa Cruz to the marine wildlife sanctuary of Monterey Bay. Enjoy numerous wildlife viewing opportunities as you spot seals, otters, whales, birds, and more along the coast and at Elkhorn Slough, and - if time permits - at an optional visit to the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. Visit a variety of state parks, including Natural Bridges State Park and Forest of Nisene Marks State Park along, and follow in John Steinbeck's footsteps along historic Cannery Row. In the evenings, relax at your beachfront accommodations, reveling in the sight and sound of the ocean.

What To Expect

Travel restrictions and resources, to and from any destination

This tour is graded as moderate, with daily hikes averaging around 8 miles a day. This tour is perfect for those who want to explore the expanse of the Marin Headlands and Sonoma by foot and with free time to enjoy wine tastings and to explore the cute towns. Hikers should expect walking along dirt trails and varied terrain. Trails are well-signed, maintained, and traveled frequently. Enjoy staying at charming hotels each night.

Tour Style:

Self Guided | Go at your own pace on an independent tour.

Activity:

Inn to Inn Walking | A classic point to point walking trip, staying in a different location each night

This trip is suitable for:

Families, Mixed Abilities

As a guide, we would suggest that the minimum age of traveler this tour would be suitable for is: 12 Years

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Wellness & Spa
Elegance & Unique Stays
Coastal & Island

Inspiration:

New
Classic

Activity Level & Terrain

The hiking on this trip is moderate, averaging 8-9 miles per day.

Navigation

Navigating is easy using your handmade guidebook provided on arrival. The guidebook provides route notes, and turn-by-turn directions. There are also suggestions on places to eat, points of interest, and local history You will also have 24/7 telephone support from us here at Macs Adventure.

Experience & Fitness

The trails used on this trip are well-established, thoroughly waymarked, and highly traveled. However, conditions vary including mud, rocks, and sand. You should be accustomed to hiking for several hours at a time and will enjoy your tour much more if you are well-prepared. Some hiking experience is necessary.

Accommodations

One of the highlights of this tour is the high standard of accommodation. You will stay in carefully selected 3-4* small hotels. Your room will always have an ensuite or private bathroom. A delicious breakfast is also included.

Twin Rooms

On this tour twin rooms (with 2 beds, either single or double) are challenging to confirm. This may involve either sharing a king bed, or bringing a cot into the room as the extra bed, which may involve a supplement. We will endeavour to work out the best scenario for you, but please bear this in mind when considering booking this tour if you require this type of rooming.

Single Rooms

If you require single rooms within your party we will always try and accommodate you subject to availability. A single supplement is payable.

Meals

A hearty breakfast is included each morning. Lunch is included on days 3, 4, and 5. Other lunches and dinners are not included so you are free to choose from the surrounding options. Dinner is available either at your accommodation or at nearby restaurants.

Included

5 Nights at hand-selected lodges and hotels
5 breakfasts and 3 lunches
Detailed pre-departure information pack
Turn-by-turn route notes provided on arrival
Support from our Local Partner and 24/7 telephone support
Daily baggage transfer
90-minute wildlife & otter boat tour at Moss Landing

Excluded

Travel to / from the start and end of the tour
Travel insurance
Personal equipment

Extras

Room Upgrades (only where applicable)
Additional nights along the route

When To Go

We offer this trip year-round and there are plenty of reasons to visit in each season based on your goals. Throughout the year the average high temperatures are in the upper 60s Fahrenheit, with lows in the 40s and 50s.

Availability

This trip is available any time of year and can depart any day of the week. We suggest booking as far in advance as possible for a better chance of securing your desired dates.

However the following 2022 dates are unbookable due to the listed events:

Feb 3-6 (AT&T Pro-Am)
Apr 24-25 (Big Sur Marathon)
Aug 12-22 (Concours d’Elegance)
Sept 9-11 (Firestone Grand Prix of Monterey/INDYCAR Race)
Sept 23- 25 (Monterey Jazz Festival

These are dates that are busy but may be bookable:
Apr 7-10 (Sea Otter Classic)
Jul 27-29 (Produce Marketing Association Conference-PMA)
Nov 11-13 (Monterey Bay Half Marathon)
Nov 16-20 (CALPELRA)
Nov 24 (Thanksgiving)

Getting to the Start

The closest airport to Santa Cruz is San Jose International Airport. You could also fly into San Francisco International Airport or Oakland International Airport.

It's about a 40-minute drive between San Jose and Santa Cruz. There are plenty of car rental options at the airport, or you can take the Early Bird Shuttle. There is also the public bus, Santa Cruz Metro route 17 Express that connects Santa Cruz to the Airport.

Getting from the End

Your tour ends in Monterey. The nearest airport is San Jose International Airport. You could also fly out of San Francisco International Airport or Oakland International Airport. There is also the Monterey Regional Airport (MRY) with limited domestic flights.

You can take the Amtrak from Monterey to San Jose Airport in roughly 4 hours.

Luggage Transfer

Baggage transfer from San Francisco to Sonoma is included in the cost of your holiday. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 22 kg / 50lbs per person.

Equipment

Our pre-departure information pack includes a detailed equipment list on what to take with you. This includes warm and cold weather gear, hiking boots, rain gear, and lots of other specifics. If you have any questions about what to take, we'd be happy to share our own top tips and advice.