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Rio Del Mar Boathouse - steps from the beach

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A bedroom with a bed, a dresser, a clock, a chandelier, and a telescope.
A boat with a glass door leading to a room with a bed and a small bathroom.
A modern kitchen with a large window offering a beach view, white cabinetry, and a blue-tiled backsplash.
A living room with a blue sofa, a wooden coffee table, a television, and a large window overlooking the beach.
A spacious living area with a large window overlooking a beach, a cozy seating area, and a kitchenette.

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

2 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 5

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Air-conditioning
  • Parking available
  • Beach view

Explore the area

View in a map
Aptos, CA
  • Place, Rio Del Mar Beach
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, Seacliff State Beach
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
    ‪18 min walk‬
  • Airport, Watsonville, CA (WVI-Watsonville Municipal)
    ‪12 min drive‬

Room options

Similar properties

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Rio Del Mar Boathouse - steps from the beach

Summary:

Welcome aboard! (Permit 211160) This unique beachfront house is designed to look like a boat, complete with porthole windows and a ships wheel. Enjoy your morning coffee while watching the waves, or spend your days lounging on the beach and soaking up the sun with Marianne's ice cream in hand!



The Space:

- Comfortably sleeps up to 5 guests

- 2 bedrooms

- 2.5 bathrooms

- There is a parking space under the house, but please note it is only big enough to fit a sedan or a small SUV. Please no large SUV's or trucks. There is free parking available on the street, but keep in mind spots can be hard to come by during the busy months.

- Fully stocked kitchen w/ drip coffee maker

- Living room

- Outdoor seating area



Note:

- No gatherings or parties allowed (strictly enforced)

- The exterior of this home is monitored by 24/7 surveillance recording devices for safety.

- Smart TVs with streaming capabilities (no local channels or cable).

- NO PETS

- Nearby construction is ongoing Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM. Some daytime noise should be expected.



Guest Access:

Guests will have access to the entire house and patio, except the covered outdoor furniture under the house. There are two locked closets upstairs for owner's items & cleaner's storage.

Please note there are fences up right now around the patio to ensure privacy to the owner's on Beach Drive. It is critical that this fence remains locked at ALL times.



The Neighborhood:

Aptos is a coastal gem nestled in Santa Cruz County. With its stunning beaches, including Rio del Mar and Seacliff State Beach, it's a haven for sun-seekers and surf enthusiasts. This charming town boasts a laid-back vibe, a mix of boutique shops, and a vibrant dining scene, making it a perfect destination for a relaxing vacation. The iconic Cement Ship at Seacliff Beach is a must-see, and nearby forested parks like Nisene Marks offer hiking and biking trails. Aptos combines natural beauty, small-town charm, and easy access to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, creating an ideal coastal escape for visitors.



This is not a good place for gatherings or parties so please keep that in mind when booking this home. We are very respectful of our neighbors and will not tolerate loud noise past curfew and additional guests at the property.



Getting Around:

- Rio Del Mar Beach (1 minute walk!)

- Forest of Nisene Marks State Park (10 minute walk)

- Aptos Village, including Penny Ice Creamery, Mentone, Pacific Foods, Cat and Cloud Coffee (5 minute drive)

- Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (20 minute drive)



Other Things to Note:

-The city has set up a fence at the entrance and exit to this row of homes on Beach Dr. to enhance privacy for residents. Guests can access the patio and beach through a lockable gate, which may also be used by the neighbors on Beach Dr.

- This home is located on a main road in the heart of a vibrant and popular tourist destination! With that prime location, you may hear some road or foot traffic during your stay.

- There is one dedicated parking space for a sedan. If your vehicle is larger, such as an SUV, truck, or one with a roof rack, there’s also convenient street parking nearby.

- For your safety, please note that the stair banister in the living area does not meet current code spacing, so it may not be the best fit for small children.

- The covered outdoor furniture is reserved for the owner’s use. We kindly ask that it not be used during your stay.

- We have landscapers, pest service, and other property maintenance done on a weekly basis. You may see or hear these service professionals during your stay as they let themselves into the backyard to service as needed. Please be sure to ask about this before booking if you think it might be an issue for you.

- TV is a smart tv with streaming capabilities. There are no cable or local channels.

- The exterior of this home is monitored by 24/7 surveillance recording devices for safety.

- We are required to stick to our cancellation policy and we suggest adding trip insurance for any last minute issues that may impact your travel (Weather, Illness, etc). We are not able to cancel, move or refund bookings that do not fall in our cancellation policy for any reason.

- Nearby construction is ongoing Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM. Some daytime noise should be expected.



**Booking Requirements**



To help ensure a safe and secure experience for our guests and homeowners, the primary guest is required to complete identity verification and sign O'Neal Vacation Rentals' Vacation Rental Agreement after booking confirmation. Instructions will be provided shortly after your reservation is confirmed.



Guests wishing to review the Vacation Rental Agreement before booking may find it on the O'Neal Vacation Rentals website under the "Vacation Rental Agreements" section.



By booking, you acknowledge and agree to complete all required pre-arrival documentation. Failure to complete required documentation may affect your ability to access the property and may result in cancellation of the reservation where permitted by the booking platform and applicable policies.



Interaction with Guests:

OVR is local in Santa Cruz and available for questions at any time!
During your stay at this vacation home, you're just a quick walk from Monterey Bay. Features include laundry facilities. A kitchen and 2.5 bathrooms are available in the vacation home.
  • Air-conditioned home with kitchen, washing machine, and 2.5 bathrooms
  • Amenities include laundry facilities
  • Steps from Monterey Bay and 12 minutes by car from Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
This vacation home offers its guests laundry facilities. The front desk is open around the clock.

Property amenities

Beach

  • On the beach

Internet

  • Available in the house: WiFi

Parking and transport

  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Dishwasher
  • Electric kettle
  • Hob
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Toaster

Dining

  • Dining table

Bedrooms

  • 2 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 2.5 bathrooms
  • Bathtub
  • Hair dryer
  • Shampoo
  • Shower
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Dining table

Entertainment

  • DVD player
  • Stereo
  • TV

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Work spaces

  • Office

Comfort

  • Air conditioning
  • Heating

Pets

  • No pets allowed

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Smoke-free property

Location highlights

  • Near the ocean
  • On the waterfront

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)
  • First aid kit
  • Fire extinguisher

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 3:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 25

Check-out

Check-out before 11:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

An adult age 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

Primary booking guest must complete identity verification and sign O'Neal Vacation Rentals' Vacation Rental Agreement prior to arrival. Guests may ...

Pets

  • No pets 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
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm 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
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions. You will also receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account which will enable you to manage your booking. An adult age 18 or older must assume all liability for the booking.
If you cancel your booking, you'll be subject to the host's cancellation policy. In accordance with EU regulations about consumer rights, property booking services are not subject to the right of withdrawal.

Property is also known as

6480cca41b2721005446efab

Rio Del Mar Boathouse - steps from the beach Reviews

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 12 out of 16 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 16 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 1 out of 16 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 16 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 16 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Amenities

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Doug P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great location, clean house, and very responsive host
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Matt F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful, clean, and fun house with all the amenities and you get to fall asleep to the waves. It’s a great beach too
Stayed 2 nights in Nov 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location, great for my family of 4

Loved the location, the property is great and loved our stay. Great communication too!
Stayed 2 nights in Mar 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Kaitlyn H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful beach views from every room in the house.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Scott B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The property location could not have been better for us. We slept listening to the waves and the temperature at night was great without a/c. Capitola and Santa Cruz are nearby if we wanted more nightlife. There is a nice walkable restaurant that we enjoyed. The sunsets are pretty incredible.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Tim B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
A really fun little place. The location is as good as you could possibly find. The place is a bit quirky, and may be a little bit dated in one or two areas, but just a really neat layout. Very comfortable. Provides for a great getaway. And the rental group was incredibly responsive and helpful throughout.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Alexandria F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing

Can’t wait to come back
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Melissa S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Getaway

Locaction was amazing. Hopefully be back soon. Bed was really comfortable and the views were great. Had everything we needed.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025
Verified review

6/10 Okay

Bob C.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy
The house was dirty and worn out. Did realize you couldn’t even sit next to the beach on the patio with your own chairs. Patio was an eye sore
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Debra

Liked: Amenities
Everything was nice and clean. We did have some ant activity. There were no beach chairs which would have been nice. Also no access to the patio. We did enjoy this very cute place.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Jessica V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
Great place. Right on the beach and super cute and unique. We walked to Venus Pie Trap each morning for delicious coffee. Pixie’s Deli is right there too and has something for everyone. A little liquor store is just across the street for snacks, drinks and little items you may have forgot. The only negatives were the house manual is out dated and there isn’t much light downstairs. The manual says there is a gate to access the patio locked by a bike lock. We saw the bike lock just chilling on a table and there is a whole new wooden gate built with 2 different locks with no mention in the manual. The manual asks for you to rinse your feet before entering the house with a hose that you can only get to if you go back out into the sand and walk up the stairs to the patio. Then you would have to walk back through the sand to get to the front door. If you’re planning to cook in the kitchen, check the lights in the kitchen to see if they’re working before sunset. The lights barely glowed and it was so dark. Luckily, we just ordered food for pick up and watched movies so we didn’t need much light. Over all it’s a great place and we’d rent again.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

8/10 Good

Chris K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Stay on the Beach

This property has everything you need. Very nice but not allowed to open the sliding glass doors. We would have enjoyed hearing the crashing of the waves if we were allowed to do this. Also since we were not allowed to open sliding doors to the outside the rooms were exceptionally hot. There is no ductwork going into the rooms for Air Conditioning. Notes say that you can park on the street.....No you can not. The driveway was so tight that I had to climb over and get out on the passenger side. Management did check in by email daily to make sure all was good. Kitchen, we didn't use but seemed to have anything and everything you would need if you chose to cook in. Last year's Coastal storm crushed the area which also made the back area not usable because the City barricaded that off. Due to the storm the pier has also been demo'd and removed as well. We were there only to sleep because we made the most out of the Santa Cruz Boardwalk daily.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Tom M.

Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2024