You don’t have to be a surfer to enjoy all the beauty and relaxation of Santa Cruz. Seeing just one picture of the golden sand beaches and blue waters of the California paradise is more than enough to have you packing your bags and ready to hop on the next flight to the west coast!
With a unique culture found on its boardwalk, a history still preserved in its museums and amusement parks, and a beach which will have you never wanting to get up from under your parasail, this is one surf town which you could see yourself moving into for good!
The beaches alone will have you dreaming of laying out on the coast, but once you see what hostels are available in Santa Cruz, you may begin to get some second thoughts. With little to no hostels in the city and guesthouses costing an arm and a leg, is this tropical oasis not a backpacker-friendly destination?
Don’t strike Santa Cruz from your itinerary just yet. We put together this list of all the best hostels in Santa Cruz California so you can book with confidence that you will be staying in only the best of what this beach town has to offer!
Slip-on your flip-flops and get ready to hit the beach! You Santa Cruz adventure is just a few clicks away!
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The Best Hostel in Santa Cruz
Wax your surfboards and let’s take a dive into our list of all the top hostels in Santa Cruz! Each one of these stays is a little different from the last, so keep your eyes open for that one hostel or guesthouse that best fits how you like to travel!
HI-Santa Cruz Hostel
As one of the only backpacker’s hostels in Santa Cruz, HI Santa Cruz Hostel packs quite a punch for everything they offer! You will not be staying in a basic concrete building at this hostel, but rather in a renovated victorian style house! With its lush garden and bright lounges, you can not help but feel right at home at HI Santa Cruz! Backpacking through America is not cheap, but one of the best ways to save money is by cooking for yourself at the onsite kitchen! Putting you just a few steps away from the Beach Boardwalk, you could not ask for a better place to call home in Santa Cruz!
Snug and Cozy between the Skyline and the Sea
Judith’s place isvery cozy, comfortable and, most importantly, affordable. It’s small, but has everything you need. It’s actually the same price as the only hostel in Santa Cruz, meaning if you split with a partner and pal you’ll actually be SAVING money. That’s the girl math I can get behind.
The guesthouse feels warm and homey, with the host clearly putting a lot of thought into the decor. The neighborhood is quiet and safe. Most importantly, the bed is pretty comfortable! A few snacks are provided, including coffee which is nice. The heater works pretty well and the Wi-Fi is solid too. Judith is a kind and responsive host, which is always a joy when staying in an Airbnb!
Slice of Paradise Santa Cruz
This airbnb is a magnificent nest to return to each evening, and it’s an absolute BARGAIN. Beautifully decorated and well laid out, this guesthouse boasts easy street parking for those on a lil Californian road trip.
The space is super clean, feels very safe, and had great amenities. There is a lot of attention to detail here, with a fan, heater, noise canceling machine, Brita, blinds for the skylight, and a TV with all the streaming services. Overall, it’s super cozy and comfortable. Ann is a wonderful host with clear communication and a welcoming and clean space!
More Epic Budget Stays in Santa Cruz
Still looking for the right Santa Cruz hostel for you? Unfortunately you’re outta luck! The hostel scene in Santa Cruz is pretty thin but don’t sweat it, I’ve rounded up the best budget stays in the area so you can keep within that backpacker budget of yours.
The Islander Motel
If you are looking to be close to all the action, The Islander Motel is that one stay close to downtown Santa Cruz! Not only will you be minutes away from all the best restaurants and bars in town, but you will also be right next to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk! This budget hotel will reel you in with the cheap rooms, but what will really have you sold on The Islander Motel is the onsite swimming pool and even breakfast served every morning to get the day started off right! For all you beach bums out there, The Islander Motel is one of the closest budget hotels in Santa Cruz you can find to taking a dip in the water every day!
Hitching Post Studios Inn
As far as budget hotels go in Santa Cruz, the Hitching Post Studios Inn ditches all of the cliche motel art and puts you up in a boutique-style room for a fraction of the price of the other hotels in town! Not only will you be calling this stylish rooms home while in Santa Cruz, but you will also be staying right smack in the middle of the downtown, right by the Art History Museum and all the restaurants off of Pacific Avenue! Top it off with an onsite dining room and even a patio to hang out on, you can’t find a cheaper stay in Santa Cruz than the Hitching Post!
Donna’s BnB
The wonderful thing about Santa Cruz is that you will always have your choice of hitting up the beach or escaping the crowds by heading up to the mountains. This BnB will have you staying right in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains right by the famous redwood trees! Putting you just a few minutes away from the Nisene Marks Park and Aptos Village, you could not ask for a better location! What will really make you fall in love with this BnB is the cozy room, spacious living room, garden, and a kitchen perfect for saving some money and cooking for yourself!
Judy & Brian’s BnB
If you need a place to call home for a few days and get some peace and quiet to catch up on some writing and editing, this BnB will be your perfect base for both exploring all the sites of Santa Cruz and getting down to work! Putting you right next to the Henry Cowell Redwood State Park, you will find that there are tons of hikes and things to do in Santa Cruz waiting right outside your door! If you are a digital nomad and are looking to catch up on some much-needed work, you will find that besides your spacious room, you can also spread out on to the terrace and the living room!
Why you should travel to Santa Cruz
From your classic backpacker’s hostels to homey BnBs, you have a variety of different stays to choose from when you come to Santa Cruz. Unfortunately, you will not have a long list of youth hostels in Santa Cruz, but that doesn’t mean budget travelers can’t also enjoy the beaches of this California dream!
If you are still a bit unsure about where to stay in Santa Cruz we totally understand. As a backpacker traveling on a shoestring, the best place for you would be HI-Santa Cruz Hostel, our pick for the best hostel in Santa Cruz!
Travel Safety Tips for Santa Cruz
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Over to you
Everything from the historic boardwalk to the sunny golden beaches will have you experiencing Santa Cruz to the fullest! With coastal hikes that will take you to some unique naturally formed bridges and watching the local surfers catch a wave, Santa Cruz is literally a paradise on earth where you will continually find no things to do and discover! So grab your towel and find a quiet place to lay out on the beach, relaxing is all part of the game in sunny Santa Cruz!
As many tourists as Santa Cruz brings in with its breathtaking beaches and tranquil waters, you would think that the city would have more backpackers hostels. But just because there are not many dorm rooms along the beach just means that you will have to pick one of the homey BnBs and guesthouses found in Santa Cruz!
Oh, if you are headed to Cali, the check out our California Airbnb post to check out some seriously impressive pads.
We would love to hear about your trip to Santa Cruz California! Are there any great backpackers hostels we may have missed? Let us know in the comments below!
- Check out our extensive guide to backpacking in California for a wealth of info!
- Not sure what to do once you arrive? We’ve got all the best places to visit in the USA covered.
- Skip the dorm and find a super cool Airbnb in California if you’re feeling fancy!
- Check out the best places to stay in Santa Cruz before you arrive.
- Remember to grab yourself an international sim card for the USA to avoid any issues.
- Prepare for your trip with our backpacking packing list.
- Get ready for your next destination with our ultimate USA backpacking guide.
