Welcome to Santa Cruz Harbor Gateway to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary

Precious gems are usually hard to find, and so it is with the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor. Invest the extra effort, and you won’t be disappointed. Our new website will both get you here, and be your guide to all the services amenities and local color that we offer.

Santa Cruz Harbor provides over 800 permanent slips for commercial and recreational vessels, as well as launching and secure dry storage for trailerables, small boats, rowing shells and sea kayaks. For coastal mariners, we are a harbor of refuge and offer first-class visitor berthing. We are also home to sea otters, harbor seals, sea lions, pelicans, anemones and other marine life.

Numerous charter operations provide fishing, whale watching, pleasure cruising and sailing instruction opportunities. The Santa Cruz Yacht Club has a long and storied tradition of sponsoring competitive racing activities and the Wednesday night sailboat races offer a panorama of spinnakers that are a photographer’s dream. Sailboat racing in Santa Cruz is serious fun, from the history of Santa Cruz Yachts and the annual 505 races, to the cutting edge hulls of Pegasus Racing and our resident TransPac racers - we understand your need for speed.

The harbor also offers RV parking and hook-ups, as well as miles of scenic trails punctuated with interpretive sites and historical markers about the Monterey Bay. We are host to five of the finest restaurants in Santa Cruz and we throw in the view for free. If you don’t own a boat, don’t like fresh seafood, don’t care for the beauty of nature and don’t like to walk near the ocean, you are sure to love our annual lighted boat parade held on the first Saturday of December!

We want your experience to be pleasant and memorable, and we appreciate your feedback on what is just right and what might be a little better.

Chairman
Santa Cruz Port District Commission