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We found 646 vacation rentals — enter your dates for availability
Discover a selection of 500 vacation rentals in Aptos that are perfect for your trip. Whether you’re traveling with friends, family, or even pets, Vrbo vacation homes have the best amenities for hanging out with the people that matter most, including swimming pools and WiFi. Prices start at $290 per night, and houses and condos are popular options for a stay in Aptos. Either way, you'll find a rental for everyone's needs.
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Destination guide
Add Aptos to your list of perfect beach towns
Tucked into a corner of Monterey Bay, just east of Santa Cruz, Aptos is a small town bordered by a big ocean and a forest of towering redwoods. Once inhabited by the Ohlone Awaswas people, the area's past reads like a history of California's most adventurous opportunists. It was home to missionaries, then cattle ranchers, then loggers, then partiers looking for a discreet drink during Prohibition. Now, it's a family friendly community with a weekly farmers' market, protected parklands, and 2 beautiful beaches that welcome sunbathers, campers, and nature lovers all year long.
Things to do
Unbelievable sights and believable history
Visitors might expect the ocean views and nature hikes available in this coastal California town, but Aptos is also a source of unexpected intrigue. Take a short drive from your Aptos vacation rental into the redwood forests, and you'll find the Mystery Spot, an attraction based on gravity and visual illusions. You'll experience gravity-defying demonstrations _ balls rolling uphill and people leaning at crazy angles without falling over _ and leave amazed. Vacationers with kids in tow will love the Aptos History Museum, with quaint, lovingly curated exhibits on the history of the area.
Activities
Seaside picnics and camping in the shade of a ship
Snag an Aptos vacation rental on the beachfront and you'll feel especially lucky. Seacliff State Beach is where visitors and locals enjoy seaside picnics, sunbathing, and the sight of the SS Palo Alto, a concrete ship that reaches dramatically out of the shallows at the end of the pier. There are barbecue grills open to the public and shaded tables that make cooking, camping, and stargazing easy. Hikers and bikers spend time a little further inland, at the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, covering 10,000 acres and crisscrossed with trails.
Weather
Aptos has a climate as comfortable as they come
Vacationers rave about the weather in Aptos, but so do year-round residents. It's that good. Winter is quieter, as temps dip into the 50s and beach activities grow less popular, but sunny, hike-worthy days are still frequent. In summer, the weather is warm without ever growing oppressively hot. Highs stay near the 70-degree mark. September is the warmest month, and January is the wettest. If you're hoping to avoid the damp but still stick to your budget, try booking an Aptos vacation rental in the fall.
Natural features
Redwoods and cougars and slugs, oh my!
In the cool quiet of the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, visitors can enjoy more than just exercise. Tall trees shade creeks and canyons, and most of the land is covered in redwood forest, with trees hitting the ripe old age of 120 years and reaching 125 feet tall. The diverse plant life and water sources support many species you'll want to look out for, including cougar, deer, yellow-legged frogs, and the popular and almost neon-yellow banana slug. Birdwatchers can train their binoculars on American dippers, winter wrens, and owls.
How to get there
Traveling to and around Aptos
The nearest airport is in Watsonville, CA (WVI-Watsonville Municipal), located 7.2 mi (11.6 km) from the city center. If you can't find a flight that's convenient for your trip, you might consider flying into San Jose, CA (RHV-Reid Hillview), which is 23.1 mi (37.1 km) away.
How many vacation rentals are available around Aptos?
Our 2021 property listings offer a large selection of 646 vacation rentals around Aptos. From 445 house rentals to 167 condo and apartment rentals, find a unique house rental for you to enjoy a memorable holiday or a weekend with your family and friends.