Santa Cruz Offsites
Great for lovers of surf, sunshine, and the arts.
Located on California’s Central Coast, Santa Cruz is a coastal community known for its gorgeous beaches and some of the world’s best off-shore breaks. Nicknamed “surf city,” Santa Cruz is the perfect offsite location if you and your team are looking for a coastal beach getaway destination. The area is home to over twenty-nine beaches that are great for fun team-building activities, like sailing, diving, swimming, beach yoga, and surfing. Along with a rugged coastline, Santa Cruz is also home to fourteen state parks filled with hiking trails, redwood forests, wineries, a tooth belonging to a Megalodon, and one of the oldest and most famous seaside amusement parks in California, perfect for team bonding activities. Santa Cruz provides excellent value for the sheer number of experiences and amenities you can find here and is an excellent option for any corporate retreat, big or small.
Why Santa Cruz is great for your next offsite
When talking about Santa Cruz, mentioning the overall vibe and culture is unavoidable. There is something magical about this town. It is the quintessential California beach town graced with epic waves, stretches of gorgeous sandy beaches, and surrounded by lush forests. Santa Cruz is also a year-round destination, meaning it can be enjoyed and experienced both in the summer and winter. And no matter what season, Santa Cruz has a huge range of outdoor and indoor activities that can enhance team productivity and ensure a successful offsite retreat. Along with activities, the city is a popular corporate retreat location, which has shaped the activities and amenities offered in town. From activities to accommodation, transportation, and catering, there are many different businesses ready to work with your team to create the perfect itinerary for your next corporate retreat. All this, plus a thriving food, festival, and surf scene, make Santa Cruz the best place to hold your next company offsite retreat.
Sample Santa Cruz Offsite Itineraries
Santa Cruz Leadership Offsite
Duration: 2-4 nights
Group Size: 5-15 people
Price: starting at $2,500 /person
Lodging: Still in Santa Cruz County, reserve an entire lodge that consists of 32 individual cabins spread across acres of lushious landscapes.
Activities: Build some team camaraderie by heading out on the water to learn how to sail or head out to one of UCSC's hiking trails in the nature reserve.
Santa Cruz Team Offsite
Duration: 2-3 nights
Group Size: 15-40 people
Price: starting at $2,500 /person
Lodging: Stay in a beach-front hotel that is iconic to the Santa Cruz coast. Imagine meeting space with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the ocean. One of the best restaurants in Santa Cruz is also located on site!
Activities: Spend the morning volunteer at a local foodbank and afterwards reward yourself by creating some unique tye-dye shirts on the beach. A perfect take-home souvenir for the team.
Santa Cruz All-Company Offsite
Duration: 3-4 nights
Group Size: 40+ people
Price: starting at $2,500 /person
Lodging: Making things easy with an all-inclusive stay 10 minutes outside fo Santa Cruz. All meals are included as well as meeting space and a lot of activities right on site.
Activities: Offer something for everyone from rock climbing for every experience level, kayaking out on the ocean, or hoping on a train to take a scenic drive through the Redwoods.
Best time of the year for an offsite in Santa Cruz
Spring in Santa Cruz is quite pleasant. Starting from early March, the region experiences warm weather and sunny skies. Although many outdoor activities are available, the water is still quite cold.
Spring: (March-May)
Summer in Santa Cruz is the high season. During this time, the weather is fantastic; however, the beaches are packed, accommodations are largely booked, and prices have increased due to demand. On the flip side, summers are also filled with activities, festivals and events, and endless sunshine. Don’t expect a drop of rain in Santa Cruz during this time.
Summer: (June-August)
Autumn: (September-November)
Fall is probably the locals’ favorite season as all the tourists have gone home, yet the days are still filled with sunshine, the weather is perfect, and the festivals are yet to end. Book your offsite retreat in Santa Cruz during this time to enjoy uncrowded beaches, lower prices, and various festivals, county fairs, and events still happening throughout the fall season.
Winter: (December-March)
Santa Cruz experiences mild winters. Winter brings the rainy season, so if you book an offsite retreat to Santa Cruz during this time, make sure to be prepared for wet weather. Nevertheless, Santa Cruz is still a great place to visit during winter, especially to enjoy the region’s holiday festivities.
There is no ideal offsite season as Santa Cruz can be enjoyed all year round, depending on your company’s needs. However, it is important to note that Santa Cruz has a Mediterranean climate, which means it tends to have mild weather throughout the year with warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters. If you want to visit Santa Cruz to enjoy its great weather, smaller crowds, and lower prices, make sure to come right after summer, specifically between September to November.
Ideal Offsite Season
FAQ for Offsites in Santa Cruz
What is the closest international airport to Santa Cruz?
The closest international airport to Santa Cruz is the Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC), located roughly 30 miles north of Santa Cruz or about a 40-minute drive.
What type of team-building activities can we do in Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz is a coastal beach town, so it offers many outdoor team-building and team-bonding activities. A couple of unique activities you can do in and around Santa Cruz include surfing, ziplining, goat yoga, walking along the Santa Cruz beach boardwalk, taking a train ride through the forest, whale watching, hiking, watching elephant seals, and going on a Brew Cruz.
What types of groups is Santa Cruz good for?
Santa Cruz is the perfect city for every group, big and small. The city has many different accommodation options that can fit the needs of any group. Santa Cruz is great for groups seeking a city escape as some accommodations offer inclusive and rustic corporate retreat packages in rustic locations.
What type of budget is good for Santa Cruz?
California, in general, is one of the most expensive US states. As a result, an offsite retreat in Santa Cruz can be a little more costly than usual. Nevertheless, although Santa Cruz may be an expensive city, budget-friendly options are readily available if needed.