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Camp Cruz Glamping Retreat

Hosted by Ismael · Watsonville, California
3 sites · Lodging · 4 acres
100%
·
16 reviews
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Family-friendly
Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.
Ismael is a Star Host
Star Hosts are highly rated, responsive, and committed to providing incredible experiences.
Private sites
100% of recent Hipcampers say the sites felt private.
Please note we only book one group at a time so whether you are a couple or a large group, you get the whole place privately to yourself. Prices fluctuate based on group size. Our home is nearby on the land in case you need anything. Located an hour drive from the bay area, Camp Cruz is a year-round glamping retreat in the redwoods ideal for people who want a private outdoor getaway in the forest without giving up basic living comforts. It's a perfect destination to unwind, recharge, and create special memories in nature. We are also only 30 minutes from Monterey/Santa Cruz for guests who want to enjoy the beaches and coastal cities. We offer guests 2 private bedrooms: the Raven’s Nest (an aircrete dome) and the Owl’s Nest (a yurt). Larger groups are welcome, and should bring camping gear such as tents and sleeping bags for extra people. We have plenty of great camping spots! There is a fully equipped kitchen with stove, fridge, barbecue grill, electric coffee maker, tables and chairs, and more. The kitchen also has a ping pong table. There is a large geodome furnished as a game room with couches, a lounge area, pool table, foosball table, a bluetooth speaker, games, and music equipment. There are clean composting toilets, hot showers, a wood-burning fire pit, heaters for the cold, a hammock bungalow, a meditation pagoda, a deck overlooking a creek, and disc golf baskets. Guests are responsible for bringing their own firewood or may purchase firewood from us under "EXTRAS". With a fair balance of sunlight and shade, we have a garden and lots of open space to spread out and relax. Free wifi is available. We run a nonprofit outdoor education camp for underprivileged youth, so your stay supports our work to get youth outdoors. Winter lodging.... It can get seasonably cold in the Santa Cruz Mountains during the winter. If visiting in the winter, rest assured we have everything covered to enjoy your stay. We have propane heaters for warmth and comfort. If the power goes out, we have a standby generator that will power up camp provided we are home to turn it on. We have woodstoves in the Owl's Nest and Eagle's Nest. We provide fire starters for the woodstoves; guests are responsible for bringing firewood to keep the woodstoves going or purcchasing it from us under "EXTRAS".

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3 sites
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Group Glamping at Camp Cruz

100%
(11)
Dome · Sleeps 10 · 2 bedrooms · 2 beds · 2 toilets
PLEASE READ all the details in this listing in order to avoid confusion about sleeping accommodations: Camp Cruz is a glampground offered to enjoy and connect with nature. Booking this site gives you two bedrooms: a dome and a yurt, and the whole glampground privately to yourselves. The base price on this listing is for 4 people and two bedrooms. Up to 6 more guests can be added for a fee. Guests have access to a large geodome furnished as a living room equipped with a pool table, foosball table, a TV/DVD player, a Bluetooth speaker, and more. Camp Cruz features a fully equipped outdoor kitchen, clean composting toilets, hot showers, and much more. The kitchen includes a propane oven/stove with pots, pans, cooking and eating utensils, a collection of spices, a charcoal grill (guests must bring their own briquettes), a sink with potable well water, a full-sized refrigerator, and an industrial coffee maker. We provide paper towels, hand sanitizer, dish and hand soap. There is a full-sized ping pong table in the kitchen area for your enjoyment. THE BEDROOM NESTS… The Raven’s Nest has electricity with an electric heater and a double-sized futon bed. It features a large round window seat that looks out towards the garden. The Owl’s Nest is equipped with electricity and a wood stove as one option for heat. There is a queen-sized bed with a heated mattress pad to keep you cozy on cold nights. A private deck wraps around half of the bedroom. Guests are expected to bring their own bedding or you can request that we provide linens and bedding by selecting it in the extras option. We sometimes have wood available for the woodstoves, but guests should bring their own wood if they wish to have indoor fires. We do provide a fire log to get your fire started easily. OUTDOORS there is a campfire pit, benches and tables, decks, hammocks, a garden, a year-round creek with a small sandy beach, disc golf baskets, kids play equipment, and enough open space to set up your tents and spread out. **Guests traveling with a dog (we only allow one dog) will be lodged in the Owl’s Nest, as we want to keep one structure pet free for our guests who are allergic. We require that your dog never be left unattended during your stay. We appreciate your understanding!
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Showers
Picnic table
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"Owl's Nest" Yurt at Camp Cruz

100%
(4)
Yurt · Sleeps 2 · 1 bedroom · 1 bed · 1 toilet
PLEASE READ all the details in this listing in order to avoid confusion. Camp Cruz is a glampground offered to enjoy and connect with nature while enjoying the comforts provided for basic living. Booking this site gives you the Owl's Nest as your private bedroom. (If you'd prefer to stay in the dome, please go to our listing for the Raven's Nest)The Owl’s Nest has a queen-sized bed with an heated mattress cover and a wood stove. You must bring your own bedding or you may add linens and bedding under the EXTRAS option in this listing and we will provide it. The base price for this listing is for 2 people. If you would like to reserve both bedrooms for a group of four or more, please go to our listing for Group Glamping. Guests have full access to a large geodome furnished as a living room equipped with a pool table, foosball table, and much more. Camp Cruz features a fully equipped outdoor kitchen, clean composting toilets, hot showers, and much more. The kitchen includes a propane oven/stove with pots, pans, cooking and eating utensils, a collection of spices, a charcoal grill (guests must bring their own briquettes), a sink with potable well water, a full-sized refrigerator, and an industrial coffee maker. We provide paper towels, hand sanitizer, and soap. There is a ping pong table in the kitchen area for your enjoyment. Outdoors, there is a fire pit, benches and tables, decks, hammocks, a garden, a year-round creek with easy access, disc golf baskets, kid's play equipment, and enough open space to set up your tents and spread out. We provide a fire starter log for the wood stoves, so guests should bring their own wood to keep them going. **Guests traveling with a dog (we only allow one dog) will be lodged in the Owl’s Nest, as we want to keep one structure pet free for our guests who are allergic. We require that your dog never be left unattended during your stay. We appreciate your understanding!
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Showers
Picnic table
  • Picture of the site
  • Picture of the site
  • Picture of the site

"Raven's Nest" Dome at Camp Cruz

100%
(4)
Dome · Sleeps 2 · 1 bedroom · 1 bed · 1 toilet
PLEASE READ all the details in this listing in order to avoid confusion. Camp Cruz is a glampground offered to enjoy and connect with nature. Booking this site gives you the Raven's Nest as your private bedroom. This is a pet free bedroom. The Raven’s Nest has electricity with an electric heater, a double-sized futon bed, and a large round window seat that looks out towards the garden. You must bring your own bedding or you may add linens and bedding under the EXTRAS option on this listing if you wish for us to provide it. The base price for this listing is for 2 people. If you would like to reserve both bedrooms, please go to our listing for Group Glamping. Guests have private access to a geodome furnished as a living room equipped with a lounge area, a pool table, foosball table, blue tooth speaker, games, and much more. Camp Cruz features a fully equipped outdoor kitchen, clean composting toilets, hot showers, and much more. The kitchen includes a propane oven/stove with pots, pans, cooking and eating utensils, a collection of spices, a charcoal grill (guests must bring their own briquettes), a sink with potable well water, a full-sized refrigerator, and an industrial coffee maker. We provide paper towels, hand sanitizer, and soap. There is a ping pong table in the kitchen area for your enjoyment. Outdoors, there is a fire pit, benches and tables, decks, hammocks, a garden, a year-round creek with easy access, disc golf baskets, kid's play equipment, and enough open space to set up your tents and spread out. We provide fire starter logs for the wood stoves, and guests should bring firewood to keep your fires going. **Guests traveling with a dog (we only allow one dog) must book the Owl’s Nest, as we want to keep the Raven's Nest "pet-free" for our guests who are allergic. We require that your dog never be left unattended during your stay. We appreciate your understanding!
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
No pets
Showers
Picnic table

Reviews

100% Recommend19 ratings · 16 reviews
Recommends
· July 2026
"Raven's Nest" Dome at Camp Cruz
Cool spot, very peaceful, would definitely visit again.
M
Mark A.
5 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2026
Our own little family camp
With pets ·
Group Glamping at Camp Cruz
Our little family of 4 had a blast in the woods in Santa Cruz. It was a great first try at camping with our young kids, since it had lots of amenities but also felt rustic and off-grid, like we were truly living in the forest for a few days. Unlike group and car campsites, where there can be lots of other people/noise, this was a peaceful retreat. The site is very well thought out and well equipped; we were happy and comfy. We could imagine coming back with friends or family since there is so much space! A few notes to people traveling with little ones: The road: It's winding and bumpy getting to and from the campsite...plan accordingly especially if your kiddos get carsick. Toilet: the composting toilet is up a hill with steps, so not super accessible, and a little iffy for little ones not used to, say, a porta potty. My 4 year old was afraid of it so we ended up doing lots of squattin in the woods. Everything else was great for kids though. Games, space, etc. Having electricity and hot water was really, really nice, especially after traipsing around on hikes. Would recommend, would come back.
K
Kristy P.
3 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· June 2026
A wonderful property to enjoy!
"Owl's Nest" Yurt at Camp Cruz
Camp Cruz was the perfect place for my husband and my anniversary. We’ve always been campers and now that the kids are grown it’s fun to go by ourselves. We loved the meditation area. We brought our yoga mats, played some pool, watched a movie, hiked and picnicked at Nisene Marks. The cooking area was perfect. We even used the bbq. Great stay!
Avatar
Paige B.
2 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· May 2026
Group trip ·
Group Glamping at Camp Cruz
My 3 kids and I had an amazing time at Camp Cruz, I highly recommend this cute spot to stay and enjoy a relaxing time with your loved ones, we were impressed on how organized and well equipped this place is, so much that we can’t wait to be back there again, thank you to Ismael and Molly for such a great stay 🙌
M
Maria D.
4 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· April 2026
Incredible stay, highly recommend
With pets ·
"Owl's Nest" Yurt at Camp Cruz
The site is beautiful, amenities were great, was a wonderful blend of being in nature while still having creature comforts. Also very great for my dog, lots of fun all around.
A
Azimuth B.
3 reviews
Recommends
· February 2026
Camp Cruz — a truly special place!
"Owl's Nest" Yurt at Camp Cruz
Camp Cruz is a total gem! Ismael and his wife have created something really special here. The place is fully of character and charm and makes you feel at peace among nature while providing some truly awesome creature comforts (heated beds, anyone?!). The facilities were clean and well kept and as hosts they made sure we felt welcome and comfortable to relax for the weekend. Highly recommend for a couple's getaway or a group trip as there's plenty of space and a variety of activities.
Avatar
Cameron L.
6 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· December 2025
"Raven's Nest" Dome at Camp Cruz
Absolutely beautiful site, and everything was really comfortable. Kitchen is well stocked with cooking utensils. Lots of space to enjoy the redwoods.
E
Eric A.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· November 2025
With pets ·
"Raven's Nest" Dome at Camp Cruz
We had a wonderful time staying in the Owl's Nest yurt at Camp Cruz with our dog Ollie. My husband loves to cook so it was great to have a full outdoor kitchen to use. The land is beautiful and we had a fun and relaxing time. Thanks Ismael!
Avatar
Vee Vee R.
9 months on Hipcamp
Recommends
· November 2025
Group trip ·
Group Glamping at Camp Cruz
We loved camping at Camp Cruz! We had a wonderful weekend in the peaceful woods and were able to spend amazing quality time together <3. This property was incredible in ways we couldn't have imagined! Thank you for having us for Renee's 30th birthday.
F
Fiona J.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· September 2025
With kids ·
Group Glamping at Camp Cruz
This is a really cool place and the kids had tons of fun. So much to explore for them - they loved the variety. It was a great joy to see them covered in mud and laughing loudly in the middle of the trees. The facilities are very functional and convenient. We don’t have to pack much and it is a very smooth camping experience. It is definitely on the pricier side; we will come back with a larger group to optimize the experience next time! Thank you for having us!
C
Cindy L.
2 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2025
With kids ·
Group Glamping at Camp Cruz
Our glamping stay was absolutely wonderful! The place was serene and peaceful, with the meditation area being my personal favorite spot to unwind. The host was amazing—warm, attentive, and thoughtful, with a personal touch to every detail. We felt so well taken care of and truly relaxed. We loved every moment of our stay and would definitely recommend it to friends and family.
S
Shivata C.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· August 2025
Best birthday ever!
With pets ·
Group Glamping at Camp Cruz
We had the most amazing stay! My son celebrated his 14 birthday with his closest friends. Our group of nine (plus a small dog) couldn’t have asked for a better setting. My son and his friends pitched a huge tent in the center of the property, my daughter and her friend stayed in and loved the adorable dome, and I enjoyed the cozy comfort of the yurt! Ismael was a wonderful host - even uncovered his drum set for them in the geo-dome! The entire property was perfect for our group - teens played pool, ping pong, grilled up great food. The outdoor kitchen was fully stocked too! It’s just a great place, but what really made the experience special was the way it brought everyone together - these young people got to hang out and make memories they’ll never forget. Ismael rocks, and we can’t wait to come back next year!
Avatar
Lorena D.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2025
Perfect Weekend Trip!
With kids ·
Group Glamping at Camp Cruz
Our two family group loved this site. The space was impeccable and had just the right amount of space for our little kids to play and explore. The propane fire pit was such a wonderful addition, that allowed adults some relaxing time after the kids went to bed, with enough proximity to feel comfortable. The creek was definitely the highlight of the stay — the shade, shallow running water, and abundance of banana slugs made it a trip we’ll never forget. Thank you for sharing your magical space with us! ♥️
K
Kaitlin H.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· July 2025
Amazing group site
Group trip ·
Group Glamping at Camp Cruz
Fantastic for our group of 13 + a small dog! We'd love to visit again in the future The kitchen was fully stocked with everything we needed, we just had to bring the food. We comfortably fit multiple tents across the property while the folks who rented the yurt and dome felt very cozy as well. Showers worked well with hot water, and bathroom was functional (between a port-o-potty and an outdoor toilet - a bit of a smell but you're out in the wild!) Be sure to bring bug spray, though they have some as well. Host was super communitive before and during our stay - you're in great hands!
Avatar
Jeff ł.
11 reviews
Recommends
· April 2025
Group trip ·
"Owl's Nest" Yurt at Camp Cruz
The property is so amazing! My group and I loved staying here for a night. Beautiful creek going right through the property, plenty of places to sit or lay back and enjoy the peaceful sounds of the mountain redwood forest. Great sheltered outdoor kitchen and huge BBQ grill, we cooked up a feast. The hot showers were a most welcome feature. Amenities for guests are so plentiful we didn't even have time to enjoy them all! Ismael was really helpful and responsive to my questions as I was planning out our camping trip. He's super down-to-earth and it was a pleasure to meet and chat a bit in person. Would love to come back again!!
Avatar
Aaron H.
1 year on Hipcamp
Recommends
· April 2025
"Raven's Nest" Dome at Camp Cruz
This place is awesome and Ismael was extremely accommodating. Our only hiccup was that Apple Maps took us to someone else's house down the street, but hopefully that is something they can fix. Otherwise, the space is really awesome and has such a cool feel with all sorts of amenities and vibes to experience. We expected it to be more of a communal space, but the fact that you get the whole camp area to yourself was a wonderful surprise.
Avatar
Luke G.
1 year on Hipcamp

Location

Watsonville, Santa Cruz, California, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking
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Hosted by Ismael C.

Joined in February 2025
Response rate: 100%Response time: Within 4 hours

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