Redwoods in the morning,boardwalk by lunch
Old-growth redwoods over the hill, then the beach, the boardwalk and West Cliff Drive. Eight hours, the shortest of the full day tours and the easiest with children.
A plan, not a schedule
A reference itinerary, not a fixed program: change the stops or their order within the hours and the area your quote confirms. Times hold unless the day changes them, and it usually does.
One car, one price
Your driver stays with you for the whole block — no re-booking between stops, no waiting for a car in a parking lot, no meter running while you decide.
- A private car and driver for your group alone, for the hours you book
- Door pickup — SFO curb, hotel, or home
- Fuel, tolls, parking and driver hours — and the Henry Cowell entry fee
- Bottled water; child seats on request
- Stops changed on the day, within the hours and area you booked
- Meals for your party
- Tasting fees, entry and attraction tickets
- A tour guide — the driver drives and waits
- Hours past the listed day — $75–$140 each
- Gratuity is not required or expected
Families and short days
Parents with young children, visitors who want redwoods without a Yosemite-length day, and anyone with a half-day free before an evening flight. Eight hours is the gentlest full tour we run.
UCSC campus visits fit neatly — the campus sits in the redwoods above town. Say so when you book and we put it before the boardwalk.
Just the trees?
If old-growth redwoods are the whole reason, Henry Cowell is an hour and a quarter from the city and you are back by early afternoon — a half day, and we would rather sell you that than a boardwalk you will not use. Come to Santa Cruz for the combination — trees, beach, boardwalk, a real town — not for the trees alone. The half day is quoted by hand — ask for it with your date.
Is Big Basin open?
Partly — the 2020 fire closed much of it and it reopens in stages. We run Henry Cowell as the reliable old-growth stop and add Big Basin when the roads and trails allow.
Boardwalk tickets?
Buy at the gate or online; individual rides or a day wristband. Not in the day rate — we just park and wait.
Surf lesson?
Cowell's Beach schools take beginners and run two hours. Book directly, tell us the time, and we plan around wet hair.
Can we go one way?
Yes — if you are staying down there, this becomes a flat one-way transfer instead. Cheaper, and nobody waits on you. Transfers to Santa Cruz are quoted by hand: send the details.
Ready when you are
Tell us the date and the party size and we come back with the car, the hours and a fixed price — usually within the hour, any day of the week.
Ten languages by phone, text or WeChat (yakaainc) — and ask for a driver who speaks yours when you book.