Located in Santa Cruz, Santa Maria’s Beach – also known as Santa Mo’s – is situated in the Live Oak area of Santa Cruz and is one of the less crowded beaches in the area due to its secluded location. The beach area has light brown sand and is a rather small sandy area situated beside the much larger Corcoran Lagoon Beach. The beach is popular as a picnicking and bonfire spot as it offers a quieter beach experience away from the hustle and bustle of other crowded Santa Cruz beaches. The beach, unfortunately, has no lifeguards or other amenities but does allow pets on a leash. The beach is easily accessible - you need to take the access point to Corcoran Lagoon Beach at 21st Avenue and walk north along the coastal embankment to access the beach. If you continue further north, you can reach a rock shelf leading to Sunny Cove Beach (which is a dangerous place due to the rock’s slippery surface). There is no parking lot or area near the beach and on-street parking in the Live Oak neighborhood requires a paid parking permit, which can make parking here difficult.
