Monterey and Santa Cruz Team Building Activities: 6 Best
Six coastal options for a Bay Area team day: treasure hunts in Santa Cruz, Monterey and Half Moon Bay, two Santa Cruz County venues and a Santa Cruz corporate planner.
TL;DR
Team building activities in Monterey, Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay on Events in Minutes run from $39.00/person (the Half Moon Bay self-facilitated treasure hunt, 2–1000 guests) to $68.00/person (the Santa Cruz and Monterey guided hunts, 10–500 guests). Two Santa Cruz County venues cost $200.00 + $150.00/hour, and a Santa Cruz planner charges $3000.00 fixed price.
- Closest to San Francisco, and lowest cost: the Half Moon Bay self-facilitated hunt, $39.00/person.
- Santa Cruz or Monterey with a vendor running the game: the guided hunts, $68.00/person.
- Reception for up to 250: the Santa Cruz wine bar, $200.00 + $150.00/hour.
- Up to 40: the Scotts Valley studio, $200.00 + $150.00/hour.
- A Santa Cruz corporate planner for 20–200 guests: $3000.00 fixed price.
Last updated: September 2026
Events in Minutes (EIM) earns a fee when you book through us. All six options are current EIM listings, checked against each live listing on September 25, 2026.
What team building activities are there in Monterey and Santa Cruz?
The team building activities on EIM in Monterey and Santa Cruz are two-hour outdoor treasure hunts (scavenger hunts), offered as a guided hunt with augmented reality clues or as a self-facilitated hunt your own organizer runs. The listings frame the hunts around the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Monterey's Cannery Row and waterfront, and Half Moon Bay's harbor and downtown; confirm the exact route with the vendor.
These listings do not include surfing, kayaking or whale watching; book those with a local outfitter.
How far is each town from San Francisco and San Jose?
Rough driving times in light traffic:
- Half Moon Bay: about an hour from San Francisco; about 1 hour 15 minutes from San Jose.
- Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley: about 1.5 hours from San Francisco; 45 minutes from San Jose over Highway 17.
- Monterey: about 2 to 2.5 hours from San Francisco; about 1 hour 15 minutes from San Jose.
Which Santa Cruz County venues host team groups?
Two Santa Cruz County venues on Events in Minutes host teams: the Santa Cruz wine bar holds up to 250 guests and the Scotts Valley music studio up to 40, both at $200.00 + $150.00/hour. The wine bar suits a post-hunt reception, the studio a smaller working session.
6 coastal team building options in Monterey, Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay
Santa Cruz Boardwalk Treasure Hunt - Coastal Team Building
A two-hour outdoor hunt at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk with augmented reality clues and photo challenges, set among the 1924 Giant Dipper, the 1911 carousel and the wharf. Included items list general liability insurance and a waiver form. Best for: a first coastal offsite for a mid-size team. Watch-out: 10 guests minimum.
Book nowMonterey Treasure Hunt - Coastal Team Building Adventure
The Monterey guided hunt: two hours of augmented reality clues and photo challenges in a town the listing frames around Cannery Row, Fisherman's Wharf and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Best for: one structured afternoon in a multi-day retreat. Watch-out: book at least three days ahead, and the included items do not name insurance, so ask for a COI.
Book nowHalf Moon Bay Self-Facilitated Treasure Hunt & Team Building
Half Moon Bay's self-facilitated hunt: two hours of clue-solving and photo challenges your own organizer runs from emailed materials, at any hour. It includes general liability insurance and a waiver form, with a COI add-on. Best for: the lowest-cost coastal outing near San Francisco. Watch-out: no host on site to explain rules or keep time.
Book nowExpansive Wine Bar for Hosting
A Santa Cruz wine bar with 1,700 sq ft for up to 250 guests, plus an outdoor area. The listing includes a built-in bar, kitchen access for catering prep, a sound system and a projector. Best for: a post-hunt reception or company dinner. Watch-out: 2-hour minimum, paid parking, and drinks and food are not priced.
Book nowSpeakeasy-Style Music Studio | Private Events
An 800 sq ft speakeasy-style music studio in Scotts Valley for up to 40 guests standing or 28 at banquet tables, with an outdoor area and free parking. Its AV list names a sound system, microphones and WiFi. Best for: a leadership working session or small team dinner. Watch-out: no projector is listed.
Book nowCorporate Event Planner for Offsites, Launches, and Galas
A Santa Cruz corporate planner who travels to you and lists offsites, leadership retreats, venue and vendor sourcing and multi-day events. Best for: a coastal retreat without a spare coordinator. Watch-out: Strict cancellation, and the listing does not say the $3000.00 fixed price covers venue or vendor costs or its listed Setup/Breakdown Fee, so confirm what is included.
Book nowCompare coastal team offsite options
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Activity | Location | Duration | Group | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz Boardwalk Treasure Hunt - Coastal Team Building | Santa Cruz, CA | 2 hours | 10–500 guests | $68.00/person |
| Monterey Treasure Hunt - Coastal Team Building Adventure | Monterey, CA | 2 hours | 10–500 guests | $68.00/person |
| Half Moon Bay Self-Facilitated Treasure Hunt & Team Building | Half Moon Bay, CA | 2 hours | 2–1000 guests | $39.00/person |
| Expansive Wine Bar for Hosting | Santa Cruz, CA | 2–24 hours | 1–250 guests | $200.00 + $150.00/hour |
| Speakeasy-Style Music Studio | Private Events | Scotts Valley, CA | 2–24 hours | 1–40 guests | $200.00 + $150.00/hour |
| Corporate Event Planner for Offsites, Launches, and Galas | Travels to You | 4–9 hours | 20–200 guests | $3000.00 fixed price |
What does a coastal team offsite cost per person?
Across the three per-person options in this guide, coastal team building costs $39.00/person (the Half Moon Bay self-facilitated hunt) to $68.00/person (the Santa Cruz and Monterey guided hunts), a $29 gap for having a vendor run the game. The venues and planner use other pricing types.
Example estimate for a 25-person Santa Cruz day, before tax, fees, gratuity and food:
- Guided Boardwalk hunt: $68.00/person x 25 = $1,700.
- Wine bar for 3 hours afterward: $200.00 + ($150.00/hour x 3) = $650.
- Total: $1,700 + $650 = $2,350, or $94 per person.
With the Boardwalk self-facilitated version on EIM ($39.00/person), the hunt line is $39.00/person x 25 = $975, and the total $975 + $650 = $1,625. Adding the planner at $3000.00 fixed price makes the first version $5,350.
Which option fits which team
A South Bay team on a single day
Run the Santa Cruz Boardwalk Treasure Hunt, then move to the wine bar, whose 250 capacity sets your headcount limit. If the drive is too long for your team, compare team building experiences in San Jose instead.
A San Francisco team that wants the coast without a long drive
Pick the Half Moon Bay self-facilitated hunt at $39.00/person if a team member will run it. If you want the vendor to run the game, the Half Moon Bay guided version on EIM lists $68.00/person for 10–500 guests.
A leadership retreat of 10 to 40 people
Pair the Scotts Valley studio (28 seated, 40 standing) with a Santa Cruz hunt, and bring a projector.
A multi-day retreat on the Monterey Peninsula
The Monterey guided hunt gives a retreat one structured outdoor block, and the planner lists multi-day events. The Monterey Self-Facilitated Treasure Hunt on EIM costs less, $39.00/person for 2–1000 guests, but also does not name insurance.
Can a local planner run a coastal offsite?
Yes. The Santa Cruz corporate event planner covers 20–200 guests at $3000.00 fixed price and lists venue and vendor sourcing; confirm which costs the fixed price covers. For other options, browse event planners on EIM.
How we chose these coastal options
We reviewed nine current EIM listings on this coast and chose six: one hunt per town (two guided, one self-facilitated), a large and a small venue, and a planner. Each town's hunt also comes in the other format on EIM, named above rather than as a card. The order follows offsite fit, not ratings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the coastal hunts run in the morning or evening?
The Santa Cruz and Monterey guided hunts show operating hours of 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The Half Moon Bay self-facilitated hunt is listed as open 24 hours, so a team can start early before a morning session or late after dinner.
Is there a Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk scavenger hunt for teams?
Yes. The Santa Cruz Boardwalk treasure hunt is an outdoor scavenger hunt with augmented reality clues and photo challenges, run by the vendor at $68.00/person for 10–500 guests. A self-guided version lists $39.00/person for 2–1000 guests. Monterey and Half Moon Bay list the same two formats at the same rates.
Do these coastal team building listings provide insurance paperwork?
Two of the three hunt cards list general liability insurance and a waiver form: the Santa Cruz Boardwalk guided hunt and the Half Moon Bay self-facilitated hunt, each with a paid certificate of insurance (COI) add-on. The Monterey guided hunt's included items name games and materials only, so request a COI before you confirm.
Can we host a company-wide group of 200 or more on the coast?
Yes, for the activity and the reception. The guided hunts take up to 500 guests, the Half Moon Bay self-facilitated hunt up to 1000, and the Santa Cruz wine bar 250. The Scotts Valley studio caps at 40 and the planner at 200, so a bigger group needs a larger reception venue.
Do any of these listings include lodging for an overnight retreat?
No. None of the six listings includes rooms, so book accommodation separately. The Santa Cruz planner's listing names multi-day events and venue sourcing, so ask whether lodging research is part of the quote.
How far ahead should we book a coastal team offsite?
As general advice, plan on 4 to 6 weeks for a venue and 8 weeks or more for a planner-built multi-day retreat, especially for summer and fall Fridays. The hunts need far less notice; the Monterey guided hunt asks for three days.