Guadalupe, CA

21 Apartments for Rent

This small town began as Rancho de Guadalupe in the 1840s, a part of a Mexican land grant settled by pioneers of many diverse backgrounds.

Located in Santa Barbara County, less than 20 minutes from the larger town of Santa Maria, the small community of Guadalupe is perched near a beautiful beach and Coastal Highway 1. Farms and fields surround the area, and a beautiful dune system offers plenty of recreation from hiking and walking to fishing and swimming.

Moving to Town

Looking for rental houses in Guadalupe? Check out your options in rental apartments, duplexes for rent, studio apartments for rent and month-to-month leases. This Central California community is located near the highly sought-after coast yet has a strong agricultural bent, offering a change of scenery whenever you need it. Give yourself around a month to find the best spot for you. Vacancies come and go in this area, and while there are usually some properties available, this is a small town community, and overall there are not that many properties to choose from.

Consult the local paper, online resources and best of all, drive or walk around town to get a feel for the area and see what rentals are available. Bring your ID and credit report or bank statements for your landlord -- they'll be impressed by your agency.

Neighborhood

Guadalupe holds just over 7,000 residents (per 2010 U.S. Census) in one central neighborhood. You'll find delicious regional tri-tip beef and Mexican food -- homemade tortillas, anyone? -- as well as shops and small businesses here. Guadalupe is a city where there are many farmers, fishers and service providers.

Living in Guadalupe

The Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge is a huge draw for residents. This beautiful, unspoiled coastal area includes pristine beaches, wild waves and a wooden boardwalk that leads you through the dunes and past wildlife and small lakes. Filmmakers have used this setting for a number of films, including Cecil B. DeMille's 1923 epic, The Ten Commandments -- the movie sets remain buried in the sand. More recently, scenes from Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End were filmed here. Oso Flaco Lake is also a part of the dunes area and great for bird watching.

The Guadalupe Dunes County Park is located right in town, with picnic tables and beautiful views of the broad ocean. The Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center is also here, where you can learn the history of the coastal region and participate in fun events at heritage center of the area, considered the education and research site for the dunes area.

The Guadalupe Landscape

Hills rise on the south end of town, near the Santa Maria River. On the other side is the Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Despite being a small town, this community also houses a small art museum, the Rancho de Guadalupe Historical Society, a public library, a veterans memorial, the historic Masatani Mansion and an old Buddhist temple. Every year on September 16, the town holds a parade in celebration of Mexico's independence from Spain.