A must see when in Santa Cruz/Watsonville area. Scheduled a private visit for my family and it was a blast. My 3 year old granddaughter had so much fun. The alpacas were so gentle to her. The alpacas were so friendly and just happy to be fed lol. Rene was so patient and helpful. There's also a gift shop in the farm. Need to know, no restrooms but we were warned. I definitely recommend this farm. read more

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We had such a fun visit! Booking online was super easy, and Renee was very communicative ahead of time with clear parking instructions. We went on a Friday afternoon, and because the other party had rescheduled, we ended up having a completely private tour, such a nice surprise! There were more than 10 alpacas, so we were totally outnumbered. At one point it honestly felt like the alpacas were studying *us* like we were the animals! The kids had a blast feeding them pine needles. The alpacas were incredibly friendly and curious, walking right up to us and looking at us with those huge, beautiful eyes. Renee was warm and welcoming throughout the visit and even offered to take family photos for us without us having to ask. The ground was covered with small rocks rather than sand, which was a nice bonus -- our shoes stayed surprisingly clean throughout the entire visit. I'm so glad I found an alpaca experience that's an easy trip from the Bay Area. Such a memorable outing for the kids, and we'll definitely be back! read more

R2 Hillside Ranch - Ranches Near Me - Watsonville, California

I went to R2 Hillside Ranch this morning to see the alpacas and wow! what a wonderful experience! Cathy showed me around and let me feed the alpacas. She explained so much about them to me and I had no idea how sweet they would be. There were even some babies! This was definitely one of the best experiences I have ever had! And the gift shop has so many adorable items that it was hard to choose. Renee even set aside some yarn for me (I told her I was a knitter when I set up my tour). I can't wait to come back! read more

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We always try to stop and see alpacas when we travel and this place did not disappoint. The owner is amazing and very knowledgeable. We were given pine needles to feed the alpacas and stayed for about an hour hanging out with them. Renee also has a small gift shop where you can buy some local goods. read more

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Absolutely enjoyed the time here with Renee and the alpacas. I took my two year old and he got to feed the alpacas. There was a baby Alpaca and he was very cute. Renee is knowledgeable and cares for the alpacas so well. Definitely recommend this place if you're looking for something to do with the kids. read more

R2 Hillside Ranch - Ranches Near Me - Watsonville, California

My sister loves alpacas (and llamas), so this was a special birthday outing for her. Our family was the only group that day, so it unexpectedly turned into a private event just for us. Renee started us with a short orientation and Q&A session before we entered the alpaca pen. Renee then gave us pine needles to use as an enticing snack to get the alpacas to interact with us. The boy alpacas were segregated in a different pen that we didn't get to visit, but there were still plenty of alpacas for everyone. After about 45-50 minutes, the alpacas had their fill of pine needles and went back to their normal routines. We spent a few minutes browsing the gift "shop" and then said our goodbyes. The alpacas were as cute and gregarious as you think they would be, and an hour was just the right amount of time to hang out with them. This was an awesome birthday experience for my sister and the whole family. read more

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ABSOLUTELY A DREAM. My heart melts in cuteness and affection for these alpacas. It's so amazing and inspiring to experience Renee and Rich's ranch of happy and peaceful alpacas, dogs, and more! We scheduled a time to see the alpacas and we just chilled with the alpacas for almost 2 hrs! Renee was so kind and patient, answering our questions, and sharing about the alpacas. We learned so much. From the hustle of the bay area culture, this was a true alpaca sanctuary therapy. We bonded the most with the playful alpaca babies who let us pet them if we distracted them with food! Definitely come with friends to be surrounded by alpacas in such a peaceful environment. Before coming, request an appointment on their site and definitely read about their story and familiarize yourself with their alpacas! Because you'll get to be surrounded by the alpaca girls and their alpaca kids and get to know their names, their age, and their charms. read more

R2 Hillside Ranch - Baby Paris modeling - Ranches Near Me - Watsonville, California

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If you are near Watsonville, I highly recommend you visit R2 Hillside Ranch!! This is such a hidden gem! I was looking for some fun family activities when I encountered their yelp page. All visitors must make an appointment first by contacting Renee via email Hello@r2hillside.com. I decided to use their website to contact them. Renee responded to my ranch tour request pretty quickly, and provided a tour arrival time. In another email, I received additional instructions. It is very important to text Renee 30 minutes before your arrival, so she can open any gates and be available. My whole family absolutely loved the whole experience. Renee is so accommodating and she answered all of our questions. All of her Alpacas and Mules are just beautiful!! My daughter really enjoyed feeding the alpacas, especially the baby alpacas. We definitely learned a lot about alpacas during our visit. All of the alpacas are so sweet and gentle. It was just amazing to be able to walk next to an alpaca. Even though Renee doesn't charge for this ranch tour, donations are definitely appreciated. It was very easy to donate using Venmo, since the QR code is near the gate. I learned that the donated money goes toward their feed (hay). Thank you Renee for your generous hospitality. You gave my family such a memorable experience. read more

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I won a visit to R2 Hillside, but even if it wasn't a gifted visit, I would still be saying the same thing...don't miss out on R2 Hillside for some Alpaca fun. Renee was wonderful, so knowledgeable and friendly, she really helped us feel welcome and comfortable. The Alpacas are obviously adorable. We happened to visit the weekend after they were sheared but still got to feel their soooo soft fiber. Highly recommend this Bay Area local spot for families, date days, or just because! read more

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We are way overdue writing this review! What a fun way to spend part of your day if you are in the area. Unique, up close, experience with alpacas that you can't get anywhere else. The owners are super hospitable. That night I dreamt that I had my own two alpacas and I named them PAS and FILRI !! read more

My family and I had such an amazing experience at the ranch. We got to feed the alpacas and mules. Definitely an unforgettable experience. The owners were very friendly and shared lots of information about the animals Would recommend everyone to visit the farm themselves! read more

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"A" is for Alpaca! Alpacas are smaller than llamas and rarely spit at you . Pine needles are one of their favorite treats--kinda like eating candy! Their wool is super soft and freshly shorn alpacas resemble poodles . At this ranch, the baby alpacas aren't skittish and don't mind being pet while snacking. These creatures are very curious and although friendly appreciate having their space respected. All of the alpacas are adorable, but I was partial to the elegant and sleek "Ava" who lounges under a shady tree wearing her fluffy Chanel neckwarmer. At 19, the herd's Grand Madame was too busy being fabulous to munch on pine needles! Haha! Getting this close to alpacas is a rare occurrence. Many thanks to co-owner Renee for her warm welcome; my daughter can't wait to come back to say hi to her new friends . If you live in (or you're visiting) Santa Cruz County, the R2 Hillside Ranch is a hidden gem! read more

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R2 Hillside ranch was an amazing experience! We had such a blast petting and feeding all the alpacas. We came in August after they were sheared so they weren't as fluffy looking but omg still SO soft. Renee showed us the ropes and answered all our questions ranging from alpaca facts to ranch life. She was so friendly and the perfect host. The experience was scheduled for one hour but we stayed for almost two! Sometimes the alpacas will nibble on your fingers and it's sooooo cute. We not only got to play with the alpacas but also the ranch dogs and mules! Would come here again 100%. read more

R2 Hillside Ranch - Chewing on some pine needles - Ranches Near Me - Watsonville, California

It was wonderful spending an hour with the alpacas. They were all very friendly. We got to feed them pine needles and pet them on their necks. They were so cute and curious. Highly recommmend. read more

My daughter and I had a fabulous time at R2 Hillside Ranch. We had never experienced alpacas before and it was such fun. After a quick orientation chat from Renee, which was really informative, we went into the enclosure and fed the alpacas. They were so cute, sweet and friendly. What a great experience - I highly recommend it!!! read more

We came here as a part of our friend's bday celebration and it was so much fun & relaxing! There were 4 baby alpacas that are nursing and some of them let us pet their neck while eating. Overall it was cuteness overload. The host was super friendly, chatted with us, and even showed us their puppy. We had a pleasant experience and would highly recommend! read more

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loved it!! Owners are super nice and the animals are so sweet and adorable. Will be back

Great place to meet alpacas ! They are so gentle and friendly ! The owners are amazing ! I took my 6 year old twin girls and they absolutely loved it !!! Totally recommend it! read more

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If you have a child who loves animals and have never been to an alpaca farm, you have got to visit R2 Hillside Ranch!! At this ranch, my wife, daughter, and I were able to be up close and personal with 18 alpacas for a whole entire hour! During this time, we were able to pet the alpacas and feed them pine needles. All of our questions were answered by Renee, the owner, making the entire experience very educational! Renee was very accommodating, friendly, and made the entire time a super memorable one. Our appointment was at 4pm. Upon arrival, Renee prepared a basket of hand sanitizers, wipes, and another basket of pine needles for us. She gave us a quick introduction and proceeded to let the alpacas into the feeding area. It was a sight to see the 18 alpacas come in, as prior to this, we have only witness at most 3 alpacas behind a gate. My wife, daughter, and I had a blast hanging around the alpacas. Because the alpacas do not have top teeth, when they feed on the pine needles, you have to make sure to hold onto the branch tight because they use a pulling motion to separate the needles. When we ran out of pine needles, we went back to the basket and got more. During the entire 1 hour, even though we kept on feeding the alpacas, there was still a lot more pine needles in the basket when we were done. Also, throughout the adventure, Renee took candid photos of us from her phone and sent it to us after we left!! Afterwards, Renee gave us 2 apples to feed the 2 mules on the ranch. I learned that mules can not reproduce and the way to tell a mule apart from a horse is the ears. Mules have longer ears from a donkey and the size of a horse! I highly recommend that you bring your family to R2 Hillside Ranch to visit the alpacas! The time you spend with these soft, cute, cuddly alpacas will be one you will forever cherish. 5 solid stars!!!!! read more

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Go! Just go! This is a surprising place with genuinely wonderful hosts. It's surprising because it's so close but it feels like you are actually somewhere far away ie Peru. It's surprising because these alpacas are so gentle and social (unlike lamas they do not bite and will not spitting if you follow the rules) And it's surprising because the host made everything so easy and so welcoming for kids. The only hard thing was to convince them it was time to leave. They had soooo much fun feeding the alpacas and observing them roaming around. And yes, it's free which is a bonus. That said it's impossible to leave without leaving a donation. Bottom line: go! You'll be amazed! read more

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Had a blast. My 3 year old loved feeding the alpacas. It's a super cute spot with lots of space to look around. We will be going again read more

R2 Hillside Ranch - Feeding alpacas - Ranches Near Me - Watsonville, California

What a fun tour! We really enjoyed seeing the alpacas on the ranch. The owners, Renee and Rich Rogers are so nice. They seem to love having tours and telling interested people about their passion--alpacas. If you get really lucky, they may even have a baby alpaca in the herd when you get there. So cute! They also have a online shop with lots of alpaca-related items for gifts or to treat yourself. Such a fun day! read more

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My kids and I came in not really knowing much about alpacas. And we left declaring that alpacas are now one of our favorite animals in the world. We had a wonderful time here, and Renee - the owner - was very friendly and helpful, and told us about the ages and stories of each alpaca. The alpacas, themselves, were very gentle and such a joy to feed. My 5-year-old even declared one of them his friend after she kept coming back to him to eat his pine needles. It was an unforgettable experience, and would 100% highly recommend to any families with kids! read more

amazing amazing alpaca farm! i have fallen in love with alpacas and i've always wanted to go see them. i knew of the one in Ramona but had no idea there were some so close to home. i searched on yelp and found R2 Hillside Ranch and decided this was the one i wanted to visit. i reached out via email and requested a visit to their farm. didn't take long before i got a reply. we shared a couple emails to set up a time, date, and how big my party would be. we initially had it on tuesday but because of the rain coming in, we asked Renee if it would be ok to change it to today instead. it was easy communication and they were able to change the day and time with no issues. the day before an email will be sent to guide you to their farm. you are to text the number given 30 minutes before you arrive (which is a good thing, because once you get there you will have little to no reception.) when all groups arrived, Renee opened the gates and welcomed us in. the alpacas were so cute and well kept. we were even allowed to feed them! Renee took the time to talk to each one of us and teach us so much about alpacas. if you have time and want to see alpacas, this is the place to go! don't hesitate and make the appointment with Renee. it's worth the drive, i promise you that. read more

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This was an absolutely wonderful experience for Watsonville Insight! Our group, of mostly Watsonville locals, are always looking for off the cushion experiences that bring us closer to nature and animals. The ranch itself is owned an operated by a lovely husband and wife team. The wife, Renee, was a pleasure working with via email to set up the date/time for our group to visit; and the husband, Rich our tour guide, was also fabulous! The owners are definitely offering a premium experience--so be generous with your donation folks--it's worth it! Thank you Renee and Rich! read more

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It was a fun experience. Highly recommend for the family easy to find. Renee was very helpful and providing us information before our visit. First time seeing alpaca and mules. We were able to feed them and the mules. Lot of pictures were taken and Renee was telling us interesting facts about them. Most likely will go again to take the family. Thank you Renee and Richard. read more

R2 Hillside Ranch - Alpacas!! - Ranches Near Me - Watsonville, California

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I loved my time spent with all the alpacas! The owners were very nice and accommodating too. I definitely want to come back! read more

R2 Hillside Ranch - Ranches Near Me - Watsonville, California

Absolutely fantastic experience from start to finish. The Rogers family was so welcoming and informative. Renee was great with my 8 year old and guided her to being accepted by the herd. My little one was initially excited, but as nervous as the Alpacas. She was eventually able to stroke the babies and one of the adults as well as have them give her a little nibble and nudge her hand. The mules were also so sweet and loving. Experience of a lifetime! Please donate to their farm. They love and care for these animals and are super hard working. read more

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This is our 2nd time visiting the alpacas and the mules. I highly recommend driving down! A beautiful retreat from. The valleys hustle and bustle. Great for any animal lover. The owners are kind, patient, and informative! read more

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This was such a fun experience! Renee, one of the owners, was very responsive, communicative, and also accommodating when it came to setting up the tour, including directions, parking, and suggestions for our dog. Then, at the start of the tour, Renee shared some information about the alpacas and gave us the opportunity to ask questions, and after that, we got some 'free time' to roam with the alpacas and to feed them and take pictures of them/with them. Renee was still available to answer any/all questions we had. It was very casual and relaxed , which I loved. I highly highly recommend this place! It was serene and relaxing , and a much needed step away from city life. We also learned quite a bit! read more

R2 Hillside Ranch - I forget the name of this particular alpaca but they are very sweet and curious creatures and they seem to like to be photographed! - Ranches Near Me - Watsonville, California

Had so much fun visiting R2 Hillside Ranch! I'd seen pictures and videos of alpacas before, but it's a whole other thing meeting them in real life! Fun getting to feed them and learn all about these fascinating creatures. And Renee and Rich who run the place were the best hosts. I left with a newfound appreciation for alpacas and a desire to return, sooner than later! read more

R2 Hillside Ranch - Me feeding alpacas! - Ranches Near Me - Watsonville, California

We had the pleasure of visiting R2Hillside Ranch in Watsonville. My daughter wanted to visit an Alpaca farm and luckily, I got in touch with Rich and Renee while visiting Monterey for my birthday weekend. It is difficult to sum up the experience in so many words but to give you an idea it was fantastic. We visited on Sunday, November 3rd. Weather was amazing in Watsonville; and the farm is right off the freeway and easy to get to. We were greeted at the barn door by Richard himself and was joined by his wife Renee who greeted us so warmly. They have roughly 25 Alpacas out of which they inherited 9 of them from the previous owner and the rest were all the babies of those original ones. Both Rich and Renee cordially educated us about the history of the farm and how them came upon it and absolutely fell in love with these gorgeous animals. After Renee picked some pine branches for us to feed them (they love pine needles); the Alpacas were let out in the bigger patch. It was amazing how human friendly these animals were and how they came so close and interacted so well with all of us. More of the story you can see within the pictures I share here and that will give you an idea how amazing it was to learn about them, interact with them (the cuddles and kisses were amazing). It was even more refreshing to see how this R2 couple knows each one of their Alpacas so well and can tell you about their personalities and behaviors. If you are a nature/ animals loving family like us, I would highly recommend visiting R2Hillside farm. You will have a great time. Please check their website/Facebook page and they have all the details how to arrange a visit and gives quite a bit of information beforehand; don't forget to check out pictures also. The first question my daughter immediately asked when we got out of the farm was when we can visit them again Thanks so much for a wonderful trip to your farm Rich and Renee...we loved it and can't wait to visit again! read more

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R2 Hillside is one of my favorite places to visit in Aptos. The alpacas are beautiful and I love playing with the pups Aurora and Raela Oh and feeding the mules is awesome! Rich and Renee have made a beautiful oasis near the coast. Can't wait to go back :) read more

R2 Hillside Ranch - Reagan and Aurora - Ranches Near Me - Watsonville, California

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Truly one of my favorite places in the Santa Cruz mountains! The R2 family makes you feel like family and the alpacas are so fun to see and interact with. The family takes amazing care of their alpacas and they are treated like family as well. Check out this place and see how they get alpaca fur!! read more

I had a wonderful time with my girlfriend. She loves Alpacas and this is the best place I have found in CA by far. The hospitality from the owners was incredible. I highly recommend you visit! read more

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Oh my God, I went there yesterday and Renée and Rich are so welcoming! I had a wonderful time feeding the Alpacas while Renée talked about them. Especially about the last new born two days ago. Thank you for the visit. read more

R2 Hillside Ranch - Ranches Near Me - Watsonville, California

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This is the best experience for any family or group of any kind. They've got it all from Alpacas to mules and even their working dogs are fun to be around. I would recommend this as a must see for you to truly experience all that the Santa Cruz Mountains have to offer! Just a short beautiful drive through gorgeous landscape to the R2 Hillside Ranch. I know I'll be bringing friends back for a tour! Rich and Renee offer such hospitality and education on all things Alpaca, from the shearing process to the breading of these cuties. Thank you Rogers Family! read more

R2 Hillside Ranch - Ranches Near Me - Watsonville, California

Love this beautiful and peaceful hidden gem. My friends and I love animals and live in the Eat Bay. We traveled to Aptos and wanted to try something new. The Roger's were so friendly and welcoming and showed us a great time at the ranch. It is obvious that they are very loving and caring of the animals on the property. I would definitely come back and highly recommend touring this beautiful ranch. read more

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Had the best experience here! It's an alpaca farm. There will be time to feed them treats, pet them, and learn some history about the owners. During our time there we also got to meet two donkey rescues that were staying on the farm too. The owners are kind, professional, and so knowledgeable. I'll definitely be back. read more

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I absolutely loved our visit the this beautiful Alpaca Ranch. It was quite the experience. My family and I had an amazing time. We learned so much from our visit and Renee the owner was super friendly and informative. They even let us feed them. Definitely worth the beautiful drive. read more