Jacksonville · Northeast Florida
Shady Rest Alpacas
A family-run visitor farm offering private tours, short alpaca encounters, educational group visits, celebrations, and off-site alpaca experiences.
- Farm type
- Visitor farm · Educational tours
- Visiting
- Private and shared bookings
- Location
- Jacksonville, Florida
About the farm
Hands-on alpaca visits with room to learn
Shady Rest Alpacas is a Jacksonville farm centered on guided interaction, animal education, and small-group experiences. Families, couples, friends, schools, and organized groups can choose a visit length and format that fits their plans.
Trina leads the farm’s educational approach. Tours introduce guests to alpaca care and fiber production while allowing supervised time for feeding, gentle petting, questions, and photographs. The farm also accommodates celebrations and events for groups that want more than a standard pasture tour.
Tour choices
Choose a full tour or a shorter encounter
The farm publishes several formats, from a private one-hour visit to a quick 30-minute experience. Availability, group limits, and rates should be confirmed during booking.
One guided hour
Private tours include farm education, alpaca treats, feeding, petting, and photo opportunities. The current base rate for one to six guests is $99 Monday–Thursday or $125 Friday–Sunday.
A 30-minute visit
This shorter private encounter emphasizes photographs, gentle petting, and feeding rather than the longer educational portion. The current base rate is $55 for one to six guests.
One-hour group tour
Small parties may share a guided tour while still receiving alpaca treats and close interaction. The currently published rate is $35 per person on selected dates.
During the visit
Feeding, gentle contact, and photographs
Each standard tour option includes supervised time close to the alpacas. Treats are provided by the farm, so guests can feed the animals without bringing unapproved food. Petting and photographs are included, with the exact pace depending on the tour selected and how the animals respond that day.
The full private and shared tours add more explanation about the farm and alpaca care. Visitors looking mainly for a relaxed animal encounter can choose the shorter option, while families with curious children may get more from the hour-long educational format.
Groups and learning
Field trips, homeschool visits, and gatherings
Shady Rest welcomes school field trips, homeschool groups, and learners of different ages. Its programs can introduce alpaca care, fiber production, and day-to-day farm life through discussion and direct observation.
The property can also host birthday parties, baby and bridal showers, corporate team-building, wellness days, seasonal events, and small weddings. These are customized visits, so group size, timing, included activities, and weather arrangements need to be settled directly with the farm.
Alpacas off the farm
Mobile pop-up experiences
The farm can bring three trained alpacas and a knowledgeable handler to approved private events. The published package provides two hours of supervised interaction, feed for guests, petting, and selfie opportunities. It is currently listed at $800 and must be reserved in advance.
Compare current tour and event optionsKeep exploring
Compare Florida alpaca experiences
Shady Rest works well for visitors who want a reserved hands-on encounter and a choice between a short stop and a fuller educational tour. Return to the directory of alpaca farms in Florida to compare other locations and visit formats.
Families can also explore the broader guide to alpacas, their behavior, fiber, and daily care. A little background makes it easier to understand the questions covered during an educational farm tour.
Reserve before driving
Choose a tour and check availability
Review the current schedule, group limits, rates, and weather terms directly with Shady Rest Alpacas.
Tour formats, rates, address, and group offerings were reviewed from Shady Rest Alpacas’ official website in September 2026. Availability, prices, and event details can change.