Policies, FAQs and Other Details
Welcome to a Working Farm!
Guests agree that our working farm is part of the charm! Here are some things to keep in mind when you stay with us:
Noise: Most of our staff live on site and will attest that farm work never truly stops. We limit our noise early in the morning and late at night, as your comfort is our top priority. You will likely see our staff operating tractors, machinery, and other tools; please do not touch these tools yourself!
The Grounds: We do our best to keep the grounds tidy and safe, but you are responsible for your safety. Nature surrounds us on all sides, so you will come into contact with a variety of desert flora and fauna. Please respect wildlife by giving them space; they will not bother you if you do not bother them. Our staff is always happy to answer questions about our beloved Sonoran Desert. Enjoy this time to reconnect with Mother Nature!
Housekeeping: Our housekeepers do their best to ensure your room is as clean as possible, but we cannot control every bug in the desert. Please let us know if you have trouble with insects or critters during your stay and we will do our best to help.
Check In & Check Out
Check in is from 3pm - 5pm. You are welcome to arrive early and hang out on the property outside. We are typically able to get the rooms ready before 3pm and will let you enter as soon as your space is ready but we cannot make any promises since we do have a small team. Please let us know if you will be arriving after 5pm so our staff can make proper accommodations.
Check out is at 10am. We ask that you are out of your room by then, although you’re welcome to hang out on the property longer outdoors.
Pets & Furry Friends
At first glance, our farm appears to be the perfect place to bring your dogs. But, sadly it is not. We are sorry to say that dogs, cats or any other pets are not allowed.
Due to the new federal Food Safety Modernization Act – Produce Safety Rule, we cannot allow pets onsite as a designated working orchard that sells produce. Furthermore, the Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness Area does not allow dogs to enter the canyon so there are limited hiking trails in the area that are dog friendly. You may notice a couple of our dogs on the property; these dogs are owned by staff and trained/monitored specifically in accordance with the USDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act.
Service animals are welcome. However, any animal, trained or untrained, whose sole function is to provide emotional support, comfort, or companionship do not qualify as service animals under the law and are not permitted on premise.
Any unannounced pets that arrive may be asked to be taken home or charged a cleaning fee per pet per night and kenneled for the duration of your stay.
Billing & Payment
We request a 50% deposit to complete your reservation, and the remainder is due 30 days before your arrival. The credit card on file for your reservation will be charged for your remaining balance up to 30 days prior to your reservation. Please let us know in advance if you’d like to use an alternate form of payment and we’ll be happy to accommodate. Charges during your stay can automatically be added to your bill and be paid for at check out.
You will also notice a credit card fee on your statement. Our default payment method is credit card, and due to our small size we are charged high credit card fees from our processors. If you do not want to pay by credit card, please email us at info@aravaipafarms.com and we can send an electronic payment request for 100% of your reservation amount and waive the credit card fee. However, please note that if you choose this route, we will need to take full payment for the reservation at the time of booking (not the standard 50% deposit and then another 50% at 30 days out). We will still need a credit card on file to hold the reservation as well. Thank you for your understanding with this policy.
Cancellation & Rescheduling
We are a small inn with only 7 accommodations, which typically reserve early. It is common for us to turn potential guests away because we’re already fully booked at that time. Therefore, your reservation is important to us and we must adhere to a fairly rigid cancellation policy.
100% of your pre-payment is refundable when an emailed cancellation is received 30 days before the arrival date. If you reschedule or cancel your trip for any reason within 30 days of the arrival date, your payment will not be refunded (other than for creek conditions, discussed below). We encourage you to look into obtaining trip insurance, as it can help cover any costs incurred due to unfortunate accidents, illness, and more.
If you become sick, or are not feeling well prior to arrival, please do not come onto the property. We will work with you to reschedule your reservation, minus a 15% administration fee, so you can use your payment towards another date within a year of your original reservation.
Cancellation policies for workshops, retreats, or full-farm rentals may vary from this policy, and will be agreed upon between the host and the farm upon initial booking.
WiFi & Cellular Service
Reconnecting with yourself and nature is generally easier when you can disconnect from technology! With that being said, we do have limited WiFi if you need it. Due to our remote nature, we only have access to satellite internet, which can be very slow and unreliable.
Please download & save offline any information, music, photos, movies, etc prior to arriving at Aravaipa Farms as our download/upload speeds are extremely limited.
Cellular service typically drops once you get to the dirt road but can sometimes be reached out by our front gate.
We do have a good ol’ fashioned landline that you are welcome to use if needed. Feel free to give our phone number to anyone who may need to contact you during your stay as well so we can relay the message to you: (520) 261-7373.
Weather & Creek Conditions
Please know that you must cross a small creek in order to access the inn. The creek typically stays around 10-20 cfs (4-6 inches deep) and is very easily crossable by most cars, including 2WD sedans.
We have sunny, cloudless skies for the vast majority of the year. However, a couple times a year, typically during the monsoon season (July-August), hurricane season (October), or winter rains (December-January), it’s possible that the creek will rise after a large rainstorm and become impassible. This is normal behavior for rivers in the Sonoran Desert and is a very exciting experience! The water level typically only stays high for a short, yet unpredictable, period of time. Not all rainstorms result in the creek rising or becoming impassible.
If we are aware of the creek being impassible prior to your arrival, we will notify you as soon as possible. Safety is always our number one priority.
If your arrival to Aravaipa Farms is delayed due to the creek being impassible, we will reimburse you the value of that portion of your stay.
If you decide to cancel your trip to Aravaipa Farms due to forecasted significant rain storms prior to arrival, we will do our best to work with you to reschedule your trip within the following 18 months. You will be responsible to pay for any increases in room or food rates for the newly chosen date. We cannot roll your payment over for more than 18 months and will retain your payment if our schedules are unable to coordinate.
If you choose to depart early because of bad weather forecasted for the coming days, you will not be refunded for the days or meals missed.
Finally, if your departure from the inn is delayed due to the creek rising, we will not charge extra for any additional room nights during that time, but we may ask for a small contribution for extra meals provided. As soon as the water subsides to a passable level, we will work to get you safely to the other side as quickly as possible.
Crossing the creek is always done at your own risk and Aravaipa Farms cannot be held liable for any damage.
Food Allergies & Dietary Needs
We understand that everyone’s dietary needs are unique, and although we truly wish we could accommodate everyone, we are not a full service restaurant and do not have these capabilities with our small team.
It is your responsibility to check our menu (here) and confirm that you are able to eat the meal provided during your stay. With advanced notice, we typically can provide variations to accommodate the following dietary restrictions: gluten/wheat, tree nuts, peanuts, shellfish, fish, vegetarian, pescatarian and red meat alternatives. We cannot accommodate every dietary restriction. Please contact us before arriving if you have any questions.
We cannot guarantee that our kitchen is free from allergens of any kind. Although we take food allergies very seriously and do our best to remove any possible contamination during the cooking process, please know that we work with all types of ingredients and cross-contamination is always a possibility. Call us directly to discuss any concerns over the phone and we will be happy to work with you however we can.
Please plan to bring your own food or snacks if you have very specific dietary needs. Each casita has a kitchenette and outdoor grill at a minimum so you are welcome to cook for yourself during your stay.
Health & Safety Precautions
The beauty of Aravaipa Farms is built around health and well-being, from the health of our ecosystem to the well-being of our community, and everything in between. We are constantly updating our safety protocols as we learn more about COVID-19 and will always take the safest option for both our guests and staff.
Physical Distance – Our Casitas, Airstream and Farmhouse have always been naturally distanced, allowing guests to spread out while staying in touch with nature. Each building has its own entrance, private patio and individual air conditioning/heating unit so there is never any recirculated air shared with others.
Room Safety & Cleanliness – We are paying extra attention to disinfect high-touch areas such as door handles, appliances, etc. Our cleaning protocols have always been held to a high standard, including cleaning all bedding, duvet covers, linens and surfaces.
Housekeeping - Staff will not enter your room during your stay. Fresh towels can be delivered upon request but additional housekeeping will be withheld until after you depart. We ask for your help by bringing your trash bags and any dirty dishes to your patio each morning.
Food Service & Dining – Food service is now optional for guests, and service has been modified to ensure the maximum safety for both guests and staff. Guests who would rather bring their own food and cook for themselves are welcome to do so. The only exception to the self-cooking option is that we cannot allow cooking in the Airstream so please choose another accommodation option if you’d like to cook for yourself. Please see our dining page for details on our current serving protocols and your food options.
Mental Health – Getting outside and enjoying nature is a proven way to reduce stress and stay healthy. We strive to share this opportunity with you safely in order to promote well-being. Please respect other guests by giving at least a 6-foot distance from others, even when outside.
Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns about visiting us. We will work with you to ensure you are comfortable and safe during your stay.
Damage to Property
Please let us know if any damage occurs to your room, even if it is accidental, during your stay. We will work with you to decide the best next steps for both you and us. At the end of the day, you are technically responsible for any damage to property during your rental period, and we do have the right to charge your credit card on file if needed. This includes for any lost revenue from not being able to rent your casita after your departure. We would prefer for this to be a conversation between both parties, rather than something we figure out on our own after you have left so please come talk to us.
Smoking of any kind in or around the casitas is not permitted and may be considered damage to property. If your room smells like smoke upon check out, we have the right to charge a cleaning fee and/or to charge you for any lost revenue from not being able to rent your casita. Thank you for your understanding!
Hiking Permits
We do not have any control over hiking permits in Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness, as they are managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Sometimes there are last minute cancellations with permits and we can call the ranger to see if that is the case, but it is usually rare. Please double check that you have permits to the WEST entrance, as the east entrance is a 4+ hour drive from us. Please see our page on hiking the canyon for more detailed information.
There are several other hikes in the area that do not require permits, and we’re always happy to point you in the right direction. There is a lot of beauty in this area!
Alcohol & Outside Food
You are welcome to bring wine, beer, or mixed drinks with you when you stay at the farm, as we do not currently offer alcohol with our food packages.
If you do not reserve a food package with your stay, we suggest that you bring your own supplies for meals. Each casita has its own private grill, and a few of the casitas also have a full kitchen. There are limited food options nearby, so we recommend that you plan ahead.
Minimum Stay Requirements
We have a two-night minimum for all guest stays. Over the years, we constantly heard from guests that “one night was not enough” in order to fully relax and take in the surrounding area and our beautiful property.
If you are open to last minute bookings, we can sometimes squeeze in a one night stay if we are within a couple weeks from the booking date. Give us a call to talk about it if you’re interested in this last minute option, although we truly recommend that you stay longer!
Promotions and Seasonal Rates
We often offer slightly lower rates in our shoulder seasons, which typically occur during the summer months and several weeks in the winter months. The best way to check for these rates is to look at our availability grid on the reservations page, or email us directly.
We occasionally offer additional promotions or special offers throughout the year as well. These are also typically during shoulder seasons.
All promotions, discounts or special rates are only valid for new reservations & cannot be combined with other offers.