Ranchito Paraiso: High Desert Retreat with Friendly Piggies and Donkeys

Hello All!

My name is Kareva and I am delighted that you have taken the time to read about Kassandra. You'll love to rest here after a long day driving along I-10. Just three minutes north of the motorway, but seemingly a world away, you will be able to enjoy our desert sanctuary with all the comforts of home. Can you picture yourself wrapped in a colourful Mexican blanket snuggled by the firepit with your favourite drink for a relaxing night under the stars and sleeping piggies at your feet? At the Ranchito, this can become a reality.

If I am set up for a minimum 2 night stay, please reach out to see if one night is possible. Generally, one nights are not feasible for Friday and Saturday. If you book, thank you for supporting a female-owned small business. Each booking helps care for my sweet rescue animals (donkeys, mini piggies, goats, dogs, cat, and a blind dwarf rabbit). I welcome you to Ranchito Paraiso, a retreat/sanctuary for life voyagers, digital nomads, artists, writers, poets, musicians, composers, yogis, dancers, rescue animals, and kind folk.

IMPORTANT: If you book through instant book and plan an instant arrival, I will need a 1 hour window to prepare the space, especially If you contact me after regular check-in hours (4pm). If you'd like a ONE night booking, reach out to me to see if it would be possible.

Kassandra features the Separett Villa 9215 State-of-the-Art odorless dry toilet, not a flush toilet, which is very simple to use. For longer stays, toilet will need to serviced every four days. Please make sure you are comfortable with the dry toilet concept before booking. Feel free to reach out with any questions!

You will love Kassandra! She is more than an RV – she is an experience! Spacious and elegant, she can sleep 4 guests. We welcome up to two well-mannered pets of any species (Reach out to me if you have more).

Please note: Extra guest fee is for additional adults over two adults. Children are welcome for no extra charge. There is a pet fee of $40 per stay (maximum two pets but check with me if you have more) that you need to add to the booking. When you get to "Book Now", there is a number of travellers box. Click on it and it will have an option to add pet (Thank you :)

Breakfast items wait for you in the fridge so you can enjoy a leisurely morning in one of three outdoor seating areas (or you are welcome to walk around the land, sit on a bench by the corrals, and watch the donkeys and goats munch on their hay while you sip your morning drink). We provide:

 Freshly ground organic coffee (decaf also available) and a selection of teas.
 Half and half, organic sugar
 Sparkling water and our delicious Artesian well water
 English muffins, butter, French jam, and fresh local free range organic eggs.
 A pantry stocked with some food items in case you arrive late and restaurants are closed (I do suggest stopping by Safeway to pick up a rotisserie chicken or pizza and salad fixings – an easy meal with more time to enjoy the space and relax).

Right away, you will notice Kassandra’s character and charm, from her artistic interior to her desert agave garden and surrounding mountain views. Kassandra is a well-appointed home:

 High Speed Wifi
 Two couches convert to two XL twin beds and the bedroom sports a
comfy queen-sized memory foam LUCID mattress (with 1200 count
freshly laundered Egyptian cotton sheets).
 Smart TV with complementary Hulu, Netflix, and Prime
 Fresh, plush towels, shampoo, shower gels, lotions, soaps, conditioners, and more.
 Fully stocked kitchen with all you need to cook on your own hob
meals (Please do not attempt to use the oven):
o Organic extra virgin olive oil, aged balsamic, a variety of spices, Pots and pans and all you need to cook a meal as if you were at home.
o Electric pizza oven, toaster, drip coffee pot, dishwasher, microwave,
electric kettle, full-sized fridge and indoor dining area for five that
doubles as a workspace with views over the pond and Mesquite bosque. Mesquite BBQ available upon request - we provide the wood.

Ranchito Paraiso has beautiful views and country living in a ranch setting, although the town of Benson is but two miles away. There is ample free parking for multiple vehicles with room for UHauls, caravans, and more. We are a quick drive to Kartchner Caverns, Tombstone, Bisbee, and AZ wine country.

I live on-site, about 150 yards away. We offer contactless check-in and are available via phone or text. Please text before your arrival as I'd love to welcome you to the space, as well as make sure the donkeys are not in the way. Just shoot me a text once you check out. I am available to answer any questions and bring you anything you need, such as ice, extra eggs or linens, batteries for the remote, etc.

UNIQUE EXPERIENCE: Help chop food and prepare meals for the piggies, distribute their food, then enjoy happy hour and music while providing social time with the piggies. Bring your own favourite afternoon drink and lots of piggie cuddles. Minimum 4 hour advance reservations required (Feeding is around 4:30pm). More information is located inside the unit.

Many guests want to bring treats for the kiddos. I don't give them treats, and donkeys and goats are food aggressive and will stalk you if you give them treats, so please don't give them anything. However, if you'd like to contribute to something more substantial and would like to bring any of the following, this would be absolutely phenomenal and greatly appreciated:

-- Nature's Best Organic Adult or senior or youth Pig Pellets
-- Nutrena Safechoice Special Care for the donkeys and goats
-- 40lb bag of Black-oiled sunflower seeds,
-- Tractor Supply Bedding Flakes for the goats

All are available at Tractor Supply (there is a store one mile from the Ranchito).

The San Pedro golf course with Benson City Grille and dog-friendly patio is just around the corner.

Benson is a small town so restaurants other than Denny’s or Wendy’s tend to close by 8pm. Unless you eat fast food, dining after 8pm is not an option. Safeway is close by (pretty good wine and craft beer selections) as well as super Walmart (extensive grocery, bakery, organic meats and deli selections).

There is currently one other short term rental unit on-site about 150ft away. The other unit is also pet-friendly, so other pets and guests may be present during your stay.

Train tracks are a mile away and I-10 is 3/4 mile away. We are secluded in peace and quiet, but you may hear an occasional train or the hum of motorway noise in the distance.

Our sanctuary animals are dog-friendly, but please keep pets on a leash at all times. Do not allow dogs to chase or nip Ranchito animals. Do not feed the donkeys or they will stalk you :) Please do not allow the goats into the house - they will try to sneak in and they have have no poo filters and love to jump on counters and smash things - it is quite a talent they have. Use vigilant supervision at all times with children around the donkeys, goats, and piggies.

We do not yet have an enclosed yard space for pets. Keep dogs with you at all times. They are free to chase balls and run around the property under your supervision, and as long as the donkeys are corralled; but please keep them away from the main house porch and main house fence, as this would greatly upset our dogs. Please do not chain dogs up during your absence or leave them unattended in Kassandra. Crating is fine.

We have three dogs who are kept indoors and in our backyard during your stay.

We do live in the desert, and between April-October is rattlesnake season. Please be conscious and conscientious when walking around the pond and any grassy areas. If we do see them, it is during mornings, dusk and monsoons. Remember they are not out to torment you, they are hunting for din dins - usually pack rats and desert mice.

July-Sept during Monsoons, there may be Sonoran Desert toads in our pond. They sound amazing and are beautiful, funny creatures, but they are toxic to dogs.

Absolutely no smoking of any kind inside Kassandra. Smoke away from the house and place butts in a receptacle and not on the ground or in the firepit. If there is evidence of smoking inside the unit (such as butts, ashes, strong odour, and affected linens), guests will be assessed a $200 fine.

Guests have access to Kassandra, the surrounding area, and walks around the pond. Feel free to hang out with the donkeys, goats, and piggies, who are free-roaming, Please do not give them treats.

The large space in front of Kassandra and the pond is ideal for throwing a ball for active furry friends. The south side of the property through the red gate is not part of the Ranchito, so please take care to keep dogs close to you.

If you are travelling with horses, cows or livestock and have your own portable panels for a temporary corral, you are welcome to set them up on the property or enquire about stabling here at the Ranchito. There are trails to ride in the immediate vicinity.

Thank you for reading and we hope to see you here!

Cheers,

Kareva and #RanchitoKids
Donkids: Fiona, Haiku, and Isla.
Naughty goaties cutie patooties: Harley and Quinn.
Piggies: Sir Benjamin (Ranchito Piggie Ambassador), Mr. Jonah, and Queen Winnie Daniella (a.k.a. Miss Winnie Dee), Celine, Dionne, Waylon, Jennings, Frida, Kahlo, Lionel, Ritchie, William, Theo, Pickles, JellyBean, Pepper Ann, Lucas, Leticia, Michael, Jackson, Nadia, Gilligan, Stephen, Pua, Penelope, David, Bowie, and Nelson.
Pupsters: Carlos, Rafael, and Leela plus Diosa the cat and Julio the rabbit.

(Ranchito Paraiso LLC, AZ TPT 21336263)