Complete Review of Goat Yoga in San Diego (2024)
Are you an avid yogi or animal lover? Or, maybe you’re looking for an unforgettable experience to do with friends or family! Regardless of what camp you might fall into, an activity that checks all three of these boxes is goat yoga in San Diego! And if you’re thinking, what the heck is goat yoga — don’t worry! In this post, I’ll fully break down my experience doing goat yoga in San Diego! This way, you’ll know what to expect and have all the details if you want to do something similar.
What Is Goat Yoga?
For those who don’t know, goat yoga is exactly what it sounds like! It’s an activity that combines traditional yoga with the presence of friendly goats! Essentially, there’s an instructor who leads you through some yoga exercises while a bunch of goats play and interact around you!
Is There Baby Goat Yoga in San Diego?
As you can likely tell from the title of this post, the answer is yes! There is goat yoga available in San Diego! But, it’s not available in the heart of San Diego…it’s more like the Greater San Diego area. The place I specifically went to is based out of Encinitas, which equates to a 35-minute drive from the La Jolla area. Or, if you’re staying in the downtown area of San Diego, it would be about a 40-45 minute drive.
Furthermore, it’s worth noting that they aren’t near the beach part of Encinitas. The location is a bit inland and there’s no public transportation that goes to that area. And since areas in San Diego aren’t always walkable, you definitely will want to have access to a car, either your personal or a rental car if you’re visiting from further away.
✅ 🚗 You can check rental car rates and availability in San Diego here
Honest Review of San Diego Goat Yoga
The Backstory
Alrighty, now it’s time to get into the good stuff! The background is that right before graduating from university, my friends and I were looking for a unique and fun activity to celebrate our last quarter of school. My roommate then suggested we do goat yoga. Personally, I wasn’t part of the yoga community as I’m someone who usually has excessive energy — hence why I was always surfing in my spare time. So, this didn’t seem like my thing.
But, she was very persuasive and said it would only cost $40 for a couple of hours of hanging out with goats. At that point, I was sold — yoga or not, as long as I get to spend time with animals, I’m there!
We made a reservation with Sugar Sweet Farm about 3 weeks in advance since the company had sold out already for the dates available during our spring break. Immediately after submitting our reservation, we received confirmation via email with all the essential information and a waiver to sign and bring with us.
🐐 PRO-TIP: Reserve your spot at least 3 weeks in advance to avoid missing out! Goat yoga is rising in popularity as people join the quest for new and exciting activities to partake in 🤠
Arrival at the Farm
On the day of our reservation, we arrived at the farm and were pleasantly surprised to discover that there was plenty of parking. When we got out, a few staff members were waiting at a table to accept our waivers. Then, around 10 AM, all 30 – 40 of us were guided to the expansive backyard. There were some light refreshments on a table, and you could tell the space was cared for as everything was gorgeous and well-maintained!
We were then instructed to find a space to place our yoga mat on the floor of a fenced-in tennis court. And since it was a warm sunny day, there were also large outdoor umbrellas placed every few feet, which I thought was a nice touch. After everyone was set up, the instructor gave a mini-run down of how the session would go. Finally, it was time… a bunch of staff members brought the little goats and kids in!
My Goat Yoga Experience
For the next hour or so, we did goat yoga! I won’t try to describe the yoga routine we did, but I will say that it was an absolute delight! There were probably 20+ goats hanging out with us. Some would jump on people’s backs, other goats would repeatedly lock horns with each other, and a select few just snuggled against you.
It was so freaking adorable and my heart was melting being surrounded by so many lil goats!
Additionally, during the session, we took turns holding an extra small baby goat! It had only been born a couple of months ago! 🥺 And at about halfway through, a couple of llamas joined us on the court. Don’t worry though, they weren’t jumping on our backs… they mostly ate their food that was in buckets.
The only downside of the experience, which wasn’t a downside, was that at times nature did call. This meant ever so often, some of the baby goats would pee or poo on your mat. But, fret not! There were quite a few staff members on-site to disinfect and clean up your mat right after it happened. I think you even had the option of swapping your mat out if you wanted to.
Overall, my goat yoga experience was amazing. That said, it was undoubtedly more about the goats than the yoga — at least for me! 😅 And in case you’re wondering, the yoga poses were beginner-friendly and didn’t require a lot of flexibility!
Post Goat Yoga Fun
Following the goat yoga session, we had the opportunity to take pictures with all the animals. They even had cute signs with animal puns that were very Instagram-worthy! 😉
Then, after about 15-20 minutes, we walked to an area to disinfect and hose off our mats. As they dried off, the staff gave everyone a mini tour of their farm, gardens, and all the different animals. These included everything from pigs, horses, an assertive duck with a big personality, some rabbits, and a bunch more animals!
At the end of the mini-tour, guests had the chance to hold and pet some of the rabbits in their laps. And I mean who wouldn’t want to snuggle a lil fluffy rabbit?! It proved to be the perfect ending to a new and wonderful experience!
Should I Do Goat Yoga in San Diego?
Now that you have the full rundown of my goat yoga experience in San Diego, you may be wondering if it’s worth it for you. Here are a few things to consider.
First, I will mention that when I originally did it, the price was $40. Now, it costs $65 for roughly the same two-hour experience. That’s quite a jump in price, and it’s understandable if it’s outside your budget or you think it’s super high. That said, this is a family-run operation. So, if you like supporting small businesses, this is a very worthy business to support. I mean, from what I could tell, the entire operation is like a well-oiled machine!
Everything was incredibly organized, the staff ensured everyone was comfortable, and they included a lot of small things that most would probably not think of. For example, they provide sunscreen, sanitizer, and water with lemon and cucumbers.
Furthermore, during the session, they had a staff member going around capturing moments of guests interacting with the animals with a fancy camera. These pictures are available through a google photos folder sent via email after the event.
Lastly, you have the surprise tour at the end, which I thought was an awesome add-on! All of these little touches (along with the many goats), make the experience pretty awesome. So, my honest opinion is that if you have the means and are shopping around for one-of-a-kind experiences, then you should most definitely consider doing goat yoga. You’ll get to spend time in the great outdoors while also enjoying the company of some very cute goats, llamas, and other furry friends!
Who Should Not Do Goat Yoga
There are only two cases in which this might not be the activity for you. The first scenario would be if you’re terrified of goats and receiving a bit of affection from them. But even then, the goats are pretty harmless and under the watchful eyes of the staff…
And the second case would be if you can’t stand the idea of your yoga mat getting a little goat poo or pee on it for a few brief moments. Again, sometimes a goat has gotta go when a goat has gotta go.
Aside from these cases and financial limitations, I highly recommend this experience. It was truly so memorable and such a fun weekend activity. And just a friendly reminder — I was not sponsored, paid, or asked to say any of these things. This review is quite positive because the experience was that good!
🐐 NOTE: If you want another take on goat yoga, read this review on NPR!
What Should I Wear to Goat Yoga?
For the most, you can wear exactly what you would to a regular yoga class or gym to goat yoga. Just keep in mind that since it is outdoors, you’ll want to consider the weather and plan accordingly. For example, you might want to bring a hat if it’s going to be super sunny. Or, if it looks like colder weather, maybe pack a sweater or light jacket.
But, if you’re looking for a more specific answer, I would recommend wearing a proper shirt that covers your back if possible. During my goat yoga session, some of the small goats jumped onto people’s backs, so you may want to protect yourself a little. As for your bottoms, a lot of girls wore leggings and guys were just in basketball-type shorts.
Do You Wear Shoes During Goat Yoga?
The short answer is no. Since you’ll have your towel or yoga mat, it’s recommended you remove your shoes during the yoga session.
Best Time to Do Goat Yoga in San Diego
Honestly, unless it’s pouring rain, there really isn’t a bad time to do goat yoga. San Diego is well-known for its beautiful weather and 300+ days of sunshine each year! The temperatures here tend to stay fairly pleasant year-round, ranging from 50-75°F. This means that goat yoga is an activity that works practically any day of the year. 🤠 But, if you want the perfect balance of comfortably cool temperatures and plenty of sunshine, I’d go during the Spring or Fall.
Where to Stay in San Diego
For anyone coming from out of town, if you’re looking for housing accommodations, here are a few recommendations to check out 🙂
Low-Costs Stays
- HI San Diego Downtown: Lively 3-star hotel (technically a hostel) in downtown San Diego | ⭐️ 8.1 / 10
- Best Western Plus Bayside Inn: Stylish 3-star hotel with outdoor pool | ⭐️ 8.8 / 10
Mid-Range Stays
- Sheraton San Diego: Lovely 4-star hotel waterfront hotel near San Diego airport | ⭐️ 7.8 / 10
- Catamaran Resort & Spa: Beautiful 4-star resort near Mission Bay | ⭐️ 7.8 / 10
- InterContinental San Diego: Elegant 4-star bayfront hotel near USS Midway | ⭐️ 9 / 10
Luxury Stays
- Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego: Gorgeous 4-star hotel w/ 6 restaurants | ⭐️ 9 / 10
- The Lodge at Torrey Pines: Intimate & luxurious 5-star hotel w/ golf course | ⭐️ 9.2 / 10
You can also explore other places in San Diego and check rates & availability with the buttons below.
San Diego Goat Yoga: FAQ
No, goat yoga shouldn’t be painful at all. Unless you have a back injury or limited mobility before going into the yoga session, there shouldn’t be an issue. And if anything, you can choose to skip an exercise or modify it.
From my experience, it seems like goats enjoy yoga. They were very active and eager to interact with the participants throughout the session. Plus, they are fed lots of food during the session, so it’s probably a grand ole time for them!
This is probably a bit obvious and varies from person to person…but for me, goat yoga is so special because you get to hang out with a bunch of adorable baby goats that add lots of joy! And for most, that’s not an everyday thing.
There are only two cons that I can think of and touched on earlier. One is that it can be a pricey activity, and the other is that you run the risk of being pooped or peed on. However, I think the pros far outweigh these minor cons.
For those who are ready to try goat yoga in San Diego, you can do so at Sugar Sweet Farm (link to their Facebook page).
Some other activities I can recommend include… walking around the many districts, delving into the local food scene, doing retail therapy at Westfield UTC, partaking in some wine tasting, saying hello to the seals and sea lions at La Jolla Cove, and checking out the view from Mount Soledad!
Wrap-Up: Is Goat Yoga in San Diego Worth It?
Whether you’re visiting San Diego on vacation or a long-time resident, I highly recommend trying goat yoga if you’re looking for a unique and memorable activity! It’s such a fun and exciting way to unwind while also having the chance to interact with some lovely animals. Plus, it’s a great excuse to get outside, breathe in that fresh air, and disconnect from normal life for a couple of hours.
Regardless of what you decide, I hope this post has been informative and helpful. And, if you’re looking for other things to do in the city, consider doing a tour! There are so many cool experiences out there, even for San Diego locals!
Discover Southern California
- 🌸 Carlsbad: For anyone looking to travel north but stay coastal, check out Carlsbad! This seaside town is most famous for its massive flower field that blooms during the spring and tasty food that can be found around Carlsbad Village!
- 🌴 Palm Springs: Make your way to the desert oasis that is Palm Springs! It’s known for hosting one of the largest tennis tournaments and has a fun zoo that’s filled with 500+ desert animals!
