Wild Camelids of the Andes

Despite the popular association that exists between the camels and the desert, there are camels that have thrived in the Andes of South America for thousands of years. To be exact, these camels are actually llamas, alpacas, guanacos and vicuñas, all of which are much smaller than the large, humpbacked camels of northern Africa and the Middle East.

Unlike their desert cousins, these animals are not beasts of burden and are instead prized for their wool, meat, and even milk by the ancient Andean communities that depend on them to this day. In Peru there are a total of four camelid species, two of which are wild and two of which of domesticated. The two wild species are the vicuña (vee-coon-yha) and the guanaco (gwha-nah-co), and the two domesticated species are the llama (yhama) and the alpaca (ahl-paca).

Of these camelids, the vicuña produces the finest fiber, being on par with silk in terms of softness and smoothness. The price for the fiber of this animal can reach $500 per kilogram, more than four times the price of sheep wool! The vicuña is found in Bolivia, Argentina, Chile and Peru, which has approximately 85% of the world’s population of vicuña. The exportation of these animals or any of their reproductive material is prohibited by law.

The other wild camelid species of Peru is the guanaco, which is found from the north of Peru to the south of Chile and Argentina, with a small population in Bolivia as well. This species is in danger of extinction in Peru as there are only a few thousand of these creatures remaining. Previously, the guanaco enjoyed a much larger population in Peru, but due to the urbanization of its migratory routes, today it is only able to move between a limited number of areas.

Of the many thousands of people who travel to Peru every year to see such sites as Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca or the Nazca Lines, few are aware of these unique highland creatures that have inhabited the region for millennia, and which for some animal-loving travelers would be one more reason to make the journey south of the equator!

This guide to South America was written by a Peru travel expert at Peru For Less, here to help you design your customized Peru vacations.