Where to See Alpacas in Cusco, Perú? – Updated 2025

Have you always wanted to visit alpacas? Visit Sacred Valley in Peru and check out these beautiful creatures throughout the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Let me help you find the best places where you can see Alpacas and Llamas for free.

Where to see Alpacas in Cusco?

The city of Cusco although small can be confusing to wander around for travelers, knowing exactly where the places you want to visit are located on your own can be the most frustrating part. Therefore we have created this travel guide which will allow you to save a lot of time and make the most of your stay in Cusco.

For those who have just arrived in Cusco the best thing to do is to rest and drink plenty of water to avoid altitude sickness or, you could also travel to the Sacred Valley to avoid altitude sickness which has become the best option for many travelers. Cusco sits above 11,000 feet, while the Sacred Valley at roughly 9,000 feet which indicates that the Sacred Valley would be the perfect place to start you adventure in Peru.

Walking through cusco you might bump into the Alpaca ladies, a couple of dozen women in Cusco traditionally dressed, ready to pose for photos. The ladies don’t charge a set fee, they only ask tourists to give a voluntary tip. Keep on reading for other places to see alpacas and llamas in Cusco.

Where to see Alpacas in the Sacred Valley of Peru?

Planning a trip to the Sacred Valley of Peru? Then you won’t want to miss the opportunity to see alpacas and llamas roaming the streets

The Sacred Valley is the best place to see Alpacas and Llamas, note that there are different routes to get there, if you take the route through Chinchero you can stop by for a while and visit one of the families and see their alpaca farms as well as the textile interpretation center. However if you take the Pisac route you will have more opportunities to see large alpaca farms.

Best places to see alpacas and llamas in the Sacred Valley, Perú

Did you know that the largest alpaca farms are located in the Sacred Valley? Alpacas usually live at higher altitudes, such as for example the area where Perú Rainbow Mountain is found is the perfect elevation for the Alpacas (17,060 feet (5,200 meters) above sea level).

Don’t worry, we don’t want you to go that far to see them, so here are some places you can visit on your own or take a private tour with us to get there.

• Awanacancha alpaca farm
• Chinchero alpaca farm
• Community hands
• Sullca

Alpacas farm in the Sacred Valley in Cusco

You will not have much chance if you visit Pisac or Chinchero in a group tour, on the Sacred Valley tour, since the group tours departing from Cusco are usually scheduled with limited time to visit the sites which will not give you the time to visit the alpaca farm or if you visit it will only be for shopping and a quick photos. But if you want to take your time to see the Alpacas and Llamas, we recommend you to take one of our private tours of the Sacred Valley, which are specially designed to visit the alpaca farms and the ruins in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

Alpacas at Peru Rainbow Mountain

The Rainbow Mountain is another place where you can see alpacas in Cusco, Peru.
As we explained earlier the best place for alpacas is where the Rainbow Mountain is located because of its altitude it could be the perfect habitat for alpacas. However, unfortunately it is over a 3.5 hour drive from Cusco which is why we recommend taking the 1 day trip to the Rainbow Mountain. Rainbow Mountain is an undiscovered land full of wild desert landscapes, snow-capped glacier peaks, lakes and herds of Alpacas.

What’s the difference between an alpaca and a llama?

At first glance they both could look the same but you have to know They’re pretty different from each other.

These beautiful animals have similarities for one thing they both will spit on you.

if we are not used to seeing these animals that live in Peru and Bolivia. However, this task could become easier if we take into account the following:

• Their size: Alpacas weigh around 150 pounds while Llamas can get about 400 pounds
• The fur:  the alpaca wool is much softer than llamas, you should know also there are 2 different breeds of alpacas used for wool Alpaca Suri and Alpaca Huacaya.if you are allergic to sheep woll the alpaca woll is the best
• Ears: Llamas have long banana shaped ears while alpacas have straight ears and the are very small.
• The faces: Their faces are also different, llamas have a longer fase however alpacas´s fase looks smushed.

Why do Alpacas and Llamas spit?

Llamas live in herds, these animals challenge each other for dominion and superiority. Sometimes they spit when they feel threatened and at times they spit at each other as a way of disciplining the lower-ranking llamas in the herd. Female llamas usually spit to show disinterest in a male who wishes to mate.

During the breeding the male alpaca emits a throaty vocalization they hum.

Llamas can spit if you compare them to alpacas, no, it’s a joke, but they spit when they feel uncomfortable or threatened so if they don’t want to take pictures with you you you shouldn’t insist except for the llamas in Machu Picchu they are quite friendly and they are well accustomed to people and photos.

The alpacas are the most beautiful thing that you will see they are more tender and very elegant and also delicate, they weigh around 70 kilos and they are quite friendly, but also they are annoyed when they feel threatened they are lower compared to the llamas and they look a little fat or spongy due to the amount of wool.

How do you know if it’s alpaca fiber or synthetic?

For this we recommend to go with your guide who can show you the difference between alpaca and synthetic.

One thing you should know is that you will never find a 100% alpaca garment usually mixed with llama wool, at least in Pisac and Chinchero there are no 100% alpaca garments, although people tell you otherwise you should know that this is not true otherwise the garments would not cost 50 dollars or 100 dollars but between 700 to 1000 dollars.

When something is made from alpaca fiber if you touch it is quite heavy and it is very soft inside and out or on the back of the garment and you will feel that it is a little wet or cold this will indicate us that it is made of alpaca fibers, but if it is  rough or it is  only soft outside the garment then perhaps what you are buying is not alpaca.

If you are looking for a tour in the Sacred Valley with Alpacas farm you can check out our Pisac & Alpaca farm tour. 

Llamas in Machu Picchu

Are there llamas at Machu Picchu?

If you are wondering if there are llamas in Machu Picchu, the answer is, YES, there are, llamas are the only residents of Machu Pichu. Maybe you didn’t know, but the llamas of Machu Picchu were so important for the Inca society that hunting them was strictly forbidden.

Are there llamas or alpacas at Machu Picchu?

In Machu Picchu you will only see llamas, although a few years ago they also brought alpacas but they got sick, apparently the weather was not very favorable for them nor the food so they returned to Cusco.

How many llamas are there in Machu Picchu?

There are approximately 35 llamas in Machu Picchu, each  of them has a name tag and are fed by the workers of the Inca city.

When you visit Machu Picchu it is impossible to avoid bumping into them on the way during your tour, so have your cámara ready!

Alpaca Farm Perú

Believe it or not, Cusco has become famous not only for Machu Picchu but also because of the alpacas and llamas. When a tourist arrives in the city of Cusco, the first thing he or she will see is the alpacas and llamas on Cusco’s main streets.

Alpaca farms in Peru have become very common, and alpaca lovers keep an eye out for the alpaca festival in Peru. Alpaca Fiesta is the most important alpaca festival in the world. Its purpose is to promote the Alpaca in the global textile market.

This party is held in the city of Arequipa, Peru, and brings together the most important breeders, researchers, companies and institutions linked to the world of alpaca in a festive and highly competitive atmosphere.

The event takes place every 4 years. In October 2022, the 7th edition will be held, which will be renewed once again, as in each festival, to give exhibitors a renewed atmosphere and new business opportunities; in addition to providing visitors with innovative experiences that will allow them to live and enjoy the alpaca festival. This event involves activities from the entire alpaca value chain; from the breeding stage, through the stages of industrial transformation, to the clothing and fashion processes.

The International Alpaca Association (AIA) is organizing this important event in alliance with PromPerú and MINCETUR, who are participating as co-organizers.

Tours in Cusco with Visits to Alpacas Farm Included

•  Sacred Valley Private Tour from Cusco
• Maras Salt Mines Tour from Cusco
• Maras Salt Mines Tour from Ollantaytambo
• Sacred Valley Tour from Ollantaytambo
• Tour to Pisac from Cusco