When you’re traveling in Peru, you quickly come across these very special animals for Europeans. They are to be found in the streets of Cusco, in the markets and in the mountains of the Sacred Valley. Tourists often say, “Look, a llama!” when in fact it’s an alpaca. And if you go a little off the beaten track, you may even discover that there are other animals that resemble llamas and alpacas. These are the guanacos and vicuñas, wilder species but just as emblematic of the Andes. And yet, to the untrained eye, they look very much alike. The aim of this article is to explain the real differences between these four animals, all of which belong to the large South American camelid family.
A common ancestor:
The alpaca, llama, guanaco and vicuña are close cousins. They all belong to the same family, the Camelidae, which also includes dromedaries and camels. Unlike camels, however, they live in the Andes, often at altitudes of over 3,000 meters. Of the four, two have long been domesticated: the llama and the alpaca. The other two, the guanaco and vicuña, still live in the wild, although some populations are protected or managed in reserves. All play an important role in Andean traditions, whether for their wool, their labor or their simple presence in the landscape.
The best known, the llama:
The llama is undoubtedly the best known, and also the largest. It can weigh up to 150 kilos, making it an excellent animal for carrying loads. Andean communities have used them for centuries to carry all sorts of things along mountain paths. The llama has a slender silhouette, a long neck, a fairly elongated muzzle and, above all, large ears and long wool. It has a quiet but determined gait. It’s a robust animal, which can be a little stubborn, and has a reputation for spitting when it’s upset. It’s not a legend: the llama spits mainly at its congeners when it wants to assert its dominance, but it can also take aim at a human if it feels attacked. Despite this, llamas are very useful in Andean regions, not only for transport, but also for their meat, skin and sometimes wool, even if the latter is of average quality compared with other camelids.
Alpacas and their wool:
Alpacas are often confused with llamas, but they are quite different. Alpacas are smaller and lighter, generally weighing between 55 and 65 kilos. Its head is shorter and rounder, giving it a cute look that is much appreciated by tourists. Its ears are straight and smaller than those of the llama. What really makes him unique is his wool: very thick, incredibly soft, warm and light. It’s the main reason they’re bred. The alpaca is calmer than the llama, spits less and is more sociable, especially if it has grown up in contact with humans. In many Andean regions, its wool is an important source of income, as it is sought after worldwide for the manufacture of high-quality garments. Ponchos, hats, scarves and sweaters made from alpaca wool are very popular in local markets.
The guanaco, a wild species:
Further south, in some remote parts of Peru, we find another camelid species: the guanaco. It lives in the wild, sometimes in arid or semi-desert areas, but also in the Andean highlands. It is a slender, elegant animal with a short beige to light-brown coat and a white belly. It is thinner than the llama, but taller than the alpaca. It has a fine head and long, straight ears. The guanaco is very fast. It flees as soon as it senses a human presence. It can run at over 50 km/h, enabling it to escape predators in sometimes very open environments. Although not domesticated, its wool is of good quality. It is harvested in certain reserves under controlled conditions.
The vicuña, the pearl of the Andes:
Finally, there’s the vicuña, undoubtedly the most discreet but also the most precious. It is the smallest of the four species. It lives at high altitude, often above 4,000 meters, in very isolated regions. It has a short, bright golden-beige coat with a white belly. The vicuña has long been threatened with extinction because of its wool, the finest and most expensive in the world. This wool is incredibly soft, light and warm. It is so precious that clothing made from vicuña wool can cost several thousand euros. Today, vicuña hunting is forbidden, and they can only be sheared every three to four years, as part of traditional ceremonies called “chaccu”. During these events, the animals are captured in temporary enclosures, shorn by hand and then released.
Knowing the difference between these four animals is also a way to better understand Andean culture. Since the time of the Incas, camelids have been part of the daily lives of the peoples of the Andes, before the cow or the horse. They provide wool, food and transport, and also have great symbolic value. Today, for example, the vicuña is Peru’s national animal. It is protected by law and even features on the country’s coat of arms. The alpaca, for its part, has become a symbol of Peruvian tourism, but also remains essential to the economy of many mountain families. Llamas continue to be used in remote rural areas to transport crops and goods.
In short, although llamas, alpacas, vicuñas and guanacos share a common ancestor and populate the Andean highlands, each has its own physical characteristics, behaviors and uses. To understand their differences is to better understand the richness of Andean culture and the essential place these camelids occupy in local life.
