Claire Dean
Claire Dean

Claire Dean

Travel in South America is a joy to behold. The rich variety of destinations, experiences, landscapes and geography fascinated me so much, that I chose to relocate here, over 20 years ago! The best thing I ever did! Allow me to share my knowledge and passion for Central and South America with you and help you plan your holiday of a lifetime!

Llama Trekking in The Sacred Valley

Llama Trekking in The Sacred Valley

4MINREAD

Written by:Claire Dean

Published: 2022-07-26

Llamas are gentle, inquisitive animals that will make a walk in the Peruvian countryside into something unique, calming and unforgettable. Walking at a comfortable pace to take in the magnificent scenery.  You can’t actually ride llamas but these lovely pack animals will willingly carry your daypack whilst you enjoy the beautiful Andes. What better way to get away from it all than by leading a gentle llama along the trails? A perfect way to de-stress!  Experience a llama trek adventure in Peru, discovering the ancestral culture and nature, passing through thousands of hectares of open space without fences where boundaries are lost in the horizon. Hiking with llamas will be a fun and enjoyable experience. Whether you travel alone or in a group of friends or family.

 

The highlands of the Sacred Valley including the Lares Valley Trek to Machu Picchu include trekkking routes that use Llamas! Llamas are expert pack animals and have been used for centuries by Andean communities to transport goods across the Anean terrains. Llamas carry camping equipment, food supplies, and other necessities, ensuring that you can focus on the trekking experience without the burden of heavy backpacks. Witnessing these graceful animals effortlessly navigate the trails while carrying the load is a captivating sight and adds to the authenticity of your Lares Trek.

Llamas In The Sacred Valley

 

Llama Trekking and Eco-Tourism

Llama trekking is fast becoming a favorite activity among eco-tourists because it is returning to a more natural form of travel assistance for carrying supplies. Throughout the ages, several cultures, including The Incas,  have utilized llamas for long travels due to their padded feet. This gives llamas a unique advantage over hooved animals on steep, rocky paths. Horse and mule hooves can tear up the ground as they walk, disturbing the natural environment. Additionally, they have wider bodies that can disturb plant foliage which is not true for llamas.
Think of llamas as an extension of your backpack. They are strong like the more common pack animals, and they can carry up to 25% of their weight with no added stress. This means that packing for a longer trip will be no problem for the animals, and helps their human companions immensely. They have actually been bred throughout the thousands of years in Peru and humans have used them to serve this specific purpose.

 

Llamas have a gentle and calm nature, making them perfect companions for trekkers. They often walk alongside you, creating a sense of camaraderie and connection with these fascinating creatures. Interacting with the llamas provides a unique opportunity to appreciate their quiet resilience and their ability to adapt to the challenging terrain of the Andes. Ask about trekking with llamas on your Peru vacation packages.

Llama Pose

 

They Are Gentle Giants

They are gentle giants that can grow to be as tall as six feet! They weigh anywhere from 100 to 180 kilos and a llama can comfortably carry up to 35 kilos. If you get a little overzealous in packing, the llama will lie down, and refuse to move until you lighten the burden. Their poop has no odor, so you won’t experience any unpleasant smells on your trek, or if you accidentally step in a “llama bean.”

 

Llamas have a long history of domestication in the Andes of Peru. They are believed to have been domesticated from their wild relatives, the guanacos, thousands of years ago. Andean communities selectively breed llamas for their fiber, meat, and their ability to thrive in high altitudes, resulting in the domesticated llamas we know today. See plenty of llamas on your Peru tour packages!

Llama Family

 

They Have Excellent Endurance And Their Stomachs

Another wonderful thing about llama trekking is they have excellent endurance and their stomachs are specially evolved to handle poor-quality food, meaning they are very versatile and low-maintenance. But, perhaps the best thing about going on a hike with a llama in Peru, is they have a naturally gentle nature. The term “stubborn as a mule” exists for a reason! Mules and horses can be headstrong, and that can lead to problems while hiking, perhaps even leading to dangerous scenarios.

 

Due to their historical and cultural significance, llamas have become an important focus of conservation efforts in the Andean region. Local communities, conservation organizations, and governmental initiatives work together to protect and preserve the genetic diversity of llamas, ensuring the sustainability of their populations and the preservation of this unique cultural heritage. You can get involved in these conservation projects on your Machu Picchu tour packages.

Brown Llama

 

Llamas Are Smart

Llamas are smart, remain alert, sociable and very curious. By taking them on your adventures, you’re actually doing them a big service! They love to explore, nibbling on grass during rests, and get excited like a dog when you start moving again to explore some more. So, it is a win-win for both humans and llamas.
The llama is a member of the camelid family. It was first bred by ancient people in the Peruvian Andes with the purpose of carrying loads. Llamas in Peru have specific attributes that make them gentler on the environment than mules and horses. Apart from that, their use is beneficial for local communities traditionally dedicated to its breeding.

 

Llamas have been instrumental in the development of Andean agriculture and transportation. Their ability to carry heavy loads across challenging terrains made them invaluable for the transport of goods such as crops, textiles, and minerals. They played a crucial role in connecting different Andean communities and facilitating trade networks across the mountains. Today they can be used on your Lares Trek to carry cooking and camping equipment!

Pack Llamas

 

Positives of Trekking with llamas

Llamas are easier on foliage. Mules and horses cut grasses and plants close to the ground when grazing, while llamas and other camelids gently nibble the leaves.
Llamas (as well as other camelids) have soft padded feet that cause less soil erosion than mules and horse’s hooves.
Llamas’ digestive acids sterilize weed seeds, which means less potential contamination with non-native plants.
It is a way of recovering the use and breeding of llamas as pack animals, a traditional practice in the Peruvian Andes. This gives the opportunity to locals in rural areas to maintain their costumes while earning incomes.

 

In Andean culture, llamas hold spiritual and symbolic significance. They are associated with concepts such as fertility, abundance, and protection. Llama fetuses, known as "mallkus," are often used in traditional ceremonies as offerings to the gods and as protective amulets. The presence of llamas during the Lares Trek connects you to these ancient beliefs and the spiritual essence of the Andean world.

Llama Love

 

You will have the opportunity to share this unique and authentic ancestral experience, accompanied by traditional Andean instruments and meditation using traditional Inca whistles, used in meditation ceremonies in the community.  Immerse yourself in the Andean culture that is still alive today in Peru.
 
 
On most treks in The Andes, You will have local horsemen to care for the mules and horses that carry your gear, and a cook and assistant cook to prepare your meals. On some treks, llamas can carry your trekking equipment instead of mules for a truly authentic trekking experience on your Peru adventure tours.

Llama in The Sacred Valley


 

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