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You'll meet both on almost every Cusco trip. They're cousins, but easy to tell apart once you know what to look for.
Size and ears
Llamas are bigger (up to ~1.8 m tall) with long, banana-shaped ears that curve inward. Alpacas are smaller and fluffier, with short, straight, spear-shaped ears.
Face and fleece
Alpacas have a rounded, woolly face and dense, super-soft fleece prized for textiles. Llamas have a longer face and coarser hair — they were bred as pack animals, not for wool.
What they're for
For centuries llamas have carried loads across the Andes; alpacas are raised for their fine wool. On our treks you'll often see llamas near the trail and alpacas grazing the high grasslands.
And the wild ones
Their wild relatives are the graceful vicuña (the finest wool of all, protected) and the guanaco. Spot a super-elegant, tan-coloured animal at altitude and it's likely a vicuña.
Plan this trip with a local specialist
Tell us your dates and what you have in mind — a specialist from our Cusco team builds a trip to match your plans and budget, and answers every question. No obligation.