I have always been fond of alpacas ever since I first saw those funny expressions.  Alpaca fibers are considered to be one of the softest and warmest natural fibers available.

Alpacas are like a smaller version of a llama and related to the camel. Alpacas and llamas roam together and can interbred, but they eventually separate into their own groups.

Vicunas are the alpacas native to the Andes mountain. They are highly protected and can not be exported anywhere. They also have the finest fur of them all.

I first learned about Vicunas while watching Nature on PBS, the program was titled “Andes: The Dragon’s Back.” A great program to watch if you get the chance. There are so many other interesting wildlife that live in this part of South America.

Introduction from PBS Nature:

Only a mountain range of extremes could harbor such a rich and diverse variety of life forms. Here you will find some of the highest, saltiest, wettest and driest terrains on the planet. Penguins, opossums, hummingbirds, llamas, pumas, foxes, condors, spectacle bears and many more have all managed to carve out an existence somewhere in one of the many worlds that we call the Andes.

As much as I love alpacas, I have yet to meet one in real life. That is because I haven’t heard of any nearby Alpaca farms. But recently I found out about Alpacas by the Sea, which is only 20 minutes from San Francisco.  I really want to visit them. But before I do that, I thought I should prep myself on how to greet these gentle (but maybe mischievous) creatures.

It’s amazing how much character you see just by looking at those faces!  Photo from Alpacas by the Sea.

Alpacas By The Sea is located on the beautiful California Coast, just off scenic “Highway 1″. This is merely 20 minutes west of the San Francisco Airport or approximately 25 minutes south of San Francisco. We are four blocks from the ocean and enjoy the refreshing ocean breezes and panoramic views. Our alpacas like this too.

A little bit of fact from Alpacas by the Sea:

- Life Span: 15 - 25 years
- Average Gestation is 335 days
- Single births.
- Highly interactive and entertaining.
- Highly intelligent.
- Colors: 22 basic colors that may blend into beautiful variations, 250 shades.
- Harvest approximately 6-10 pounds of fiber per year.
- Average Weight: 100 to 175 lbs. or about 1/3 the size of the llama.
- Average Adult Height: 32″- 37″ at the withers.

Image source:

Alpacas By the Sea

PBS preview of Nature’s Andes: The Dragon’s Back on Youtube.