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Awana Kancha

Alpacas, llamas, vicuñas & guanacos

Author Heather Jasper feeding alpacas Awana Kancha

Awana Kancha is the best place near Cusco to see South American camelids and to see how their fur is used to make exquisite textiles. You can learn how yarn is made, dyed and woven by skilled artisans. Most visitors’ favorite part of a visit to Awana Kancha is feeding the alpacas and llamas.

Awana Kancha Shop

There is an area where you can learn about the native plants used to make natural dyes for alpaca wool. They also have a gift shop where you can buy weavings made by several different indigenous communities from the Cusco region.

Awana Kancha Natural Plant Dyes

They have domesticated alpacas and llamas in large pens and some that roam loose on their property. They also have wild vicuñas and guanacos that live on their property. They’re shy but if you’re patient you can often see them on the hillsides above the llamas and alpacas.

This is one of the few places that you can buy vicuña products, at a licensed Sol Alpaca vendor inside the Awana Kancha shop. Only two brands are licensed to sell vicuña products in Peru: Sol Alpaca and Kuna. Sol Alpaca manufactures their vicuña line in Italy and Kuna does their production in Arequipa.

An Awana Kancha employee will accompany you on your visit around the property. There is no entrance fee but tips are appreciated.

Awana Kancha is less than a half hour from Cusco, on the road to Pisac.

Practical Info Practical Info icon

Open every day 8am-5pm.

Located at km 23 on the road between Pisac & Cusco.

Llamas, Alpacas & Vicuñas

Shops & Shopping

Sacred Valley In-A-Day 2

The Sacred Valley & Animals

Text © Heather Jasper

Images by Heather Jasper