The gold of the Andes, Peru.

The South American camelids were an extraordinary gift from nature for these people as they represented a vital source of food and clothing. Without them man’s survival in these inhospitable, harsh environments would not have been possible.
Llamas, alpacas, guanacos and vicunas are the Gold of the Andes. The first three provided fiber for the clothing, meat for food and a means of transport. The vicuna on the other hand, was such a delicate and beautiful creature that it’s fiber was used exclusively to make clothes for the Inca and noble families, as its extraordinary soft fiber produced garments as soft and warm as the sun’s rays themselves.
                                                        
                                                                                     The vicuna

“1” Vicuna is the smallest and the most beautiful of all South American camelids, the vicuna still roams wild in the Andean highlands and is a species that is custodied by local peasant communities. The vicuna produces the finest fiber in the world which is why, in the 19 century; it was hunted down practically to the point of extinction. A sweater from vicuna’s fur costs $5,000 and you can by just in special places.

“2” Guanaco (Lama Guanicoe). This large-sized, cinnamon-colored camelid known for its enormous strength roams wild and adapts easily to both coastal and highland environments ranging from Peru to Patagonia. The species is currently protected by international law. Ancient Andean cultures used it as a source of food and clothing and in the Peruvian highlands it was actually domesticated and genetically engineered to produce the llama.

The two white long furred animals are Alpacas.

“3” The third nice and more affordable is Alpaca. This camelid roams the Peruvian Andes, its original habitat, and produces the longest fiber with the broadest color range between white and black. There are two main species: the long, silky-fibered Suri and the shorter, wavier-fibered Huacaya. The extraordinary warmth and softness of both fibers were a source of inspiration for the development of the Andean textile industry, particularly during Inca times. Today, this extraordinary fiber plays a key role in the fashion industry.

The first shaving of an Alpaca is called Baby Alpaca wool and the second is just normal Alpaca. After that the fur gets very rough and it can’t be used for the good quality wool. In a special store you can buy 100% baby Alpaca sweater for $70. I don’t recommend you to buy on the street; you can be deceived in the quality.

“4” Similar in size to the Guanaco, the Llama is a symbol of strength and was domesticated hundreds of years ago by ancient Peruvian civilizations which attributed it with magic and religious significance. They used its fiber, consumed its meat and used it to carry their products along the interminable Inca trails. Llamas are still bred by shepherds along the entire Andean range, but primarily in Bolivia and Peru.