• Travels to Peru

    Travels to Peru:
    The Alpaca Motherland

Whats up with Rising Sun

Rising Sun

I’m a bit of celebrity around the farm and on social media. My fleece is super soft and luxurious, but even more than that, I’m apparently a one-of-a-kind, perfect specimen of an alpaca! I’m also as lovable as I am handsome, so pop into Shamarra Alpacas for a tour and a pat.

Whats up with Harlequin

Harlequin

A glamorous damsel through and through, I’m a big fan of being groomed well ahead of a photo op (your next selfie on a farm tour). My big eyes look even better when my fleece is on fleek. And I’ve been known to wear the odd denim jacket or hat, depending on the season.

But don’t be intimidated by my flair for fashion; I’m always up for a solid cuddle like my other friends.

Whats up with Tornado

Tornado

I absolutely adore wee human kiddos and alpaca babies alike! Arguably the friendliest of all the furry faces here at Shamarra, I like to get visits and snuggles year-round.

Our passion and fascination of alpacas naturally fuelled our desire to travel to Peru to the Alpaca Motherland.

Our wish came true in 2017 which coincided with a 50th birthday celebration where the whole family met up in Peru.  A second trip was made in June 2019 to Arequipa and the Altiplano and sealed our love for this incredible country.  We plan to return for another visit in the near future.

May 2017 – Arequipa

After an overnight stay in Lima, we flew to Arequipa, nicknamed the“La Ciudad Blanca” or “white city”  for its unique white buildings made from a local volcanic material called sillar.  A week in Arequipa simply was not enough to see all its hidden treasures.  Arequipa soon became one of our favourite places for a multitude of reasons.

Arequipa is the epicentre of alpaca processing with the two largest processors headquartered in this city, Inca Tops and Michell.  We were treated to private tours of both mills, seeing the scale of the alpaca industry in Peru.  The experience was truly humbling, watching the ladies sorting and classing the fleece into micron bandwidths with skill and speed and many years of experience.

Sol and Kuna are top of the line alpaca retail stores in Peru, if not the world, both retailing exquisite vicuna products alongside a stunning range of alpaca garments.

Alpaca, sightseeing, gastronomy and pisco sours will keep us coming back to Arequipa!

(Photos around Arequipa of the Basilica Cathedral of Arequipa, Misti Volcano, Market, Pisco sour in Plaza de Armas, Monasterio de Santa Catalina and a rescued vicuna at a sanctuary)

Shamarra Alpacas view over Akaroa
  • “Kia ora :) It was a pleasure to visit this wonderful & peaceful place! For me it was my last day in Christchurch & I couldn't have imagined a better experience for the day. Everything was so lovely & kind. From our wonderful guide to all the sweet animals. I'm really grateful that I could have some time in this place. Thank you for the chance to have some time at your wonderful place with your wonderful animals! I can totally recommend this adventure! :)”

    Janine, Google Review – September 2023

  • “This was the best hour of my life! Super friendly hosts, and the cutest and very well behaved alpaca! You can see how well looked after and loved these alpaca are. Awesome experience being able to sit down and have alpaca cuddles in the paddock and even hand feed them!! 10/10 would reccomend to anyone 😁”

    Sarah, Google Review – October 2023

  • “Even though it’s only an hour, you get maximum quality time with the alpacas. The staff are friendly and can’t wait to share their knowledge with you. Cuddling takes timing and patience, but when you finally get to hug one of these fluffy guys, it’s the best feeling. Would go again.”

    G6988VYbrianf, Tripadvisor Review – September 2023

  • “This was a very memorable experience we had. The farm offers fun tours where you can get close-up with their friendly and fluffy alpacas, you can cuddle them, feed them and take beautiful photos and videos. Moreover one of the most unique places because of the amazing breathtaking views of Banks Peninsula, enjoying the beautiful scenery and fresh air, is a truly unique experience you won't forget.”

    Rovelyn, Google Review – August 2023

  • “Such a wonderful experience hanging with Alpacas for an hour. This tour is excellent and I would highly recommend it.”

    Robyn M, Google Review – August 2023

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