Llama vs Alpaca vs Vicuña vs Guanaco: How to Tell Them Apart

If you are travelling to South America, chances are you will see either a llama, an alpaca, a vicuña, or a guanaco. These fluffy, doe-eyed creatures are everywhere: grazing across high-altitude plains, peeking over stone walls, posing for tourist selfies, or roaming wild through vast national parks. But unless you’re a seasoned camelid expert, it can be surprisingly tricky to figure out which one you’re actually looking at.

So, is there an easy way to solve the llama vs alpaca vs guanaco vs vicuña mystery?

There is! But before we explore the differences, let’s examine the source of the confusion. Llamas, alpacas, vicuñas, and guanacos are all part of the camelid family — cousins to the camels of Asia and Africa. They’re all native to South America, specifically to the Andes Mountains and Patagonia.

They’re all adapted to life at high altitudes, have thick woolly coats, split upper lips, and are known for their social, herding behaviour. They even share that charming (or alarming) tendency to spit when they’re annoyed. Though usually at each other, as a form of social communication, not at people.

So, how do you tell these camelids apart? The first thing to know is that llamas and alpacas are domestic animals. They have been domesticated from wild guanacos and vicuñas, respectively, and bred selectively for size or fine fur. So you will only see llamas and alpacas in association with humans, as pack animals or herded in paddocks, much like sheep in the rest of the world.

Guanacos and vicuñas, on the other hand, are wild animals that roam the windswept plains of the Andes and Patagonia.

The easiest distinction between these four species at first glance is their size: llamas are the giants of the group, guanacos are large but sleeker, alpacas are smaller and fluffier, and vicuñas are dainty, almost deer-like.

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Llama vs Alpaca

The two domestic species of South American camelids can be easily distinguished by their size – the llama is almost twice the size of the alpaca. If still in doubt, look at the ears. Llamas have long, pointed ears, compared to alpaca’s shorter, rounded ears. Llamas also have much longer necks in proportion to body size.

You are also likely to encounter them in different settings: llamas carrying loads, accompanying people on their journeys, and alpacas grazing in small herds in fenced paddocks. Although you might see alpacas out and about with their humans, particularly in the Peruvian Andes.

Llama

Latin name: Lama glama
Size and weight: 1.7–1.8 meters tall (5.5–6 feet), 130–270 kilograms (290–600 pounds)
Distribution: Domesticated across Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, and Argentina

Llamas are the largest members of the South American camelid family. If you’re hiking the Inca Trail or visiting remote Andean villages, chances are the big, sturdy, long-necked animal carrying supplies is a llama.

Llamas were domesticated from wild guanacos around 6,000 years ago by indigenous peoples in the Andes, bred to be pack animals — the trusty trucks of the ancient world. They are, however, no push-overs. If you overpack them, they will simply refuse to move and lie down instead.

You’ll often see llamas in a variety of colours: white, brown, black, spotted, or multi-colored. Their wool is coarser than an alpaca’s, and they tend to have longer, more banana-shaped ears that perk up in a very expressive way.

What they do share with alpacas is their humming communication style. Llama’s hum is quite deep, kind of similar to the sound of ‘throat singing’ by the Buddhist monks.

Llamas are deeply integrated into the cultural fabric of the Andes. In places like Peru and Bolivia, they are practically part of the landscape, often decorated with colourful tassels tied to their ears or necks.

Alpaca

Latin name: Vicugna pacos
Size and weight: 81–99 centimetres at the shoulder (2.6–3.2 feet), 21.3 – 22.3 kilograms (46–49 pounds)
Distribution: Domesticated primarily in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Chile

If you spot a creature that looks like a walking teddy bear, you’re probably looking at an alpaca. Smaller than llamas, with adorable, blunt faces and luxurious, soft wool, alpacas are as cute as a button. Their wool is finer and warmer than sheep’s wool, making it highly prized for everything from scarves to high-end fashion.

Alpacas are thought to have been domesticated from vicuñas more than 6,000 years ago by the Incas, who raised them for their fine woolly coats. There are two types of alpaca: the fluffy, crimped-wool Huacaya and the silky Suri. Like sheep, alpacas are typically herded in large numbers and are often raised on farms and ranches throughout the high Andes, especially around Cusco and Arequipa.

Another cute thing about alpacas is that they hum, like the llamas. Whether they are curious, content, worried, bored, distressed, or cautious, they make a soft humming sound. Once they get agitated, though, if they feel startled or threatened, they give out staccato alarm calls. Next time you are admiring alpacas, listen out for their humming!

Guanaco vs Vicuña

The differences between the guanaco and vicuña are similar to those between their respective domesticated cousins.

Guanacos are taller and stockier than vicuñas. Like llamas, guanacos have a more elongated face and larger, more elongated ears compared to the alpaca-like vicuñas, which have a slightly rounder face and shorter, more rounded ears.

They are also found in different habitats. You are likely to spot vicuñas in high-altitude areas of the Andes, while guanacos can be found in a wider range of habitats, including Patagonian steppes.

Guanaco

Latin name: Lama guanicoe
Size and weight: 1–1.3 meters at the shoulder (3.3–4.3 feet), 90–140 kilograms (200–310 pounds)
Distribution: Wild across Patagonia, the southern Andes in Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina

Guanacos are the rugged adventurers of the camelid family. Larger than alpacas but leaner than llamas, guanacos have a sleek, athletic look perfect for surviving the windy, open plains of Patagonia. Their thick brownish-red coats with white undersides help them blend into the scrublands they call home.

They roam the mountainous steppes of Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile, gathered in small herds led by a dominant male. If you’re travelling through Torres del Paine National Park, you’re bound to encounter them – often grazing calmly or bounding away with incredible speed if they sense danger.

Ecologically, guanacos play a critical role as prey for Patagonia’s top predator: the elusive puma. In fact, healthy guanaco populations are key indicators of a functioning Patagonian ecosystem. They are also your best ally for tracking pumas in Torres del Paine. When guanacos spot a predator, they freeze in place. They bunch up and stare. And if they really feel threatened, they make an eerie, high-pitched call that sounds like a cross between a scream and a flute.

Wherever you find them, spotting a herd of guanacos silhouetted against a jagged mountain backdrop is one of the most iconic sights of a trip to southern South America.

Vicuña

Latin name: Vicugna vicugna
Size and weight: About 80 centimetres at the shoulder (2.6 feet), 35–65 kilograms (77–150 pounds)
Distribution: Wild populations in high-altitude regions of Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina

Vicuñas are small, slender, and incredibly graceful. Despite their slim build, they can survive at altitudes of up to 16,000 feet and can tolerate extreme temperatures and harsh weather conditions. They live on harsh, windswept plateaus like the Atacama Desert in Chile. Their caramel-coloured coats and snow-white chest patches make them stand out beautifully against the barren landscapes.

Vicuñas produce the finest wool in the world, and they were nearly hunted to extinction because of it. In Incan times, only royalty were permitted to wear garments made from vicuña wool, but today, these adorable camelids are protected by law and are a major conservation success story in South America. You’re most likely to spot them in national reserves like Peru’s Salinas y Aguada Blanca or in Chile’s Atacama Desert.

Vicuñas have a keen sense of smell and sight, making them difficult to approach. They are notoriously shy animals and will usually run away if they feel threatened. And these guys run fast! Up to 80 km/h (50m/hr).

If you’re lucky enough to see them, consider it a special moment — and keep your distance! For the best chance of spotting vicuñas in the wild, consider a wildlife safari tour from San Pedro de Atacama.

Quick Tips to Distinguish Llama vs Alpaca vs Guanaco vs Vicuña

Guanaco in Torres del Paine — The iconic view of a Guanaco against the mountains in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Size: Llama (largest), guanaco (large but leaner), alpaca (smaller and fluffier), vicuña (smallest and most delicate).

Ears: Llamas have long, banana-shaped ears; alpacas have short, straight ears; guanacos and vicuñas have short, pointed ears.

Face: Alpacas have a blunter, more “cute” face; llamas are longer-faced; guanacos and vicuñas look more deer-like.

Proximity to humans: Llamas and alpacas are domesticated; guanacos and vicuñas are wild.

Wool: Alpaca wool is super soft and comes in more colours; vicuña wool is the finest and rarest.

Vicuna channeling a Patagonia guanaco in San Pedro de Atacama — Atacama Desert vicuna channelling a Patagonian guanaco

Now that you know how to tell a llama from an alpaca and a vicuña from a guanaco, you’ll be able to appreciate not just their differences but the incredible role each one plays in the culture, economy, and ecosystems of South America. So next time you see one of these fluffy locals, you’ll know exactly who you’re admiring.