South America has several species of furry large animal: llamas, alpacas, vicunas and guanacos. Although the first to are rather commonly known, it’s the vicuna and it’s close relative the guanaco which were worshipped by the Incas. The Vicuna, thinner and more delicate than both llamas or alpacas, has some of the softest and most sought after wool in the world. Their wool is so rare (they can only be sheered every 3 years) and highly prized that in the ancient days only Incan Royalty could wear clothes made from Vicuna.
Today vicunas exist mostly in the wild. A protected species, their numbers are increasing and they’ve been taken of the list of endangered in many Andean countries. We didn’t catch site of our first vicuna until we reached Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. On the first day of our hike, we saw a family group of Vicunas in a meadow and snapped this picture.
To see more of our favorite photos from around the world check out our travel photo page. Let us know your favorites and we’ll include them in our photo of the day series.
IF YOU GO: Hiking Torres del Paine is high on the list of things to do in Chile. Two popular hiking trails wind their way through the national park, the shorter “W” trail and the longer “Circuit”. Both are best hiked in the spring and summer when temperatures are milder. Check out our popular guide to hiking the “W” trail before you go.
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