Llama Encounter at Machu Picchu

18 Sep 2022

A lone llama on a Machu Picchu terrace stares into thick fog in the valley below.

There are llamas at Machu Picchu. The Incans valued them as pack animals, and they also provided good fertilizer for the terraces where they grew their food. Today a couple dozen llamas roam free here and continue to fertilize the terraces.

White llama aligns himself along the wall above the Main Plaza at Machu Picchu — White llama lines up along a wall.

On your first afternoon at Machu Picchu, you only saw the llamas from a distance. They were lining the walls of the industrial district near the central plaza. This morning as you make your way up the terraces near the entrance, you walk right into a crowd of several llamas in the morning sun.

Black faced llama feeds her young on the agricultural terraces at Machu Picchu — Black faced llama feeds her calf on terrace above.

A couple of levels up next to the human path stands a lady llama and her hungry calf, who is eagerly feeding and oblivious to your presence. You pause for several photos here with the bright blue background of the morning sky.

Brown llama brays from the agricultural terraces at Machu Picchu — Brown llama brays next to the walkway.

As you walk up the path, on the other side a lone llama stands making noises into the air. He doesn’t seem to pay attention to you, but its a bit strange to find yourself underneath a llama, for the first and hopefully last time in your life. You pause just long enough to get this shot.

Mama llama gives accusing look after earlier photo of her nursing her offspring — Mama llama gives accusing look.

On the other side the mama llama is done feeding and she doesn’t look too happy. Its probably those photos of her breastfeeding that you took a few minutes ago. She gives you an askew glance and you back away slowly, leaving the llamas to eat, feed and poop on the terraces of Machu Picchu as they have done for centuries.

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