Awana Kancha: llamas, alpacas and weaving on the road to Pisac

At kilometre 23 of the road from Cusco to Pisac, among bends and farm fields, there is a place where you can feed a llama, see a vicuña up close and watch a weaver turn a handful of fibre into cloth full of symbols. This is Awana Kancha, a centre that calls itself a "living museum of the Andes" and that many Sacred Valley tours include as their first stop. It is a short visit, great with kids and perfect for understanding where the garments you will see later in the markets come from.

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What Awana Kancha is

Awana Kancha is a private initiative that, according to PromPerú, began in 2004 as a family project to revive Andean textile knowledge. Peru's official tourism inventory lists it as the "Centro de Exposición de Tejidos y Camélidos Awanacancha" and describes it as a project linked to weaving communities across the region, including Amaru, Totora, Pitumarca and Q'eros. The name is usually translated as "palace of textiles". Its own website calls it a cultural project to care for South American camelids and keep Andean tradition alive.

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The four camelid species

The first part of the visit is the pens, home to all four South American camelid species:

• Llama: the largest, traditionally used as a pack animal. You will see woolly and short-haired llamas.
• Alpaca: smaller, with very fine fibre. There are two breeds, huacaya (fluffy fleece) and suri (long, silky locks).
• Vicuña: wild, delicate and with the finest, most valuable fibre in the Andes.
• Guanaco: the llama's wild relative, rarely seen around Cusco.

You can usually feed them grass and herbs handed out by staff. Always follow their instructions: these are animals, not plush toys, and llamas may spit if they feel harassed.

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From fleece to fabric: natural dyes

The second part is all about textiles. According to PromPerú, in the dye room weavers show 22 natural pigments made from plants, minerals, fruits and insects. Examples they often demonstrate:

• Reds and pinks: from cochineal, an insect that lives on cactus.
• Yellow: from retama (broom) flowers.
• Green: from leaves such as chilca or eucalyptus.
• Purple: from purple corn.
• Orange: from rock moss.

You will also see the whole process: shearing, washing, spinning with a pushka (drop spindle), dyeing in pots and weaving on a backstrap loom. Look closely at the patterns: each community has its own symbols and colour combinations.

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The shop: buying wisely

The visit ends in a shop selling sweaters, scarves, ponchos, chullo hats, blankets and textiles. Quality is generally good, but prices are not market prices. A few tips:

• Compare with what you saw on the tour: a handwoven piece with natural dyes takes weeks of work and is priced accordingly.
• Ask about composition: "alpaca" can mean 100% alpaca, baby alpaca or a blend with synthetic fibre.
• Vicuña fibre is very scarce and expensive; be wary of cheap "vicuña" items.
• If you want to compare prices, Pisac market is just down the road.

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How to get there from Cusco

Awana Kancha sits at kilometre 23 of the Cusco–Pisac road, about 30 minutes from the city according to PromPerú.

• On a tour: many Sacred Valley tours stop here for 30–45 minutes.
• By colectivo: shared vans and minibuses to Pisac leave from the Calle Puputi area. Ask the driver to drop you at Awana Kancha (km 23).
• By taxi: you can agree on a taxi that waits during your visit.

To return, flag down a colectivo heading to Cusco or continue to Pisac, a few minutes further on.

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Hours, entry and time needed

It is a private centre open during the day. We do not publish hours or fees because they change: confirm them on the official website or social media before you go. Allow about an hour to see the animals, the dye room and the shop without rushing, as PromPerú suggests.

How to combine it

The Cusco–Pisac road passes several Boleto Turístico sites such as Tambomachay, Puka Pukara and Q'enqo, so it is easy to plan a full morning:

1. Leave Cusco early and stop at Tambomachay or Puka Pukara.
2. Awana Kancha mid-morning, when the animals are active.
3. Pisac: the craft market and, if you have time, the archaeological park above town.
4. Lunch in Pisac or head back to Cusco in the afternoon.

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Photos and respect

The weavers giving demonstrations are at work. Ask before taking close-up photos, and if someone spends time explaining a technique to you, a small purchase or a tip is appreciated. With the animals, skip the flash and do not chase them for a picture.

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