For those of you who have read my guidebook, Venice, Verona, Lake Garda, and the Dolomites with Kids 2024, you may have noticed my recommendation to book a guided hike with alpacas. It’s a delightful experience, and I thought I'd share a few pictures from the hike that we did a few months ago.
Hiking with Alpacas: Add A Fun Tour to Your Lake Garda Visit
Hiking with alpacas near Lake Garda is a unique way to explore the area. We booked our tour in advance, expecting to see mostly families with children. To our surprise, many participants were adults, intrigued by the idea of hiking with these cute animals. After a brief orientation on how to handle the alpacas, including a safety tip to maintain a one-meter distance from them, we were off. The hike itself, btw, was short and easy. Don't expect world-class trails; the main attraction is the alpacas themselves.
A few words about alpacas: they are incredibly sweet, though a bit fidgety. Walking alongside them is a lot of fun, but we quickly discovered their strong herd mentality—if one alpaca spots some enticing grass and stops for a snack, they all do. And there's no point in rushing them, they don't appreciate being bossed around...
The alpaca assigned to me, Leo, was more anxious than the others. Apparently, a wolf had broken into their enclosure two weeks earlier, which left Leo traumatized (the wold killed at least three alpacas). I could see his fear, so I refrained from touching him too much and instead tried to speak to him in a calming voice to reassure him that he was safe. Thankfully, it worked, and he seemed to calm down.
We took a ridiculous number of pictures, and after the hike, we couldn't resist buying some beautiful items made from alpaca wool—one of the warmest wools available. I've been using my gorgous alpaca scarf ever since...
Overall, I think this is a lovely experience, and I would recommend it not just for children, but for anyone visiting the area who wants to enjoy a different kind of adventure for a couple of hours. If you do stop by, say hi to Leo for me. I hope he's doing better...
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