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Have you ever walked an alpaca before? It’s probably not something you wake up and think “I’m gonna go walk an alpaca today!”
It’s not something that crosses people’s mind as an activity you can do, unless you’re traveling in the high altitudes of Peru!
But here in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley, you can do just that at Point of View Alpaca Farm.
Point of View Alpaca Farm, Virginia
At this Alpaca farm in Virginia, walking an alpaca is one of the most unique experiences you can have.
In this guide, we share our unique experience at Point of View Alpacas so you know what to expect at this awesome farm in Virginia.
What is the point of raising alpacas?
Savannah and me with Sunny (our alpaca)
Alpacas are known as one of the most beautiful camelids in South America, and are indigenous to the Peruvian Andes. Alpacas are delightful animals with unique, gentle personalities.
They are farmed for two reasons; for their wool, and for their gentle nature which provides trekkers with a form of “animal therapy” in a way.
They are a lot more chilled (and smaller) than their cousins, the llama, and their friendly nature gives off a calming vibe, which fills your heart with joy and ease.
It is said llamas have a personality more like a dog, and alpacas like cats. I prefer cats to dogs so no wonder walking alongside an alpaca brought me an insane amount of joy.
This makes trekking with them a great day out for the whole family, as children are usually strong enough to guide them unassisted.
Alpacas also have softer hair/fiber. Their wool is used for clothes, whereas llamas’ fiber will be used more for floor rugs.
Alpaca wool may be used to make gloves, jumpers, even a pair of socks. The softness of the yarn means it’s not itchy, and it’s more hypoallergenic than sheep wool. It’s also warmer than sheep wool.
According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, there are 99,500 alpacas reported in the United States. They originally came over here in the 80s as an exotic animal and cost around $100,000.
While they can still be showstoppers, they are no longer considered so exotic and are definitely not pets, so they cost far less.
The states with the largest number of alpacas are Ohio, Washington State, Oregon, Colorado, and California.
They’re so cute!
About Point of View Alpaca Farm
We visited the Point of View Alpaca Farm near Staunton in the Shenandoah Valley.
Owned by Dave and Teri Grembi, the 25-acre farm is situated at the top a hill with 360-degree panoramic views of both the Blue Ridge and Alleghany Mountains.
The Grembis started farming alpacas once their children moved out of home and were no longer riding their horses. They started looking for something new and different to do and came across alpaca farming.
They started in 2014 and since then the have been on a mission to provide a peaceful, loving environment to raise our alpacas and to provide a truly joyful and memorable experience to our guests. #NailingIt
As well as offering the “Walk-a-Paca” experience, they also have an online farm store, where you can purchase alpaca wool socks, beanies, and yarn.
The “Walk-a-Paca” Alpaca Walk Experience
Point of View Alpaca Farm, VA
Dave and Teri start with an introduction to proper handling techniques, how to safely walk with an alpaca, and potential risks – although they are few and there hasn’t been a problem, they are still livestock so caution and gentle treatment is required WITH lots of love. They soak it up!
You’re then paired with an alpaca, given an insight into their personalities, and then given the opportunity for a group photo with views of the Alleghany Mountains (sadly covered in clouds for us!)
Alleghany Mountains
We walked down the property, passed the aromatic lavender field and down to the small Middle River running through the property. We had beautiful views of the pastures, hills, woods, and mountains the entire way.
At the river, we had a chance to feed the alpacas. They mostly eat grass but will happily much on their high nutritional pellet grain treats throughout the day.
Meet our Alpacas
Meet “Sunny”
Fun Fact: All the alpacas in the herd at Point of View are named after Beatles members or Beatles songs.
From the minute we met Sunny during our introductory talk with Dave, I wanted to be his walking partner.
His doey eyes and tuft of hair sprouting between his hairs drew me in. He had such presence as he stood calmly checking us out.
He was the most experienced out of the alpacas for walking with humans, so he was paired with Savannah and me. You do have to be 12 years old to walk your own alpaca at Point of View, so those with young kids will have to walk with them.
We soon got to learn the different personalities of our family’s alpacas as we walked.
Kalyra’s Jo Jo barely made a sudden movement or emotive expression. She calmly walked beside Kalyra happy to be guided and so calm, steady, and peaceful.
Give me a hug 
Meet “Jo Jo”
Craig’s alpaca was also calm, cool, and curious.
Our Sunny was on high alert the entire time, looking all around and startling at sudden noises and movements. Then he’d stop and allow us a few cuddles before checking around for safety again.
Most alpacas love cuddles, but it depends on how used to humans they are. Get to know your alpaca and go slowly. They’ll let you know if they want a cuddle or not.
Cuddle time!
I think my water bottle sloshing around in my backpack was bringing him great confusion. It eased when I could finally move it to a position where it didn’t make a noise every step.
Alpacas are prey animal and so always on the lookout for predators and threats. The biggest threats to them are coyotes, and strangely, dogs.
They have eyes on the side of their face and can be quite jumpy when something unexpected happens.
They don’t like being touched on the head for this reason, though they are happy to wear a halter.
You’re taught how to hold the lead in case they do suddenly jump, and you can maintain control.
Selfie time!
Walking an alpaca was the perfect opportunity to unplug and reconnect with nature. To drop all the stress of the past year and feel simple joy with your new walking buddy.
It was like having your favorite cuddly teddy bear come to life. You just wanted to hug and pat them endlessly.
Point of View Alpaca Farm
They were so gentle and placid and curious, each with their own personality. Before we visited, the girls and I tried to guess the sound an alpaca makes. We were thrilled to hear one of the alpacas humming a tune near the river’s edge. Sunny made some low gravelly sounds at times.
I loved watching them all walking in a line to the right of their handlers, their necks craning on high alert for threats, and walking slightly behind us so we’d be the one to fall victim first!
Down by the river
Dave and Teri were fantastic, stopping to make sure everyone felt comfortable – including the alpacas. They taught us a lot about alpacas along the way and they also took lots of photos of us.
Their gentle, friendly spirits matched the alpacas, and you could tell they loved the animals and cared for them well.
Alpaca Products
Alpaca fiber was once reserved only for the Inca Gods and used to make clothing and blankets for royalty.
Alpaca fiber is 8 times warmer than wool and much softer, which is why it’s so revered. All those itchy and irritated wool wearers can now rejoice, as alpaca fiber contains no lanolin (the stuff that irritates you) so it’s hypoallergenic.
You can purchase alpaca products from the small store at Point of View when finished.
Many of the products have been made using the fiber from the alpacas on the farm, so we bought some scarves made from Sunny, and some socks. Note: the alpacas are treated and sheared humanly.
Final Thoughts
I think we’ll be searching alpaca experiences on our future travels. Look for guided tours, vineyard retreats and farm stays as a way to enjoy the most adorable of farm animals!
If you’re thinking this sounds like a great experience, then be sure to book ahead on the Point of View Alpaca Farm website. Dave and Teri also mentor other farmers who are interested in breedings, and you can book a wedding at their farm too!
Be sure to arrive with arms ready for cuddles and a spirit open for de-stressing and joyful ease!
So when you visit Virginia and are searching on your phones for an alpaca farm near me, we highly recommend Point of View Alpaca Farm!
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