Today our fellow alpaca breeders Richard and Renate Gyuro are heading off to darkest Peru for a tax deductible trip to the Alpaca Fiesta.

The Alpaca Fiesta 2007 is organized by the International Alpaca Association and will take place in Arequipa, Peru from 14th to 18th November 2007.
Arequipa is where 100% of Peru’s alpaca fibre is processed into semi and/or fully finished textile articles which are then exported worldwide. The city of Arequipa is located 1,000 kilometres south of the country’s capital, Lima, at an altitude of 7,628 feet above sea level. Surrounding the city is the national reserve of Vicuñas and Alpacas.
The Alpaca Fiesta 2007 will be hosted in Arequipa’s main Showground and Conference Centre, “Cerro Juli”, and offers a wide range of events aimed at improving the understanding of alpaca breeding through to finished fashion wear on the catwalk.

Participants from all over the world: The United States of America, Australia, Japan, China, Italy, The United Kingdom, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina among others will enjoy a number of activities including:

Alpaca Show: more than 700 alpacas from the best ranches in Peru will be in competition.

The opening Ceremony is an Arequipanian way to launch the event in “fiesta style” with a Carnival Procession and Fireworks.

Not to be missed is Vicuña Chaccu.: the traditional Inca method of rounding-up wild vicunas for shearing, and is still employed today up in the Altiplano.

Horsemanship Show: Peru’s famous “Caballos de Paso” put on an entertaining demonstration to the accompaniment of Marinera Dancers.

Factory Visits: tours of Arequipa`s main spinning, knitting and weaving installations to see the latest technology that maintains the quality of alpaca production.

Conferences and Clinics: papers and courses relating to the alpaca business are presented to the participants by leading experts in their respective fields.

The fashion Show: this stunning event brings together some of the worlds most talented alpaca product designers to put on an outstanding fashion show.

I hope they have remembered to pack the Imodium !