Climate snapshot for alpacas
95/100Alpaca climate comfort score
21°CAverage high, Oct
-3°CAverage low, Jun
~0Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~122Frost nights per year
597 mmAnnual precipitation
3Barber pole worm months
14Hay bales / alpaca / year
Advantages
- Summers rarely reach heat-stress levels for alpacas
- Winters are cold but rarely severe
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 95/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Subtropical highland (Köppen Cwb). GBIF holds 29 alpaca occurrence records for Bolivia.
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 20°C | 5°C | 80 mm | 125 · ok | worms, grass |
| Feb | 17°C | 5°C | 154 mm | 133 · ok | grass |
| Mar | 18°C | 5°C | 117 mm | 132 · ok | grass |
| Apr | 19°C | 2°C | 26 mm | 117 · ok | grass |
| May | 17°C | 0°C | 12 mm | 104 · ok | — |
| Jun | 15°C | -3°C | 0 mm | 85 · ok | frost |
| Jul | 16°C | -3°C | 2 mm | 91 · ok | frost |
| Aug | 17°C | -2°C | 1 mm | 94 · ok | frost |
| Sep | 19°C | 2°C | 3 mm | 107 · ok | — |
| Oct | 21°C | 4°C | 25 mm | 114 · ok | grass |
| Nov | 20°C | 5°C | 99 mm | 123 · ok | worms, grass |
| Dec | 20°C | 6°C | 78 mm | 127 · ok | worms, grass |
Heat-stress index = average high (°F) + mean humidity (%). “Worms” marks months that suit barber pole worm transmission; “grass” marks the grazing season; “frost” marks months with average lows below freezing. Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis (2023-2024) at -17.9°, -67.5°, elevation 3709 m.
Alpaca care calendar for Bolivia
January 20° / 5°C
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Toenail check and trim.
February 17° / 5°C
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
March 18° / 5°C
- Toenail check and trim.
April 19° / 2°C
- Secure winter hay: about 14 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
May 17° / 0°C
- Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 15° / -3°C
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
July 16° / -3°C
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Toenail check and trim.
August 17° / -2°C
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
September 19° / 2°C
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 21° / 4°C
- Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
- Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
November 20° / 5°C
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Toenail check and trim.
December 20° / 6°C
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
Key recommendations
- Shearing: October.
- Best months for crias to be born: Oct–Jan (breed in Nov–Feb).
- Heat precautions: rarely needed — still provide shade and water.
- Barber pole worm season: Nov–Jan — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Freezing nights: Jun–Aug — keep water from freezing.
- Vitamin D: winter sunlight is usually adequate at this latitude; ask your vet about dark-fleeced crias.
- Grazing season: Oct–Apr (about 7 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
- Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm (P. tenuis) is a North American parasite and is not present here.
- Selenium: Check regional soil selenium with your vet or agricultural advisor — many temperate regions are low.
Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.
Alpaca farms & shops nearby
Places mapped on OpenStreetMap with “alpaca” in their name, within about 250 km. Contact them before visiting — opening times change.
| Name | Type | Distance | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpacani | farm | 135 km | — |
| Attelier Alpaca & Arte | shop | 170 km | — |
| Attelier Alpaca & Arte | shop | 170 km | — |
| Lana de Alpaca | shop | 172 km | — |
| Alpacani | farm | 229 km | — |
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Know a farm that's missing? Add it to OpenStreetMap and it will appear here in the next update.
Frequently asked questions
Can you raise alpacas in Bolivia?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Bolivia scores 95/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale.
When should alpacas be shorn in Bolivia?
Plan shearing for October, once nights stay above about 38°F (3°C) but before summer heat builds.
What is the best time for crias to be born in Bolivia?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Oct–Jan. For births then, breed females in Nov–Feb (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Bolivia?
With roughly 5 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 699 lb (317 kg) — around 14 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
Coordinates -17.900, -67.500. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to World.