Alpacas de la Tierruca, in Llanos de Penagos, is an alpaca farm that runs roughly two-hour guided visits where you can meet, feed and pet the animals. It's less than an hour from Bareyo, near Santander, and one of the few experiences of its kind in Cantabria designed with families in mind.
Alpacas aren't native to Cantabria — they come from the Andes of Peru, Bolivia and Chile — but for a few years now a small farm in Llanos de Penagos, a quarter of an hour from Santander, has carved out a place for them among the cows and horses of the Pasiego countryside. It's called Alpacas de la Tierruca, and its owners opened it to the public so anyone can come and get to know the animals up close.
This isn't a zoo or a theme park: it's a real working farm dedicated to breeding alpacas and selling their fibre, which also runs guided visits for small groups. The experience mixes explanation — how an alpaca is cared for, what's done with its wool, why they spit when they're annoyed — with hands-on contact: hand-feeding them carrots and stroking their fleece, which is far softer than it looks in photos. With the fibre they shear each year, they also make hats, scarves and other knitted pieces you can buy at the end of the visit, if one of the alpacas has won you over.
Where Alpacas de la Tierruca is and how to get there from Bareyo
The farm is in Llanos de Penagos, on Calle La Regata, about 25 minutes from Santander by road. From Bareyo, including the stretch to the capital, the visit is under an hour by car — one of the shortest trips in this guide. Access is straightforward, with parking right by the entrance, so families with young children or pushchairs don't have far to walk to reach the animals. You can find out more about the area in the Turismo de Cantabria guide to Penagos.
What the guided visit is like
Visits are run in small groups, with a maximum of around twelve people per slot, and always by prior booking — you can't just turn up unannounced. Depending on the day, there's a morning or afternoon slot: weekends and public holidays usually have a group mid-morning, while on weekdays the slot shifts to the afternoon. Over the nearly two-hour tour, the guide introduces each alpaca by name and personality — some are shy, some curious, and a few come straight over looking for food — before letting visitors feed and pet them under supervision.
Tips for visiting with kids
It's an activity suited to all ages, but especially rewarding for kids between 3 and 10: contact with gentle animals, the farm's small scale, and a visit length that's neither too short nor too long help keep their attention. Comfortable shoes that can get muddy if it's been raining are a good idea, and it's worth packing a spare set of clothes just in case. The alpacas usually let themselves be petted without any fuss, but as with any animal, always follow the guide's instructions and don't force contact if one backs away. If your family enjoys photography, the best moment is usually right at the start of the visit, while the animals are still calm and haven't crowded round looking for food.
What you need to know
Bookings: essential — no visits without a prior appointment; arranged by phone or through the farm's website. Price: adults and children under 12 pay different rates, and it varies depending on whether it's a family group visit or a private one — worth confirming the current price when booking. Duration: between 2 and 2.5 hours. Best time to go: the visit runs all year round, though in the rainiest months the ground gets muddy, so sturdier footwear is a good idea. What to bring: closed shoes and something warm if it's a cool day, since much of the visit takes place outdoors. Parking: free, right by the farm entrance.
You don't need to travel to the Andes to pet an alpaca: in Llanos de Penagos, less than an hour from Bareyo, there's a whole herd waiting with their ears perked up.
Alpacas de la Tierruca is one of those plans that works almost any day of the year, whatever the weather, which makes it a perfect go-to for a family afternoon near Bareyo. If you're looking for more ideas to round out a weekend with kids, our Cantabria with kids guide has more plans that pair well with this visit. It's the kind of short trip worth keeping in mind for when the first guests of Villa Camino and Villa Monte arrive, with availability already open for September 2027.
