Hang out with adorable alpacas near Ottawa

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If you visit Little Foot Alpacas near Spencerville, Ontario, you’ll not only have lots of time to hang out with the farm’s namesake animals; you’ll also come away with all sorts of fun facts about alpacas that you probably didn’t know.

For instance, were you aware that male alpacas win over their prospective mates by singing—technically, it’s called orgling? And that the song that sounds like a cross between a stalled car engine and a malfunctioning printer? (Seriously—just Google “alpaca orgling” and you’ll hear what I mean. I dare you not to laugh.)

Did you know that female alpacas are pregnant for an entire year? And that they consciously choose when they’re going to give birth? (My first thought on hearing that was that, if I were a female alpaca, I’d be choosing something much shorter than 365 days.)

These are just a few of the fascinating trivia tidbits that Little Foot Alpacas co-owner Caroline Bingley shared with me as we took two members of her 22-animal herd out for a gentle stroll in the snow at the Spencerville farm.

Disclosure: I visited for free as a guest of Little Foot Alpacas, which neither reviewed nor approved this post. All opinions are my own.

From florist to farmer

Bingley and her partner opened Little Foot Alpacas to the public in June 2023. They’d originally planned for a herd of eight alpacas, but she couldn’t resist buying more. “They’re like potato chips,” she said with a laugh. “You can’t just have one.”

Bingley had been nursing a dream of raising alpacas for over a decade—ever since she fell in love with them on a trip to Peru. “I started doing all the research I could to figure out how to get some of these animals in my life!” she told me.

For 25 years, she owned a florist shop in Trent Hills, northwest of Belleville. However, during the pandemic, someone offered to buy the store. Bingley took the money and ran with her alpaca farm idea. Her partner already had a farm near Spencerville, so they built an alpaca barn and started buying big, fluffy animals.

Today, Little Foot Alpacas is open for visitors year round, and you can sign up for a one-hour alpaca trek.

A charming introduction to the herd

My morning began with introductions to many of Bingley’s alpacas.

First, she let a group of females into a small pen next to the barn, where we could see them through a large viewing window. It was a great way to make their acquaintance, as they were very exuberant, which could be unnerving for small kids.

I immediately understood the appeal of alpacas. Like dolphins and quokkas, they always appear to be smiling. Their fluffy heads are just made to be rubbed. Basically, they’re like Paddington Bear crossed with Bambi. I couldn’t wait to meet them beyond the glass.

I soon had the opportunity, as we walked out the barn and Bingley pointed out each of “the girls” by name. They were all adorable, and I was soon smiling ear to ear myself.

In another pen, I met some of the male alpacas, who are kept separate from the girls to prevent any unsanctioned, um, orgling. And soon, it was time to go for a stroll with my very own alpaca-for-a-day.

Walking with alpacas

Leading a harnessed alpaca along farm trails is a surprisingly relaxing way to enjoy outdoors. For my alpaca trek, Bingley paired me with Thor, a male whose dense fleece was the colour of milk chocolate. He was almost almost as tall as I am, which seemed intimidating, but Bingley assured me he was calm and gentle.

And indeed he was, unless we were skirting an icy section of the path, where he quite understandably balked.

We settled into a restful rhythm, which gave me lots of time to appreciate the surrounding vista of snow-covered fields and farm buildings. As we rambled, Bingley entertained me with lots of stories about alpacas in general and her herd in particular.

Due to the slippery conditions, our walk was a little shorter than an hour. That was OK by me, as it gave us some extra time to cuddle with some of the other alpacas indoors.

In fact, several of Bingley’s alpacas behaved more like pet dogs than farm animals, merrily loping into the public area of the barn normally reserved for humans. She managed to keep them from wandering into the little gift shop, where you can buy socks, mittens, sweaters, blankets and other items made from alpaca fibre, as well as skeins of yarn for your own creations.

Bingley made sure I checked out the airy pom-poms made from alpaca fleece, which seemed virtually weightless. “I tell the kids, ‘That’s what it feels like to touch a cloud.'”

Extend your visit overnight

Above that farm shop is Little Foot Alpaca’s pièce de résistance: a purpose-built Airbnb apartment that sleeps 10. I didn’t stay there, but Bingley did give me a tour. It has three bedrooms, two sofa beds and one bathroom, which could lead to a lot of inter-guest competition for the lovely-looking rainforest shower and soaker tub.

The loft-style space also has a full kitchen, a TV and—crucially—lots of views of big windows where you can enjoy views of the alpacas. An alpaca trek experience is included for guests in the Airbnb suite.

All in all, it looked like it might be a pleasant place for an extended family or group of friends to stay while exploring Spencerville, Prescott and nearby communities.

If you visit Little Foot Alpacas

Little Foot Alpacas is located at 8011 Campbell Road, Spencerville, about 75 kilometres south of downtown Ottawa.

You have to be at least 14 years old to do an alpaca trek, as the animals can pull on the harness with quite a bit of force. However, if you’re visiting with younger children, don’t worry; they can see and pet alpacas on one of Little Foot’s one-hour farm tours. The farm also hosts special events.

When you visit, make sure to wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes or boots. It’s also a good idea to wear clothes that are easy to clean. Contrary to popular belief, alpacas don’t spit on humans frequently, but they’ll probably give you a soggy nuzzle or two.

Since this is a working farm with resident dogs, please leave your pooch at home.

Prices for all experiences are available on the farm’s website. Little Foot operates on a cash-only basis. If you don’t have cash with you, you can pay by e-transfer or use the onsite ATM.

Looking for more things to do while you’re in the area? Here’s my guide to Prescott and Spencerville. (I’m in the midst of updating it, so check back soon for even more ideas.)

Looking for more tips on things to see and do in Eastern Ontario, the Outaouais, northern New York state and beyond? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or order a copy of my book, Ottawa Road Trips: Your Weekend Getaway Guide.

As the owner of Ottawa Road Trips, I acknowledge that I live on, work in and travel through the unceded, unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg Nation. I am grateful to have the opportunity to be present on this land. Ottawa Road Trips supports Water First, a non-profit organization that helps address water challenges in Indigenous communities in Canada through education, training and meaningful collaboration.