The domesticated camelids of the Andean mountain system, particularly the llama, play an important role in the trade and transport of basic necessities between human settlements in the inter-Andean valleys (2200 to 3200 masl) and those in the high Andes (over 3 200 masl). This role, a traditional mainstay of Andean farming, has declined sharply in regions where the agro-ecological situation has benefited from roads and faster means of transport. This article examines the camelids'habitat in Bolivia, their use as pack animals and their distribution It also examines training and handling during trade caravans, the problems that arise and the common routes followed.
