While there are lots of agritourism experiences in Ontario, finding one where you can walk, dine, stargaze, and even do an escape maze with an alpaca by your side is a bit harder to come by.
But that’s exactly what you’ll find at Wanderlight Alpaca Experience, located in the Township of Douro-Dummer, one of eight townships in Peterborough County.
Though founder Katie Maitland has been market-gardening and raising animals for many years on the family farm her parents purchased in 1987, she made the shift in 2020 to become an agritourism destination by bringing alpacas to the farm and inviting visitors to experience the land and the loveable animals in all their glory.
“My goal is to bring people to learn about alpacas and get to know them a little bit and see that they’re really interesting, curious, and fun animals,” Maitland explains. “But it’s also to enjoy the beauty and peace of nature while being on a working farm and learning a little bit about agriculture.”
At the farm, guests can book an hour-long private, guided trail walk through the rolling hills on the farm. Visitors will be introduced to each alpaca, pick the one they want to walk with, feed them throughout the walk, and likely make a special connection with the gentle-natured, woolly animal.
Wanderlight Alpaca Experience also hosts a stargazing event with the alpacas where guests can curl up on a blanket and drink hot chocolate while looking at and learning about the stars in the night sky.
There’s even an opportunity for visitors to participate in an outdoor escape maze game created by Millbrook’s Escape Maze, with a time-travelling quest featuring puzzles that participants have to solve to locate the secret hiding space of the alpacas and walk them back to the safety of the barn.
Wanderlight Alpaca Experience also works with other local businesses to offer guests customizable birthday parties and other private events. These can include dining with the alpacas while enjoying charcuterie provided by The Cheesy Fromage in Lakefield. To make a memorable outdoor dining experience, Maitland uses original glasses made by North Kawartha glassblower Sue Rankin and custom-made plates made by The English Potter’s Gail West in Lakefield.
As well as offering these visitor experiences, Wanderlight Alpaca Experience has supported efforts in animal-assisted trauma therapy in partnership with Peterborough Youth Services, and programming for Community Counselling Resource Centre in Peterborough as well as local Girl Guide organizations. Lakefield’s The Divine Craft has previously partnered with the farm to host a Mother’s Day workshop alongside the animals.
Giving back to the community that has supported her, Maitland is a regular donor to the YES Shelter For Youth and Families. Over the 2024 holiday season, she raised over $1,000 for the shelter by selling custom alpaca calendars printed locally using Trent Campus Print and which she sold in part through Watson & Lou in downtown Peterborough.
To keep the alpacas healthy and happy, Wanderlight Alpaca Experience relies on feed from Starfra Feed Services located in Douro-Dummer and Peterborough Veterinary Services.
No matter which experience — or experiences — visitors enjoy at Wanderlight Alpaca Experience, Maitland hopes they create their own memorable bond with the alpacas.
“They’re curious but they’re aloof,” Maitland says. “They can be shy at first and people have to take the time to build the trust, but by the end of the tour, their relationship with the alpacas will shift. It’s wonderful to see.”
To learn more about Wanderlight Alpaca Experience and to book an experience, visit wanderlightalpaca.ca.
The Local Advantage in Peterborough County is a branded editorial feature series about locally owned independent businesses in Peterborough County, created in partnership with Peterborough County’s Economic Development & Tourism Division.
As part of its response to the impact of U.S. tariffs, Peterborough County is showcasing the many unique businesses located in the county, both by sharing their stories of success and how they support both residents and other businesses in their communities.
Whether by shopping at local businesses, dining at local restaurants, staying at local accommodation, or enjoying local experiences, residents and visitors can enhance the economic resilience of Peterborough County during these challenging times and help establish a sustainable foundation for the future.
For more information about economic development and tourism in Peterborough County, visit www.ptbocounty.ca/ecdev and The Kawarthas Tourism at thekawarthas.ca.
