Hongcheon Alpaca World Review 2026: A Family Day Trip from Seoul

With the weather turning crisp,

I was wondering where to go for the weekend,

and then I visited Alpaca World in Hongcheon.

Honestly, I initially imagined

a small experience farm,

just a few alpacas to see and feed.

But when I actually got there, the scale was much bigger than I expected!

Besides alpacas,

there was a diverse range of animals to see,

including parrots, deer, rabbits, and fennec foxes.

Between catching a show and doing each of the feeding experiences,

half a day just flew by.

What really stood out was that when I visited,

there were so many families with young children,

from preschoolers to elementary schoolers.

Since it's only about a 1.5-hour drive from Seoul,

I'd love to introduce it to anyone looking for kid-friendly places near Seoul

or a great day trip destination in Gangwon-do :)

Let me give you a little sneak peek,

starting with the alpacas charging towards us in a big group.

1. Basic Information

📢 Address: 146-155 Deokbatjae-gil, Hwachon-myeon, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon

📢 Operating Hours: 10:00~18:00

📢 Ticket Office Closes: 16:30

📢 Admission Ticket: ~$13 per person

📢 Healing Walk with Alpacas: ~$11

📢 Parking: Dedicated parking available

I drove from Seoul,

and it took about 1.5 hours,

which was less daunting than I expected.

If a full-blown Gangwon-do trip feels too far,

but staying only in the Seoul metropolitan area feels like a missed opportunity,

then this distance is absolutely perfect.

That's why I highly recommend it as a place to visit in Gangwon-do! 😉

The process of parking and entering was straightforward.

However, Alpaca World itself is quite extensive,

and you'll find yourself walking quite a bit once you go inside.

I also initially thought I'd just have a quick look around,

but after watching shows, seeking out animals, and even feeding them,

I realized I'd walked quite a distance! Haha.

If you're visiting with kids, I definitely recommend

comfortable sneakers over stylish shoes.

If you're traveling by public transport,

you can take a bus from Hongcheon Terminal,

get off at the Deokbatjae Entrance bus stop,

and then walk for about 10 minutes.

Operating hours and programs

may change depending on the season,

so it's always a good idea to double-check before your visit.

2. Facilities

When traveling with kids,

convenient facilities like restrooms and dining options are naturally very important, right?

I initially worried that Alpaca World, being primarily an outdoor animal experience,

might lack sufficient facilities, but they were actually much better equipped than I expected.

<Map of Alpaca World, a Must-Visit in Gangwon-do>

There are restrooms dotted throughout the park,

and they even have separate hand-washing stations

specifically for kids.

I once visited an outdoor attraction

and had to walk for ages just to find a restroom,

so these thoughtful details really impressed me.

There are also cafes and restaurants where you can take a break,

so there's no need to pack an entire day's worth of food.

(Also, for the safety of the animals,

outside food is not permitted!

+Pets are also not allowed.)

If you get tired while exploring with kids,

you can take a quick rest,

grab a snack or a meal, and then continue your sightseeing,

making it super convenient for families.

3. Shows and Programs

If you're heading to Alpaca World,

I absolutely recommend going early in the morning.

The program that left the biggest impression on me

was 'Alpaca, Come Here!' which takes place at 10:10 AM.

At first, just by the name, I thought it would just be a cute event

with a few alpacas.

But when everyone there collectively shouted,

"Alpaca, Come Here~",

a whole herd of alpacas came galloping down the hill from afar!

Seeing nearly a hundred alpacas charging together

was a more magnificent spectacle than I had imagined! Haha.

I thought only kids would love it,

but looking around, even adults and international tourists were

Everyone's got their phones out, filming...

I initially planned to just watch with my own eyes,

but the moment the alpacas came down, I immediately turned on my camera!

And after the show is over,

you can even feed the alpacas yourself.

I'd heard so many stories about alpacas spitting,

that I was a little scared at first, haha!

But as long as you avoid touching areas they dislike, like their heads or rear ends,

and gently pet their necks or backs,

I had no issues during my entire experience.

When I visited, they also had various programs running, such as

Coati's Great Adventure, Genius Parrot Kongi, Hey Eagle, Time to Eat,

and Rainbow Flying.

Rather than just arriving and wandering around wherever your feet take you,

it's much more rewarding to check the day's showtimes right after you enter and plan your movement accordingly.

4. Feeding Time

What was even more fun than the shows was the feeding experience!

When I visited, a set of Alpaca Coins (5 pieces) cost ~$4,

and they could be used for feeding various animals, not just alpacas, but also rabbits, deer, parrots, and more!

Instead of carrying all the feed with you from the start,

you exchange your Alpaca Coins for the feed you need at vending machines located near the animals.

However, once exchanged, Alpaca Coins must be used on the same day and are non-refundable.

You have to return any remaining coins to the ticket office,

so it's probably best to only exchange as many as you plan to use, rather than getting too many at once.

You can also purchase them individually inside the World, too, haha!

I tried feeding several animals,

but what I personally highly recommend trying is the Birds' Garden.

When I spread out both my hands,

not just one or two, but several parrots flew over and landed on them simultaneously!

At first, it was a little scary with so many birds flying at once,

but once I actually did it, it was incredibly fun, haha!

They gently pecked at the food in my hand with their tiny beaks,

and they were much gentler and cuter than I expected.

The kids around me absolutely loved it too!

There was definitely a different feeling between watching animals from afar in their enclosures

and actually extending your hand to feed them.

The sight of several parrots perched on both my arms was amazing in itself,

and the photos turned out quite well!

Actually, because the name is Alpaca World,

I initially thought it would only have alpacas,

but there were surprisingly many different animals, including fennec foxes, capybaras, rabbits, deer, and eagles!

It felt more like a small zoo packed with tons of hands-on experience programs.

Overall, I was able to enjoy myself without a dull moment all day long,

so if you're looking for a great place to visit in Gangwon-do, I highly recommend Alpaca World!

5. Who I Recommend It To

After experiencing it firsthand, the first people I'd recommend it to are, of course,

families with preschool or elementary school-aged children.

On the day I visited, there were so many families,

and I totally understood why it's a popular spot for kids.

It's not just about watching animals and then leaving;

you can feed them directly, touch the alpacas, and watch shows every hour,

so there's always something new to do next!

In the past, when I've traveled and only visited tourist attractions,

I often saw kids getting bored quickly, but this place was definitely different because of all the hands-on experiences.

So, if you're looking for a great place to visit in Gangwon-do near Seoul with kids,

this could be a pretty excellent choice!

And surprisingly, I also recommend it as a unique date spot for couples!

This time, I didn't want to just go to regular cafes or restaurants,

so I visited because I was looking for a slightly different kind of date experience.

We even had some hilarious moments while feeding the alpacas, too! 😂

With so many fantastic photo spots,

we ended up having a lot more fun than we expected.

Just a heads-up, though: the park is quite extensive, so you'll be doing a fair bit of walking.

If you're visiting with young children or your parents,

instead of rushing to see absolutely everything from the get-go,

I'd recommend planning your route around the show times.

Before I went, I also thought I'd just see a few alpacas and...

...two or three hours would be plenty.

But in reality, between watching the shows, feeding the animals,

and exploring to find all the other animals,

we easily spent about half a day there!

If you're looking for things to do in Gangwon-do,

and you prefer hands-on experiences over simply admiring landscapes at typical tourist spots,

I think you'll be incredibly satisfied.

If I were to go again, I'd definitely arrive early in the morning myself,

starting with the 'Alpaca, Come Here' show at 10:10 AM.

Being only about a 1.5-hour drive from Seoul,

it's perfectly manageable for a day trip.

And getting to connect closely with animals in nature was truly special.

Whether you're planning a weekend outing with the kids or a unique date,

if you're seeking a fantastic spot in Gangwon-do that isn't too far from Seoul,

I highly recommend Hongcheon Alpaca World! :)

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