Keeper of the highlands

Photographer

Thibault Gerbaldi

Category

Editorial Photography - Travel

Company

Submission Group

Amateur

Year

2026

Country / Region:

United States

Rocío stands among her herd of alpacas in the remote Andean community of Pampallacta, Peru, where families have relied on these animals for centuries. At more than 4,000 meters above sea level, alpacas provide wool, income, and a way of life deeply intertwined with the rhythms of the mountains. As rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns alter fragile high-altitude ecosystems, herders like Rocío continue to preserve traditions built on resilience, cultural identity, and a profound respect for both the land and their animals.