This review presents some advances in the scientific knowledge of llamas and alpacas in Chile. Physiological variables related to adaptation, reproduction, nutrition and selection of food are described. Physiological variables were obtained in llamas and alpacas from the Andean high plateau, the semiarid Central Valley of Chile and the Chilean Patagonia. Alpacas and llamas were introduced in the last ten years in the Chilean central valley and Patagonia. Both environments are markedly different from the Andean high plateau. Both species showed an excellent adaptation ability to the new environmental conditions where they were introduced without important physiological modifications.