The Guachalá Region

No place in the world is as well suited for producing great roses as Guachalá. It is a small region covering only a few thousand acres and has been a well-kept secret for centuries. Only the true connoisseurs knew of the distinct and special properties this region had to offer, of its giving land and plentiful harvests.

A thousand years ago the Caranqui and Cayambe Indians inhabited the area and later, the Incas built temples and fortresses in this magical locality. Guachalá houses the oldest hacienda in Ecuador, dating back to the XV century. The region’s haciendas have been the residence of numerous international political figures including two Ecuadorian presidents in centuries past.

Guachalá has always been a mystical place, known for its fertility and abundance. It is said that Vicente Tinajero, a prominent moneylender, buried a treasure of 50 000 pounds of sterling and gold in this small region. The treasure has yet to be found. In 1736, the French Geodesic Mission, Charles Marie de la Condamine, and their companions stayed in the region while they traced the equatorial line for the first time. The mountaineering legend Edward Whymper and the Carrel brothers, who climbed most of Ecuador's peaks for the first time in the 1880’s, have also resided in this region.

Rosaprima is privileged to be located in the heart of the Guachalá region. Our farm is located on the skirts of the majestic Cayambe volcano on a pristine hacienda that dates back to the 16th century. The shelter of the Andes mountains, perfectly balanced volcanic soils, crystal clear water and equatorial sun, all conspire to create an ideal microclimate for cultivating the finest roses in the world.