ecuagenera - orquideas del ecuador

This is an orchid farm and store outside of Gualaceo. It is family-owned and one of the family members--a young woman who speaks English--takes you around for about 30 minutes. She explains how they develop new orchids, how it takes a couple of years to be certain the new orchid has developed as they hoped, how they ship them, etc. There are lots of mature orchids around, especially in the shop on the higher level.How to get there is a bit of a problem. Someone told me I could ask the driver to stop on the bus from Cuenca to Gualaceo. But the bus was jammed with people in the aisle and I was unsure how I'd get a bus back to Cuenca, so I didn't try.City Tours, which has the double-decker tour buses at Parque Calderon, offers an Arqueologico Artesanal tour for $30 which goes to Ingapirca, Gualaceo and Chordeleg. "Tour" is really a misnomer. There is a van with a Spanish-only speaking driver who takes you to the locations and lets you off. We 3 friends were the only ones on our "tour" so we asked the driver if we could skip Gualaceo and visit the orchid place instead. He agreed. I believe there are other tour companies in the area who offer stops at the orchid farm.

Very interesting family guide. Thousands of varieties of orchid, including a chocolate scented one. I now understand the 6 things that a flower needs, in order to be called an orchid. Good to be able to see them developing the hybrids too.

Imagine finding yourself walking through greenhouses filled with every kind of orchid imaginable. Every color was there, big ones, tiny ones and even ones with faces like the monkey orchid. You learn how they are breeding new ones and the delicate process it takes to make it happen. From little sprouts in a sealed bottle to huge orchids hanging in the air with no soil or pots. It is truly something to see and it is only about 1 hour outside of Cuenca. Well wotprth the trip.

My wife loves orchids, I think they are alright. But actually I found this place really interesting. They take you through their programme of developing new hybrids and preserving native species. The facts I learned about orchids have given me a new appreciation for them. I would highly recommend you visit, it was 5 dollars, 3 dollars if you are a group bigger than 3 people. It´s easy to get to, take the Gualaceo bus and ask to get off at KM2 if you can´t pronounce Ecuagenera.

They have a large selection of orchids, many of them exclusive hybrids. The prices range from $12 and up. They give tours of the facility as well.

Over 400 varieties of orchids available in Ecuador. It is totally amazing to tour the genesis of over 200 seeds in a little jar. They incubate for 2 years. The guided tour explains the growth of orchids with a wonderfully interesting visual example. You can buy seeds that are inspected and you can take them home with you and grow your own fabulous orchids.

So Ecuagenera is a major orchid producer -- it doesn't do the ordinary tourist much pood. The $5 "tour" takes you to 2 small gardens. 10 minutes, tops. Yes, lots of wonderful orchids in one of those 2 small gardens, but, if you think you're getting a tour of their vast facilities, you are not. Strictly Spanish-speaking only. Lovely assortment of orchids in the store. Had I known how little they are willing to show you here, I would not have gone out of my way so far to get here.

While visiting my daughter in Cuenca, my husband and I traveled to Ecuagenera and were very impressed with the facility. It was incredible to see the wide variety of orchids. I even bought 3 orchids and had them shipped back to Texas. They arrived in pristine condition! I recommend for any orchid lover to take a trip out to see Ecuagenera!

This is a beautiful city. The city tour is well worth taking and the shopping is inexpensive with a wonderful selection. Be sure and tour the museums. My favorite was the Aboriginal museum. Also the orchids in a nearly city should be view as the different types of flowers are many and beautiful.

The shop is full of beautiful orchids. To tour the nursery they are asking a small fee, but I had seen enough orchids.

Growing orchids is one of my hobbies therefore I could not hold myself from visiting Ecuagenera’s headquarter in Gulaceo, 35 kilometers east of Cuenca. We had our own rented car, therefore we drove there, but a bus ride from Cuenca is 0.60 and the admission to the garden and nursery is $3.00. Language was not a barrier since we both speak Spanish but they do have English speaking staff that will explain the process of growing and taking care of these spectacular plants. And, if you are really into orchids they offer tours that will take you through the jungle in search of wild orchids. A must visit if you like orchids!!!

We are plant lovers. And we found the tour to be very interesting and the plants to be beautiful. The bus from Cuenca was 60 cents. The entrance fee was $3 each, which included an English speaking guide for our group. The hours posted were M-F 7-6, Sat. 8-6, and Sun. 9:30-6:30.

Wow, this is a beautiful place from an experience viewpoint. We spent time learning how they are taking the seed pods and then growing the orchids. It is a super educational experience. To top it off you see amazing orchids.

Located in the nearby town of Gualacea, this is not to be missed whether you love orchids or not. About 1500 varieties are grown here for shipping around the world. English speaking guides are available.

Still, Ecuagenera is worth seeing since it is the largest producer and exporter of orchids in Ecuador. Catch a bus at Terminal Terrestre in Cuenca that is heading toward Gualeceo for 60 cents and tell the driver you want off at Ecuagenera. It´s about a 45 minute bus ride, and very pretty. It costs $3 to enter Ecuagenera. The tour is only in Spanish, and the tour guide rushes you through and really doesn´t say all that much. But they have a nice fenced in yard where there are probably 100 different species of orchids that you can see up close and even touch. Even if you´re not an orchid lover and know no Spanish, it´s still worth seeing. After about 20 to 30 minutes, you´ll be ready to leave. Catch a bus at the side of the road and continue on to Gualeceo, which is only another 4 kilometers father up the road. If you catch the smaller red buseta (25 cents) it will take you up the hill in Gualeceo to the large food market, which is full of indigenous people selling their crops. It´s a beautiful site! You can catch a taxi for less than a dollar back down into the main town of Gualeceo, which is full of stores and also has a pretty park with a river that runs through it. Then go to the bus terminal and for another 60 cents catch a bus back to Cuenca.