Alfaro was born on June 25, 1842 in Montecristi, Ecuador. He was married to Ana Paredes y Arosemena until his death in 1912. On January 28, 1912, a mob broke out and busted into the prison cell where Alfaro was held at. They dragged him along the streets of Quito, Ecuador. Alfaro was killed during the attack, aged 69.