He is the firstborn of a family composed of his father Don Roberto Caro Grau, his mother Doña Alicia Mendoza Hernando Villafrades, and his three younger brothers: Hernando, Roberto and Guillermo.
Álvaro Caro Mendoza, primogénito de la familia compuesta por su padre don Roberto Caro Grau, su madre doña Alicia Mendoza Villafrade y sus hermanos Hernando, Roberto y Guillermo, nace el 4 de febrero de 1926 en Bucaramanga.