A Guide to Exploring Spain's La Ruta de las Caras

The Ruta de las Caras literally translates as the Route of Faces. It is both a hiking route and a sculpture park, through a series of huge rocks and mountains. Officially known as Las Caras de Buendia, the park is free and accessible to all, and features 18 sculptures in all. From serene Buddha faces to menacing skulls, quirky gnomes and a baby in the womb, these huge limestone-cut sculptures are sure to both delight and impress.

Some artists wanted to recreate rock sculptures like those of pre-Columbian cultures and decided to create their own style, taking inspiration from Oriental and Indian cultures, which is why you can find a Buddha head and a Hindu-style god. Later on, other artists decided to carve their own sculptures into the rocks here, and soon a whole route appeared, featuring many styles, but united by their theme of faces.

The Ruta de las Caras can be found in the province of Cuenca in central Spain, around one hour east of Madrid. As it’s located in a very remote region however, the best way of reaching it is to hire a car in either Madrid or the city of Cuenca and drive yourself to the area. Once you reach the route, you can park the car and continue on foot to explore further.

There are various routes you can follow to discover the park. The easiest and quickest one lasts just one hour and is relatively easy – it’s even suitable for children. Other well-signposted longer routes take you out further to see amazing views, more fascinating sculptures and a number of other sights such as the Guadiela River, the Hermitage of Nuestra Señora de los Desamparados and the remains of an ancient Visigoth city.

16512 Buendía, Cuenca, Spain

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