El Torcal de Antequera is a unique natural site, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It started forming 200 million years ago when a large part of Europe and the Middle East were submerged under the sea of Thetis. The accumulation/deposition of skeletons, shells and marine animals’ shells on the seabed accumulated and compacted at different levels, forming its strata, and due to the prolonged action of meteorological agents such as water, ice and wind on the limestone, modelled the spectacular karst landscape of El Torcal de Antequera.

El Torcal and its surroundings offer different guided tours but without a doubt, one that’s worth seeing is the Route of the Buddha’. It’s an almost unknown route that allows you to hike practically in solitude while the Torcal is full of visitors. The route gives access to the path the ancient stonemasons used to take to reach their village. All that remains of it are walls and millstones, but it’s certainly worth seeing as the setting is unique. Along the route, you can enjoy the marvellous views and observe native fauna, remains of enormous fossils on the ground and, if you’re lucky, find an enigmatic Buddha hidden in a cave made from the same stone as the quarrymen. Though we recommend this route, it’s not signposted, so we invite you to follow it on wikiloc , an application for hiking lovers like us.

Additional recommendations:

Go early and try to park at the Mirador Diego Monea.

If the parking’s closed, for €2 per person, a bus will take you to the start of your walk. Asked to be dropped off at the viewpoint. It’s just a few metres from the start of the route.

 Bring warm clothes if you go in the winter.

Don’t go on foggy days.

Follow the route with a GPS as it’s not signposted.