Buendía

Buendía is a quiet village on the edge of its namesake reservoir in northern Cuenca, where the broad expanse of water draws people for sailing, jet skis, fishing and a swim in summer. Its best-known walk is the Ruta de las Caras, the looped PR-CU 46 trail through a pine forest where artists have carved more than a dozen faces into the sandstone — some four to six metres tall, the largest taking years to complete. The route also passes the Peña de la Virgen viewpoint over the reservoir. It's an easy, low-key destination roughly two hours from Madrid, built around water and a short, unusual hike.