The New Oma Forest

The Oma forest, Omako Basoa, or as some call it the painted forest of Oma, Baso Margotua, is a magical place where nature and culture are melded through the works of art that adorn the trees and landscape. As if it were a canvas come to life, the Oma paintings captivate everyone who sees them, making it one of the most fascinating places in Biscay and the Basque Country. It’s an amazing experience that can’t be missed!

After closing in 2018 because of a moving project, it can finally be visited again! A well-known enemy called brown spot needle blight attacked the forest and led to its closure. However, the regional government of Biscay didn’t give up, and they decided to recreate the entire natural wonder in a fresh new place. Thus the new Oma forest (Basobarri) was born only a few steps away from the original.

As you enter the forest, you discover a magical universe where you’re amazed by different shapes at every step. Some of the trees are works of art in themselves, while other combine into stunning complex visual compositions. But the adventure doesn’t stop there! Depending on where you are the perception of the forms changes and transforms before your eyes, inviting you to become part of the work and create your own interpretation. The forest is a treasure full of artistic surprises!

The Relocation Project

The Oma forest relocation project is a milestone in the history of contemporary art. Moving the forest to its new location was a success thanks to the backing of a group of specialists in contemporary art and forestry. As a result, the Oma forest is now more sustainable, complete and faithful to Agustín Ibarrola’s original vision. Furthermore, previously lost combinations have been recovered and made larger.

The Oma Forest: Keeping Ibarrola’s work alive while respecting the environmental setting

Since Ibarrola created the Painted Forest, one of his most famous works, it was clear the work was ephemeral because of the growth cycle of trees in the forest. In addition, in recent years most of the trees have been affected by the brown spot needle blight, so the regional government has been working on two fronts, culture and the environment.

The first step was to find a forest that was a twin to the original forest where the artist created his work. To those ends, the regional government institution joined forces with forestry technicians to make the project possible. Afterwards, a team of geniuses analysed exactly where in their new home each combination of works should be located.

• The first planning phase of the future forest began in 2022. The perfect place for each combination of works was determined and wonderful trails were designed. What’s the best part? They painted half of the combinations of works, including favourites like the Naiel Rainbow and The Eyes.

The second phase of the migration was completed in 2023 when 34 combinations of works were painted involving more than 800 trees.

Visiting the Oma Forest

• Self-Guided: Self-guided visits to the Oma forest are free, but you must make a reservation. You just need to choose the time slot when you want to have your visit and follow the rules and recommendations.
• Guided Tours: Guided tours are provided on Saturdays and special dates. You must buy a ticket for a guided tour.

There is more information on the website, by phone at 94 465 16 57 and at oma@bizkaia.eus

Choose What Kind of Visit You Want. In both cases, you’ll need to validate your ticket at the Santimamiñe visitor’s desk one hour before your scheduled visit. The trail from Santimamiñe to the Oma forest is about 2.8 kilometres (around 50 minutes). When you reach the forest the guide will be ready and waiting for you at the entrance to start your visit, which will last around an hour.

How to Get to the Oma Forest

If you’re coming by car, follow the road that joins Gernika and Lekeitio and take the turn-off on the right before you reach Kortezubi. A sign that says “Cuevas de Santimamiñe” shows the way. After you go down that road you’ll reach a car park next to the Lezika Restaurant. You can’t go any further by car from that point and you’ll have to go by foot.

It’s better to take the bus! Because of the limitations of the Santimamiñe car park, we recommend using the free shuttle service from the Gernika-Lumo station that has buses every hour from 9 AM to 1 PM. The service is available every weekend starting 1 November.

The Original Forest

The Oma forest is a natural work of art made by the painter and sculptor from Bilbao Agustín Ibarrola.

Ibarrola’s work is based on painting geometric shapes, human figures or animals on tree trunks. Most of the trees used by the artist are pine trees.
The wonderful thing about these paintings is that they only appear complete from certain positions. One trunk by itself doesn’t say anything, but if you get in a certain position, specified by the artist, the trunks make images together. The work changes depending on your point of view as you walk through the forest. It’s a spectacular way of combining art and nature.

The Oma forest was created between 1982 and 1985, and it fits into the contemporary trend of Land Art, which is an artistic movement that works directly with nature where the landscape itself is the painter’s canvas.

With a total of 47 figures, the Oma Forest was an ideal place to spend the day with your family. The path to the forest was done on foot from the nearby car park in about 40 minutes. Once you’re in the enchanted forest the trail isn’t complicated. It follows a circular route of around 7 km that can be done in about two hours, plus the time you want to spend looking at the work and the surrounding landscape.

The Painted Forest is in Kortezubi and the Santimamiñe caves, another emblematic place in the province of Biscay, are very close.