A short introduction
The Caminito del Rey is a trail many people consider the most beautiful in Andalusia (it is about 60 km from Málaga). It’s very easy to walk and definitely suitable for a family outing. It takes just 2–3 hours. Unfortunately, entry is paid, but in return you’re guaranteed a relaxed walk and you know that someone looks after the trail.
About the trail
How to get there?
It’s very well described on the organiser’s website here. We came by car and parked next to the ‘El Kiosko‘ restaurant, at the start of the trail (northern zone). See the map below.
Start
After we bought our tickets (see the ticket information below), we got a short safety briefing and helmets, and off we went. Selfie sticks weren’t allowed, so I filmed holding my GoPro in my hand.
The trail
The Caminito del Rey is an almost 3-kilometre trail (not counting the approach – about 7.7 km in total) running along a canyon above the Guadalhorce river. You can walk it thanks to a boardwalk hanging up to 105 metres above the river, which makes up a large part of the trail. On some stretches it is only one metre wide. You can feel safe, as there are railings along the whole length. It’s a one-way trail – it runs from the northern zone to the southern one (El Chorro).
The best-known shot in photos comes from the end of the trail, where there is a distinctive bridge, which you can’t walk across, though. You cross to the other side on a specially built suspension bridge right behind it (Puente colgante del Caminito del Rey). On the opposite side of the main trail you can see tunnels cut into the rock, through which the railway runs.
History
The trail was built for the workers of the hydroelectric plants and opened in 1905 (construction took four years). In 1921 King Alfonso XIII of Bourbon walked it during the opening ceremony of the dam (hence the trail’s name – “the King’s Little Path“).
The trail was badly neglected and deteriorated over the years. In the past, when there were no extra safety measures, several people died there. That’s why it was closed in 2001 . Even so, a few daredevils tried their luck, ending in a fall.
So it was decided to spend 9 million euros on building a new trail. It reopened in 2015. The original path is still visible, as it runs directly below the new one. It really is in a terrible state, so the investment was spot on. True, you have to pay, but you get beautiful views, and on top of that there are no crowds, because only a limited number of people can be on the trail at once. So a route once meant only for a few daredevils is today a safe tourist trail, even for families with children.
The bus back
After finishing the trail in El Chorro, you can take a bus included in the ticket price back to the start (right by the car park at the “El Kiosko” restaurant). As you can see in the photo above, the bus runs every half an hour.
Other mountains nearby
That day we still had quite a lot of time, so we wanted to use it for another mountain trail. We chose the Torcal de Antequera nature reserve, about 60 km away, known for its wonderful landscape shaped by karst processes in limestone rock. I recommend it – it’s worth it, especially if you’re heading towards Málaga. You’ll find the link to the post about this place here.
Entry tickets
Cost
Entry to the trail costs €10.00 or €11.55 (with a bus ticket back to the start). There are no discounts of any kind (children must be at least 8 years old); a group ticket with a guide costs €18.00. The number of visitors per day is limited, so it’s best to buy your ticket online in advance.
How to buy?
- Online: through this website. The mobile number you give when booking can be useful for contacting you if the trail is closed.
- By phone: on the Spanish number 902 787 325 (Monday to Friday, 10:00 to 14:00 and 16:00 to 18:00)
- At the ticket office: a limited number of tickets go on sale at 9:00 am, without booking (see sold-out tickets).
Sold-out tickets
If it turns out that the website has no tickets left for a particular day, all is not lost. You can come first thing in the morning and buy a ticket at the ticket office. There is an extra pool of tickets for the people who turn up first. Sales at the ticket office start at 9:00.
That’s exactly what happened to us. That day (26 January 2020) was one of the few days when the trail could be open because of no rain. It was also a weekend, so no wonder the tickets had sold out many days before. We arrived around 8:30, and a few people were already queuing ahead of us. In the end there were enough tickets for everyone.
Refunds/changing the date
You can’t change the date or entry time. Tickets can be exchanged for another date only if the area is closed by the staff because of weather, rockfalls or maintenance work.
The ticket price will not be refunded, so choose your date wisely and, if the weather forecast isn’t very optimistic, bear in mind that the trail may be closed that day.
