Imagine walking along the cliff wall of the most stunning gorge in southern Spain, almost flying 100 meters high above the river that carved it.
Well, stop imagining…
Welcome to El Caminito del Rey!
The new Caminito del Rey
The new one?
Yep! Because only a few traces of the original aerial path remain beneath today's boardwalk or many meters above your head. It’s hard to believe they built some sections that high up.
Want to play 'Where's Waldo?' with El Caminito del Rey?
In this post, there are two photos showing isolated sections of the old route at an unbelievable height. If you spot them, let me know in the comments! But keep it a secret so others can keep playing, too. 😉
It was built at the beginning of the 20th century, between 1901 and 1905, to connect two waterfalls—Gaitanejo and El Chorro—both belonging to the same hydroelectric company.
So, why is it called Caminito del Rey?
Its name was coined in 1921 when King Alfonso XIII walked the boardwalk for its official opening. Simple as that!
Over time, the path suffered severe damage. After all, 100 years certainly leave their mark…
Even so, its fame kept growing, especially among rock climbers. That was until the early 2000s, when it was closed to the public following the tragic deaths of several climbers.
Fortunately, restoration work began several years later, and since 2015, El Caminito del Rey is open again and safer than ever.
How to buy your ticket
To get your ticket, all you have to do is visit the official Caminito del Rey website (I've linked it in the Useful Links section).
You can book a general admission ticket (€10) with or without a guided tour (+€8) and a shuttle bus pass (+€1.55).
If you want to visit on a weekend, during holidays, or over the summer months, be sure to book well in advance because spots sell out super fast.
On the other hand, it's quite easy to get a ticket if you plan to go on a weekday in winter.
Depending on the time of year, they issue admission tickets between 9:30 AM and 3:00 PM or 5:30 PM, every 30 minutes. They're closed on Mondays, just like museums. 🙂
Watch the clock: Plan your visit
The full excursion will take you between 3 and 5 hours, depending on the route you choose and your pace through the gorge.
Remember, this isn't a race! The real reward is enjoying the walk.
Keep in mind that the time on your ticket is when you need to be at the control booth (I've marked it in red on the map at the bottom of this page).
So, make sure to plan enough time to reach it:
The different sections of the route
- The shuttle bus connecting El Chorro train station to the entrance of El Caminito del Rey runs every 30 minutes (on the hour and half-hour) and takes 20–25 minutes to reach El Kiosko.
- From where the bus drops you off, it's a 20 to 50-minute walk to the control booth, depending on which path you pick.
- The standard 2.7 km route begins at the 'big' tunnel next to El Kiosko restaurant. This route is longer but offers way better scenic views (and it's the one we took!).
- Alternatively, there is a 1.5 km trail that starts from the 'small' tunnel, located about 200 meters before the bus stop.
- Once past the control booth, there is a 2.9 km stretch combining boardwalks and forest trails. Taking your time to soak in the scenery, it will take you between 2 and 3 hours.
- When the boardwalk ends, you still have about 15 minutes (1.3 km) to the exit booth.
- And from there to the train station, you have another 15 minutes (1.1 km).
How to get there
Now you know the steps involved in the route. However, the order in which you do them will depend on your mode of transport.
By train
El Chorro station receives direct trains from Malaga (a 45-50 minute ride) and Seville (2 hours).
This is the transport method recommended by the Caminito del Rey organization, since the number of parking spaces is very limited compared to the high volume of visitors.
I've left the timetables below.
Car
If you're traveling by car, you have a few options:
- Park right next to the exit booth. This is the smallest parking lot and the first one to fill up.
- Leave your car in the access area for the starting tunnels. There are more spaces here, although they also fill up during high season.
Depending on which one you choose (or find available), you'll have to take the shuttle bus either before or after walking the Caminito del Rey.
Personally, I prefer the south parking lot, for two reasons (and I'm not the only one):
- When you finish, you'll find your car right there waiting for you.
- The road leading from El Chorro to the northern entrance is narrow and full of curves and buses.
What to bring
- Comfortable footwear for walking—definitely no flip-flops or heels. My recommendation: sneakers or hiking boots.
- Plenty of water and some food. We took the opportunity to have lunch in a wide spot along the forest trail, soaking up the sun and the views.
- Clothes suited to the season. Dressing in layers is best.
Other tips
- Leave no trace—don't leave any trash along the trail. You'll find bins right next to both control booths.
- Children under 8 years old, strollers, and wheelchairs are not allowed.
- Wear the mandatory safety helmet provided at the entrance.
- Entering the Caminito del Rey in a group doesn't mean you have to stick together at the same pace. In fact, it's recommended that you spread out so the weight isn't concentrated on any single point of the structure. There are even sections where a recommended distance of 1.5 meters between people is advised.
- For your own safety, stay within the marked areas.
- You'll find public restrooms at the control booths at both the trail's start and finish, as well as at the train station and El Kiosko bar, but none along the actual trail.
- Even though the new structure is completely safe, if you suffer from severe vertigo or fear of heights, you might want to think twice about visiting. You can do almost the entire trail hugging the cliff wall without noticing the drop too much. However, the grated floor of the final suspension bridge might make your legs shake a bit (my vertigo is very mild... or at least that's what I tell myself!).
When to go
Whenever you can!
If you can avoid weekends and public holidays, you'll enjoy a much more peaceful hike.
We visited the Caminito del Rey on a Wednesday in mid-December 2017, right before the Christmas holidays kicked off.
Due to the drought, the river's water level was very low, as you can see in the photos. But it didn't take away from the canyon's stunning beauty at all.
So, I say it again:
When to go? Whenever you can.
By the way... have you spotted the two photos in this post showing the forgotten, isolated old walkways high above the Caminito del Rey?
Where to sleep
Here are some nearby options (I haven't tried them myself).
Useful links
- History of the Caminito del Rey.
- Buy your tickets here.
- Bus timetable.
- Train timetable.
- Hotels nearby (Ardales and El Chorro).
- Flights to Malaga: Trabber, eDreams, Momondo, and Vueling.