Guide To Hiking El Caminito Del Rey – Maps & Maps

Walk excessive above a spectacular slender gorge on the Caminito del Rey walkway – one of the vital jaw-dropping trails in Spain. Here is all the knowledge it’s essential profit from your thrilling journey.

The Caminito del Rey, or “King’s Little Pathway,” is among the most dramatic walks in Spain. Originally in-built 1905, it was nicknamed essentially the most harmful stroll on the earth. But, after a whole rebuild in 2015, it’s now a simple and really spectacular hike.

The spotlight is a sequence of picket walkways pinned to the partitions of El Chorro gorge. In essentially the most gorgeous part, the vertical partitions are 400 metres excessive and solely 10 metres aside. With the walkway clinging to the partitions a few quarter of the best way up and a river flowing 100 metres beneath your ft, it’s a exceptional sight and an exhilarating hike.

The complete El Caminito del Rey stroll is 7 kilometres lengthy and is a various path together with wooded mountain paths, leafy valley strolls, attention-grabbing historic markers and the suspended walkway excessive above a rocky wonderland.

While it’s a really achievable journey for thrill-seekers and nature-lovers alike, and one of the vital-visited sights close to Málaga in Southern Spain, the method is just a little difficult and the knowledge not altogether clear.

So, we’ve defined all the pieces it’s essential know for mountain climbing El Caminito del Rey together with the right way to get there, the place to park, the right way to e book tickets and what to anticipate alongside the best way.

Booking your journey through the hyperlinks on this web page (or on our e book web page) will earn us a small fee, at no further price to you. Thanks on your assist – Paul & Mark.

WHAT IS THE EL CAMINITO DEL REY?

El Caminito del Rey is a walkway pinned alongside the partitions of the El Chorro Gorge. Cut by the Guadalhorce River, the gorge consists of three slender canyons: Gaitanejo Gorge, El Tajo de las Palomas, and Desfiladero de los Gaitanes.

The closing gorge is essentially the most placing, with partitions 400 metres excessive and solely 10 metres aside. The walkway clings to the vertical wall round 100 metres above the river, making a dramatic hike in a phenomenal location.

Built between 1901 and 1905, the walkway was designed to move supplies and staff to 2 hydroelectric energy vegetation. The path was inaugurated by King Alfonso XIII in 1923, therefore the title El Caminito del Rey which suggests “the king’s little path.”

IS EL CAMINITO DEL REY SAFE?

El Caminito del Rey was once one of the vital harmful walks on the earth. The unique walkway of concrete and metal grew to become so deteriorated that leaping over huge gaps within the concrete grew to become a excessive-octane stunt.

After 5 thrill-seekers died on the trail between 1999 to 2000, the native authorities closed entry to the general public. Yet, individuals nonetheless tried the trail and in 2013, one other 4 individuals died.

Fortunately, this isn’t the walkway that’s there immediately. In 2015, a very new walkway was constructed with picket planks round 1 to 1.5 metres vast and a guard rail round 1.2 metres excessive.

Today, El Caminito del Rey is straightforward sufficient for anybody with a mean degree of health to finish.

CAMINITO DEL REY HIKE INSTRUCTIONS

The 7-kilometre Caminito del Rey hike is cut up into 3 distinct sections:

• Stage 1 – The mountain path stroll to get to the beginning of El Caminito del Rey.
• Stage 2 – The official Caminito del Rey path over the suspended walkways (timed ticket required)
• Stage 3 – Exit from the suspended walkways to El Chorro village.

STAGE 1 – EL KIOSKO TO CAMINITO DEL REY OFFICIAL ENTRANCE GATE

This part of the stroll goes from the parking and bus stops close to Restaurant El Kiosko (simply north of the village of Ardales) to the Official Entrance Gate (generally referred to as the Control Cabin) of El Caminito del Rey.

There are two potential routes to finish stage 1 and attain the Official Entrance Gate: Gaitanejo Trail or the Pedestrian Tunnel.

Gaitanejo Trail – This route begins on the righthand facet of Restaurant El Kiosko and follows the precise financial institution of the river. The rocky earthen path is lined with Aleppo pines because it winds its approach in the direction of the Official Entrance Gate initially of the gorge. This route is 2.7 kilometres and takes about 50 minutes.

Pedestrian Tunnel – This route begins alongside the street about 200 metres south of the Restaurant El Kiosko and goes by two 150-metre-lengthy pedestrian tunnels. The tunnels are fairly slender and darkish, so convey a torch. This route is 1.5 kilometres and takes about 25 minutes.

STAGE 2 – CAMINITO DEL REY

This is the official part of the El Caminito del Rey hike. The path heads by the slender part of the gorge on suspended walkways. It requires tickets which should be booked prematurely.

All tickets have a timed entry, to manage the circulate of holiday makers. The timed ticket refers back to the time you have to be on the Official Entrance Gate initially of Stage 2.

At the Official Entrance Gate, you’ll obtain a helmet and listen to a brief security briefing.

This part is 3.4 kilometres lengthy and takes about 90 minutes to 2 hours. There are six nice locations to cease which we now have defined additional down on this information and marked on the map beneath.

STAGE 3 – EXIT TO EL CHORRO

Having exited the Official stroll by a metallic gate you need to now stroll to El Chorro the place you will see parking, shuttle bus stops and the prepare station.

This is a simple progressively descending path that’s 2.1 kilometres lengthy and takes about 40 minutes. Just as you attain the underside of the valley there’s a giant field to return your helmet.

There is a snack van, and bathrooms on the exit, and also you’ll see indicators pointing to the shuttle bus cease.

EL CAMINITO DEL REY HIGHLIGHTS

01 | Gaitanejo Gorge – This is the primary time the walkway heads by a slender part of gorge. Keep a watch out for the outdated path beneath the brand new one and picture what strolling on it will need to have been like. It ends at a stunning blue-inexperienced pool referred to as El Soto.

02 | Butter Steps – Sometimes referred to as the chocolate or zigzag steps, the path winds by a beautiful part of rock that appears like waves on the ocean.

03 | Kings Bridge – This is the bridge King Alfonso crossed over to inaugurate the dam. Today it straddles the gorge and presents great views up and down the valley. Just afterwards, the trail turns to boardwalks once more and enters a second canyon referred to as El Tajo de las Palomas.

04 | Hoyo Valley – The El Caminito del Rey exits the second canyon into a large valley. This is a delicate and straightforward stroll by a leafy valley however watch out on sizzling days because it has little shade. Keep a watch out for the prepare line on the opposite facet, vultures hovering excessive on the thermals above, and bat caves within the cliff face.

05 | Gaitanes Gorge – The third and closing canyon is essentially the most dramatic. The walkway hangs 100 metres above the river, clinging to vertical partitions. There are a number of nice viewpoints, however Mirador de Cristal is probably the very best.

06 | Suspension Bridge & South Wall – Just earlier than you attain the exit of the Official El Caminito del Rey stroll, you cross over a dramatic suspension bridge. The path then climbs up a set of steps and traverses alongside the large South Wall. Once you attain the opposite facet look again to see how tiny the trail seems towards the big wall of rock.

CAMINITO DEL REY WALK MAP

This map of your entire El Caminito del Rey stroll contains every of the three phases, marked in several colors. We have additionally numbered the highlights alongside the best way so you possibly can comply with your progress and get the digital camera prepared.

CAMINITO DEL REY TICKETS

Section 2 of the El Caminito del Rey stroll requires timed tickets which have to be booked prematurely.

Caminito del Rey tickets can be found Tuesday to Sunday 9am to three.30pm (closed on Mondays and a few financial institution holidays)

There are two varieties of tickets: General Ticket or Official Guided Ticket.

GENERAL TICKET (€10)

The General Ticket means that you can full the stroll at your personal tempo. It is a timed entrance, so that you have to be on the Official Entrance Gate (initially of Stage 2) for the time specified in your ticket.

Once you might be by the gate, there isn’t a time restrict for the way lengthy you possibly can keep within the gorge.

OFFICIAL GUIDED TICKET (€18)

The Guided Ticket features a tour with a licensed information who will present details about the gorge on the best way by. Group dimension is restricted to 30 individuals.

WHERE TO BUY TICKETS

We extremely advocate you purchase tickets on-line nicely prematurely. Only 1,100 locations can be found every day and it may be booked out months prematurely in peak intervals.

Buying tickets on the day — If tickets are bought out on-line, some can be found on the day on the Official Entrance Gate at first of stage 2. However, it’s a protracted option to come to search out they don’t have any, so it’s all the time higher to e book on-line. Tickets can not be bought on the Visitor Centre.

Ticket Purchase — Buy your Caminito del Rey tickets on the official web site.

CAMINITO DEL REY SHUTTLE BUS

You are solely permitted to stroll Stage 2 of the El Caminito del Rey in a single route (north to south). So, it’s not potential to make the stroll round by going again the best way you got here.

A shuttle bus runs repeatedly between El Chorro, the Visitors Centre, and El Kiosko. It takes 20 minutes to finish the journey.

The bus doesn’t run when the Caminito del Rey stroll is closed.

The shuttle bus prices €2.50 which you pay to the bus driver (playing cards should not accepted). Alternatively – and extra conveniently – you should purchase the shuttle bus ticket prematurely if you purchase your El Caminito del Rey ticket on-line.

HOW TO GET TO EL CAMINITO DEL REY

There are 3 ways to get to the El Caminito del Rey Walk. You can drive your self, catch the prepare or take an organised tour.

BY CAR – PARKING AT EL CAMINITO DEL REY

El Caminito del Rey is a few 1-hour drive from Málaga, Ronda or Antequera. There are three potential locations to park for the stroll, all marked on the map above:

• P1 – Restaurant El Kiosko at first of Stage 1
• P2 – El Chorro on the finish of the stroll
• Visitors Centre – The guests centre in Ardales – midway between the 2

Parking at any of the Caminito del Rey areas prices €2 per day. You will pay on arrival (money solely), however it’s extra handy to order a selected automobile park and pay prematurely if you e book your tickets. Remember to additionally embrace the shuttle bus.

PARKING AT P1 – EL KIOSKO

The best choice is to park at P1 close to El Kiosko, full the stroll, after which get the shuttle bus again to the automobile.

Aim to reach half-hour to 1 hour earlier than your timed ticket entry relying on whether or not you propose to stroll Stage 1 through the Pedestrian Tunnel or Gaitanejo Trail to succeed in the Official Entrance Gate.

Ideally don’t e book the previous couple of timed entrances since you don’t need to be speeding to get the final shuttle bus (6.30pm in summer season, 5.30pm in winter).

There are a café and bathrooms at El Kiosko.

PARKING AT P2 – EL CHORRO

If you park at P2 in El Chorro it’s essential get the shuttle bus to the start of the stroll, then full the stroll, ending again at your automobile.

The first shuttle bus departs at 8.30am, you then have a 40-minute stroll to get to the Official Entrance Gate, so don’t e book your timed entry too early.

There are bathrooms and a meals van at El Chorro.

PARKING AT THE CAMINITO DEL REY VISITOR CENTRE

A brand new Visitor Centre opened in October 2022 with parking for 240 automobiles. It’s value testing the brand new advanced which was sustainably constructed and blends into the atmosphere with sweeping views.

However, it’s the least handy choice for finishing the Caminito del Rey hike. It’s situated in the course of the shuttle bus route, so that you’ll must get the bus each initially and on the finish of the stroll.

There is nonetheless extra info and services on web site.

CAMINITO DEL REY BY TRAIN

Trains from Málaga – María Zambrano prepare station to El Chorro prepare station take 40 minutes, however there are solely a small variety of companies every day.

While getting there within the morning isn’t an issue, getting again may be extra inconvenient. At the time of writing (Dec 2022), there have been no direct trains between El Chorro and Málaga within the mid to late afternoon.

This means you’ll both must take an extended prepare journey with a change or catch the bus to Alóra to catch the prepare from there.

In September 2022, RENFE introduced that the native prepare from Málaga to Alóra can be prolonged to El Chorro. It is because of be accomplished in 2023 or 2024, however till then it’s simpler and extra stress-free to take a tour.

Check the newest Málaga to El Chorro route info on Trainline.

CAMINITO DEL REY TOURS

If tickets are bought out on-line otherwise you don’t need to mess with shuttle buses and public transport, getting a tour is a wonderful option to go to El Caminito del Rey. The most handy start line is Málaga, however it’s additionally potential to get a tour from Seville and Granada.

TIPS FOR VISITING EL CAMINITO DEL REY

• Book tickets on-line nicely prematurely. It can get very busy in summer season.
• Add parking and the shuttle bus when buying your tickets on-line. Otherwise, ensure you have cash and small notes to pay for them in money.
• There are not any refreshments on the stroll, so take water and snacks with you.
• Wear sunscreen and take a hat as there’s little shade for the final part of the stroll.
• When you e book tickets, you’ll get an e-mail saying backpacks should not allowed, nonetheless they imply giant backpacks. Small day packs for water, snacks, telephone and digital camera are permitted.
• It’s a 7-kilometre stroll so comfy footwear is useful, though the trail is usually flat and never tough.
• No pets are allowed on the Kings Pathway part of the stroll.
• Toilets can be found at El Kiosko (initially of the stroll), the Visitor’s Centre, and El Chorro (on the finish of the stroll), however not alongside the stroll itself.
• There are eating places, snack bars, & meals vans at El Kiosko and El Chorro.

THINGS TO DO NEAR EL CAMINITO DEL REY

While many come to the Costa del Sol for solar and seashores there are hundreds to do on this intriguing space. Here are a couple of of the highlights: