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The short answer
The Caminito del Rey is a walkway pinned to the vertical walls of the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, a deep limestone gorge cut by the Guadalhorce river near El Chorro, about an hour north-west of Málaga. The original path was built in the early 1900s for workers at a hydroelectric plant and later became famous as one of the most dangerous walks in the world. It was rebuilt with a new, fully railed boardwalk and reopened in 2015.
- Route: one-way, from the north entrance near Ardales to the south end at El Chorro
- Length and time: about 7.7 km including the access paths, 3 to 4 hours in all
- Tickets: about €10 general, about €18–20 with a guide, on the official website only
- Book ahead: weeks ahead for spring, autumn and weekends. Tickets sell out
- Closed: on Mondays, and on any day when wind or rain make it unsafe
- Who can go: anyone from about 8 years old with average fitness and no severe fear of heights
Opening days, prices and practical details
| Open | Tuesday to Sunday, with timed entry slots from the morning to the early afternoon |
| Closed | Mondays (except some bank holidays), and in bad weather |
| General ticket | about €10, self-guided |
| Guided ticket | about €18–20, with an official guide |
| Shuttle bus back to the start | about €2.50 |
| Minimum age | 8 years; under-18s must be with an adult |
| Helmet | Provided at the entrance and compulsory |
| Accessibility | Not suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs |
The Caminito del Rey is run by the Diputación de Málaga, the provincial government. The official website is caminitodelrey.info.
Caminito del Rey tickets: official vs guided vs tours
Buy on the official website, caminitodelrey.info. It is the cheapest way to go, by a wide margin. You pick a date and an entry slot, and you must be at the north entrance at that time. Many other sites that come up in searches are resellers or tour companies, not the official seller.
| Option | Price (approx.) | Availability | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official general ticket | €10 | Sells out weeks ahead in high season | Independent visitors with a car or on the train |
| Official guided ticket | €18–20 | Sometimes free when general tickets are gone | Learning the history and geology on the way |
| Tour with transport from Málaga | €50–80 | Often available at short notice | No car, last-minute trips |
| Tour with transport from Seville | €80–120 | Good | Seville-based trips, a long day |
A tour costs more because it includes the coach, the guide and a ticket from the tour company’s own allocation. When the official tickets are sold out, it is often the only way to go on the date you want.
Sold out? What to do
- Check the official website again. Tickets are released in batches, and cancelled tickets come back, so look every few days.
- Try the guided ticket. It sometimes has space when the general one is gone.
- Book a tour with transport. Tour operators hold tickets and often have places until a day or two before. See Caminito del Rey tours from Málaga.
- Change the date. Weekdays from November to February are much easier than spring weekends.
Avoid tickets offered second-hand or on sites you don’t recognise: they may not be valid.
Is the Caminito del Rey scary?
Less than its reputation suggests. The old concrete path, crumbling and with gaps, is still visible below you, but you walk on a new wooden boardwalk about a metre wide, with a high railing on the open side all the way. Everyone wears a helmet against falling stones.
What you do feel is the height. In places the drop to the river is over 100 metres, a short section has a glass-floored viewing platform, and the hanging bridge at the end moves a little under your feet. Most people with a mild fear of heights manage well by looking ahead rather than down.
- Children: the minimum age is 8. Children who are comfortable walking 7–8 km usually love it.
- Fitness: the walkways are almost flat, and the route drops gently overall. The access paths have some ups and downs on dirt tracks. Average fitness is enough.
- Severe vertigo: think twice. The route is one-way and there is no easy way out in the middle.
The route: from Ardales to El Chorro
The route runs one way only, north to south. You start near the reservoirs of the Conde del Guadalhorce dam, in the municipality of Ardales, and finish in the village of El Chorro, in the municipality of Álora. The whole walk is about 7.7 km, of which about 3 km are walkways.
The access walk
From the north car parks, a path leads to the entrance booth where tickets are checked and helmets handed out. There are two access paths: a shorter one of about 1.5 km (about 20–25 minutes, partly through a tunnel) and a longer one of about 2.7 km (about 45–50 minutes). Leave enough time to reach the booth before your slot; latecomers can be refused.
The walkways
- The Gaitanejo gorge. The first stretch of boardwalk, along a narrow gorge with the river far below.
- The Valle del Hoyo. The gorge opens into a wide valley with pine trees. The path leaves the walls here for a while, and it is the best place for a break.
- The Desfiladero de los Gaitanes. The highest and most dramatic part, with sheer walls on both sides, the glass-floored platform, the old path below you and, at the end, the hanging bridge across the gorge, next to the railway line that runs through tunnels in the rock.
The end at El Chorro and the shuttle bus
After the last control, a path of about 2 km leads down to El Chorro and its railway station. A shuttle bus runs from El Chorro back to the north entrance, about every half hour during opening hours. Take it if your car is parked at the north end. If you came by train, you do the opposite: take the shuttle up to the start in the morning and walk back to the station.
Best time to go
- Season: spring (March to May) and autumn (October and November) are ideal: mild, green and bright. They are also the busiest, so book early.
- Summer: the gorge is hot and exposed, and there is little shade. Take the first slot of the day and carry plenty of water. See the best time to visit Andalusia.
- Winter: quieter and often clear, but the gorge is cold in the shade, and wind or rain closes the path more often.
- Time of day: the first slots are cooler and less crowded. Allow the full morning.
Closures: the path shuts on Mondays and whenever strong wind, heavy rain or storms make it unsafe, sometimes on the day. Check the official website and your email the evening before. The official website sets out what happens to your ticket if the path is closed.
What to bring
- Shoes with a good grip. Trainers or walking shoes; flip-flops are not suitable and may be refused.
- Water, at least a litre each, more in summer. There is nowhere to buy drinks on the route.
- A small backpack only. Large bags are not allowed on the walkways.
- Sun cream, a hat and a light layer. Parts of the gorge are in full sun, others in shade.
- You don’t need a helmet; one is provided at the entrance.
Pets are not allowed, and neither are drones.
How to get there
The Caminito del Rey is about 60 km from Málaga. The main options:
| Option | Time from Málaga | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Car | about 1 hour | Park at the north end, take the shuttle back at the end |
| Train to El Chorro | about 40 minutes | Only a few trains a day; take the shuttle to the start |
| Tour with transport | about 1 hour by coach | Ticket, guide and transport included |
- By car: it is the most flexible option, and you can combine the walk with Ronda, Antequera or the white villages on the same day. Book a car at Málaga Airport, and read our guides to car hire in Andalusia and car hire at Málaga Airport.
- By train: regional Renfe trains run from Málaga María Zambrano to El Chorro station. There are only a few a day, so match the train times to your entry slot before you book.
- By tour: coaches leave from Málaga and the Costa del Sol, and some from Seville. It is the easiest option without a car. See our day trips from Málaga and day trips from Seville.
Nearby: eat, stay and what to combine it with
- Eat: El Kiosko, a restaurant by the reservoir near the north car parks, is the classic stop before or after the walk. At El Chorro, the hotel La Garganta, next to the station, has a restaurant. Bring snacks for the walk itself.
- Stay: most people stay in Málaga (see the Málaga travel guide). To start early and walk in peace, sleep at La Garganta in El Chorro.
- Combine with Antequera: about 40 minutes away by car, with the UNESCO-listed dolmens and the limestone rocks of El Torcal. Stay at the Parador de Antequera.
- Combine with Ronda: about an hour away by car, the town on its own gorge makes a good second half of the day or an overnight stop. See our Ronda guide and stay at the Parador de Ronda.
The Caminito fits well into a road trip through Andalusia, between Málaga and Ronda or Seville.
FAQ
How do I get Caminito del Rey tickets?
On the official website, caminitodelrey.info, for about €10 (general) or about €18–20 (guided). Book weeks ahead for spring and autumn. If they are sold out, a tour with transport from Málaga often still has places.
How long does the Caminito del Rey take?
About 3 to 4 hours for the whole route of about 7.7 km, including the access walk at the start and the path down to El Chorro. Add the shuttle bus if you need to return to your car.
Is the Caminito del Rey dangerous?
Not any more. The new walkway has railings all the way, helmets are compulsory, and the path closes in bad weather. The heights can still be uncomfortable if you suffer from vertigo.
Is the Caminito del Rey open on Mondays?
No, it is normally closed on Mondays. It can also close at short notice for wind or rain.
Can you do the Caminito del Rey without a car?
Yes. Take the train from Málaga to El Chorro and the shuttle bus to the start, or book a tour with transport from Málaga or Seville.