Caminito del Rey

Discover Andalucia on your own pace.

Take the time to soak it all in and enjoy the vistas, scenery, nature, culture and gastronomy.

Active Walking trail

Drive : 65 km – 50 min
Trail : 8 km – 3 to 4 hours

El Caminito del Rey (King’s Pathway) is a spectacular walkway pinned along the steep walls of a narrow gorge near Ardales, in the province of Malaga.

The walkway was constructed in the early 20th century, but by the early 21st century, it had fallen into disrepair and was partially closed for over a decade. After four years of extensive repairs and renovations, it re-opened in 2015. It has been described as the “world’s most dangerous walkway”.

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Book in Advance

The caminito del Rey has gained popularity over the years and it is now near to impossible to do the trail without reservation a few months in advance in high season, also because of the daily quota. So don’t miss out and reserve your space.

In 2015 this path was fully restored to its former glory and you can now walk from Ardales to Alora. It can only be done in one direction.

All info about the route on the Caminito website.

See for yourselves

Not convinced yet ? This video should give you a good idea of this amazing walk.

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Vertigo ?

The Gaitanes Gorge is the most spectacular section, not only due to its geological values but also because of the old infrastructure that was developed for the railway (tunnels, viaducts, service route…) but there is more. The Glass Balcony that stands on the rocky buttress and the boardwalk is a vertigo test for many visitors as the glass floor makes you feel like you are standing over the abyss as well as allowing you to see the vastness of the Cannon more closely.

It is in this environment where, since the 19th and 20th centuries, a set of railway and hydroelectric infrastructures were located that formed the backbone of the connections and the road network that we have inherited in the 21st century..


Declared by the Junta de Andalucía as a Natural Area in 1989, it had already been classified as a Special Protection Area for Birds (ZEPA) in 1987 and since 2006, it is part of the Andalusia-Morocco Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean.


This natural enclave has been a focus of influence for the settlement and development of human groups in the surroundings of the natural area of ​​Gaitanejo and El Chorro from prehistoric times to the present day, documented by the abundance of archaeological sites.


History

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Breathtaking views

Suspension Bridge

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Going up some wooden steps to get onto the already high metallic boardwalk, anchored 105m high, wall to wall and 35m long. This width and depth will give you a sensation of emptiness upon looking down, since the floor is a grid allowing visitors to appreciate the abyss and sometimes the fall of water ‘water butterflies’ as the ,locals call water drops that fall into the abyss hit by sunrays.

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Feel like relaxing

Do you feel like relaxing a bit after this thrilling adventure? Why not stop at Ardales lake on your way back to Archidona and hire a kayak or relax on one of the many beaches.

A perfect end to a perfect day.