Caminito del Rey: a hiking route in Malaga for those who love vertigo.

El Caminito del Rey, is a route located in the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, Málaga. It is one of the favourite sites to be recognised by Unesco as a World Heritage. This tour, which takes place in a narrow wooden walkway hanging on the rockThe landscape is breathtaking and uniquely beautiful. In addition, you can also see Bonelli's eagles, griffon vultures, peregrine falcons and golden eagles flying overhead.

A bit of history

This path was built between 1901 and 1905, with the idea that Hidroeléctrica El Chorro would have an access for those who worked there in the maintenance of the dam.. Although its initial name was Balconcillo de los Gaitanes, by 1953 it became known as Caminito del Rey, in honour of King Alfonso XIII, who was there in 1921.

This path became a site of heavy traffic, but with the passage of time and subsequent neglect, it deteriorated and was closed to the public. Until in 2015 it was decided to restore it as a tourist route..

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What you should know before going to the Caminito del Rey

Before taking this tour, you should know the following information:

• The timetable: This is a tourist trail, with an entrance fee. In winter, the timetable for the route is from 9.30 am to 3 pm. If, on the other hand, you prefer to do it in summer, the opening hours are from 9.30 am to 5 pm. It is not open to the public on Mondays, nor on certain public holidays such as 1 January, 26 August and 24, 25 and 31 December.
• Duration of the tour: The length of the route in the Caminito del Rey is of 7.7 kilometres, some 2 or 3 hoursdepending on the capacity of the visitor.
• Minors: As this is a high altitude area, all minors must be accompanied by an adult who represents them. The minimum age to do the route is 8 years old.
• Physical condition: To walk along the Caminito del Rey you have to cross a valley and climb a flight of stairs, and although you don't need to be an athlete, you should be in good health. If you suffer from vertigo or heart disease, it is advisable to consult a doctor before travelling.

The route is done in one-wayThe entrance from the north (in Árdales) and the exit in the south (via Álora). For those coming by train, the station of El Chorro is the stop.

How to get there

You can get to El Chorro by trainto the Álora bus stop. For those travelling by private car, you can park in the southern area and take a shuttle to the Acceso Norte. The shuttle bus is governed by a timetable that runs from 9:00 to 18:00 in the winter season and from 9:00 to 20:00 in the summer.

When to visit the Caminito del Rey

El Caminito del Rey can be visited during all seasons of the year. In the central months of the year, in high seasonIf you do the Caminito del Rey, you may encounter a real crowd and during the rainy months you may not be able to do the whole route and you won't be able to take many photos. It is best to do the Caminito del Rey route in the morning and during the week, between September and November or between April and May.

The route

The route of the Caminito del Rey will undoubtedly impress you, no matter when you do it. You will live the experience of walking along wooden walkways, parallel to some impressive vertical walls that are at a great height, until you reach the most exciting moment of the route, which is crossing the suspension bridge at a height of 105 metres, where you can put your courage to the test.

The Caminito del Rey is a safe journey and it is not complicated to do, it has some slopes, so you will encounter stairs and slopes, but it is not a big deal.

Tickets, prices and how to buy them

There are several types of tickets to visit the Caminito del Rey and they go on sale in batches of dates, which means that in January you can buy tickets for April, in May and June and in mid-March you can buy tickets for the summer:

• A general admission with a value of 10 euros.
• A ticket with tour including guide for up to 25 people will cost 18 euros.
• The train to and from Malaga is about 23 Euros.

The shuttle bus ticket, which can be purchased on the website, can even be purchased on the day of the visit. The shuttle bus takes about 30 minutes to get to the site, so please allow plenty of time.

The options for purchasing tickets are:

• In the official website of the Caminito Real or by telephone. In both cases you must indicate the date and time of the visit. You can also try to buy tickets at the ticket office on the same day from 09:30.
• You can also buy tickets from the different authorised agencies, which also offer some additional services that may be of interest to you.

The Caminito del Rey is one of the most impressive places in Europe. You can find a place to eat nearby and even a place to spend the night. Remember, as always, to take care of the environment and not to leave rubbish on the site and, above all, to make the most of this experience.

What to wear

It is advisable to wear clothes that are as comfortable as possible, taking into account the time of year and the time of day. If it is rainy season, you cannot use an umbrella, so it is advisable to bring a mackintosh and if it is summer, remember to bring sunscreen and a sun hat.

As for footwear, just wear comfortable, non-slip sports shoes. If you have footwear suitable for hiking or trekking, all the better, but this is optional.

Caminito del Rey, Malaga. Cover photo: Guillermo Gavilla (Pixabay)