Caminito del Rey
A one-way walk of 7.7 km through the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, from Ardales down to El Chorro, on boardwalks about 1 m wide and across a suspension bridge 105 m above the Guadalhorce.
At a glance
- A suspension bridge 105 m high, on boardwalks about 1 m wide
- 7.7 km one way, downhill from Ardales in the north to Álora in the south
- 3 to 4 hours in all, including about 150 minutes in the controlled zone
- Entry by advance booking only: €10 general admission, as displayed in October 2026
- Minimum age 8, with original ID; under-18s come with an adult
- A path built from 1901 to 1905, reopened in March 2015
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ArdalesClosest
5 mi as the crow flies
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7.5 mi as the crow flies
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Tickets and prices
| Admission, Everyone | €10 | Caminito del Rey (Diputación de Málaga) |
|---|---|---|
| Shuttle, Everyone | €2.50 | Caminito del Rey (Diputación de Málaga) |
| Parking, Per vehicle | €2 | Caminito del Rey (Diputación de Málaga) |
| Booking, Everyone | Caminito | |
| Guided tour, Everyone | €18 | Caminito del Rey (Diputación de Málaga) |
How the visit runs
To the north gate
From the shuttle stop near the El Kiosko restaurant, two footpaths lead to the gate: the shorter pedestrian tunnel, narrower than the other, or the Gaitanejo path through the big tunnel, 2.7 km long.
From the control hut to Gaitanejo 10 min to the boardwalk
After checking in, each visitor receives a protective helmet, and footwear and banned items are checked; a group goes in every 10 minutes. The first boardwalk starts in the Gaitanejo canyon, barely 10 m wide.
The Puente del Rey 700 m
The Puente del Rey, crossed by Alfonso XIII on 21 May 1921, has a viewpoint from which railway tunnel no. 7 can be seen.
Mirador de Rocas Llanas 900 m
The viewpoint looks onto the Tajo de Ballesteros, an orange wall; the area has a vulture colony.
Through the Valle del Hoyo
Between the canyons the route leaves the boardwalks for a footpath: 1,405 m of path or forest track against 1,550 m of boardwalk between the entrance and the exit of the boardwalks.
The Gaitanes and the suspension bridge
The third canyon, the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, is crossed by the suspension bridge. The last distance mark, 3,200 m, is at the south gate.
Out at El Chorro about 30 min
The helmet goes back at the exit. Allow 15 minutes to the hut, then 15 more to El Chorro station.
General admission or the official guided visit
| Ticket | Price | Group | Languages | What is included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General admission | €10 | The route at your own pace; 10 tickets per purchase at most | ||
| Official guided visit | €18 | 30 people at most | Spanish and English | Certified guide, helmets and radio guides; meeting point at the north access |
Source: caminitodelrey.info, prices as displayed in October 2026 (pages without a year).
Where to leave the car
| Car park | Price | To the entrance |
|---|---|---|
| Visitor centre, Puerto de las Atalayas | €2 a day | Shuttle, 15 to 20 minutes to the stop near El Kiosko |
| Ardales municipal car park (P1) | €2 | On foot: 1.5 km through the lit tunnel, or 2.7 km by the El Kiosko path |
| El Chorro, south exit (P2) | Shuttle stop 300 m away, on the railway platform; arrive at least an hour early |
Source: caminitodelrey.info, questions page, read in October 2026; the P2 car park is described elsewhere as being developed.
Before you go
- Booking: tickets are sold in advance on caminitodelrey.info only, 10 per purchase at most; the visitor centre no longer sells them.
- Tickets are personal and can be downloaded to a phone; there are no exchanges or refunds.
- Arrival: be at the gate 30 minutes before the time on the ticket, 25 minutes on foot from El Kiosko by the shortest route.
- ID: from age 8, bring original ID or the family record book; under-18s carry theirs at all times.
- Footwear: hiking shoes are compulsory; flip-flops and heels are banned.
- Banned items: walking poles, selfie sticks, tripods, large bags, umbrellas and alcohol; in rain, a raincoat is compulsory.
- Water and food: at least 1.5 litres per person, energy bars, dried fruit and sun cream; no toilets on the route and no meals on the boardwalks.
- Animals are banned, guide dogs included.
- Shuttle: €2.50 per person, not included in the entry ticket, cash only when bought from the driver.
What is allowed
| Topic | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fires | Not allowed | Caminito del Rey (Diputación de Málaga) |
| Dogs | Not allowed | Caminito del Rey (Diputación de Málaga) |
| Strollers | Not allowed | Caminito del Rey (Diputación de Málaga) |
| Photography | Restricted | Caminito del Rey (Diputación de Málaga) |
| Drones | Not allowed | Caminito del Rey (Diputación de Málaga) |
| Swimming | Not allowed | Caminito del Rey (Diputación de Málaga) |
Rules checked with the site manager on October 15, 2026. They can change at short notice: check before you go.
How to get there
Caminito del ReyGateway towns
- Málagaa little over 50 min · 59.1 kmCaminito del Rey
A-357 then MA-5403, via Cártama, Pizarra, Carratraca and Ardales.
- Antequeraabout 54 min · about 55 kmCaminito del Rey
A-384, then A-357 and MA-451.
- Rondaabout 1 h · about 60 kmCaminito del Rey
Via Ardales.
- Visitor centre15 to 20 minCaminito del Rey
Shuttle bus from the Puerto de las Atalayas car park to the stop near El Kiosko restaurant.
The Caminito del Rey hangs from the walls of the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, in the province of Málaga: boardwalks about 3 ft wide, around a hundred metres above the Guadalhorce, and a suspension bridge 344 ft up. It began as a service path and now runs one way, downhill from north to south, from Ardales to Álora.
From a works path of 1901 to the third set of boardwalks
The name comes from a royal visit, in 1921. The path has been closed, rebuilt and reopened since then:
- 1901 to 1905: the original path is built.
- 1921: King Alfonso XIII uses it to inaugurate the dam, crossing the Puente del Rey on 21 May.
- 1999 and 2000: fatal accidents lead to its closure.
- March 2015: the path reopens. The plaque gives 26 March, the inauguration date, but opening came on the 28th because of the national mourning after the Germanwings crash.
- First year after reopening: about 300,000 visitors, according to Spanish Wikipedia, citing El Mundo (2016).
The boardwalks in use today are the third to be built. The rebuild took less than a year and used:
- 65,417 ft of timber;
- 29,725 screws;
- 3,075 fittings and bolts.
Three canyons and a valley on the Guadalhorce
The route links three canyons, with the Valle del Hoyo between them. The river is also a municipal boundary: the walls carrying the railway belong to Antequera, those carrying the Caminito to Ardales.
- Gaitanejo, barely 33 ft wide, where the first boardwalk begins.
- The Tajo de las Palomas, the second canyon.
- The Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, the third, crossed at the end by the suspension bridge.
The rock is a nesting site for birds of prey, the area has a vulture colony, and the Tajo de Ballesteros is a wall coloured orange by iron oxide. The gorge has been a special protection area for birds (ZEPA) since 1987, a natural area of the Junta de Andalucía since 1989, and since 2006 part of the Andalusia-Morocco Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean.
Safety on the boardwalks
The operator advises against the walk for anyone without adequate fitness, and for people prone to vertigo or with heart, breathing or mobility problems. On the route:
- The helmet handed out at the control hut stays on, correctly fitted, for the whole route, and goes back at El Chorro.
- Small rockfalls can happen: follow the instructions of the staff.
- In the Valle del Hoyo, leaving the path in any direction is forbidden, because it can set off rockfalls.
- The wind picks up on the suspension bridge of the Álora exit section; the site closes for heavy rain, excessive wind or works.
- Mobile coverage is almost nil along the Caminito, except with Vodafone.
The ticket includes civil liability insurance from the entrance of the boardwalks to their exit. Climbers holding a federation licence get free access to the authorised walls, and the boardwalks are never used as anchor points.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Caminito del Rey cost?
€10 for general admission, and €18 for the official guided visit, as displayed by the operator in October 2026. The shuttle costs €2.50 extra.
Do you need to book the Caminito del Rey in advance?
Yes. Entry is by advance booking only, on the official platform caminitodelrey.info, and tickets are no longer sold at the visitor centre.
How long does the Caminito del Rey take?
3 to 4 hours for the whole 7.7 km, access paths included. The boardwalk section itself takes about 1 h 30 to 2 h.
Can children do the Caminito del Rey?
From age 8, with original ID and an adult until 18. Children under 8 are not admitted, and carrying a child in your arms is forbidden on the boardwalks.
Is the Caminito del Rey open on Mondays?
No, apart from a few exceptional Mondays. It opens Tuesday to Sunday all year, except on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January.
Is the Caminito del Rey suitable if you suffer from vertigo?
No. The operator advises against it for anyone prone to vertigo, and for people with heart, breathing or mobility problems.
Can you get to the Caminito del Rey by train?
Yes, to El Chorro-Caminito del Rey station, in Álora, served every day by Renfe regional trains. It is the southern end of the walk: the shuttle runs from El Chorro to the north entrance.
Sources
6 sources
- Caminito consulted on October 15, 2026
- Caminito del Rey (Diputación de Málaga) consulted on October 15, 2026
- OpenStreetMap consulted on October 15, 2026
- Wikidata consulted on October 15, 2026
- Wikipedia (en) consulted on October 15, 2026
- Wikipedia (es) consulted on October 15, 2026