10 facts you'll want to know before you do the Caminito del Rey

Caminito del Rey recommendations to know before you go

If you have not yet decided to do the Caminito del Rey, you don't know what you are missing, it is one of the must-do things to do in the province of Málaga.

If you still have any doubts, Visitanddo.com will help you to say Yes I do! and we will give you some recommendations before doing the Caminito del Rey.

Where is the Caminito del Rey?

The Caminito del Rey is located in the province of Malaga, Andalusia, between the municipalities of Álora, Ardales and Antequera, 60 kilometres from Malaga city and 137 kilometres from Granada. This trail is located between the walls of the Gaitanes Gorge.

How to get to the Caminito del Rey

Car

If you plan to arrive by car from Malaga take the road towards Ardales, it is easy to get there as there are plenty of signs along the way. is 60 kilometres away from Malaga city.It takes approximately 50 minutes to the restaurant El Kiosko, where the trail to the northern entranceHere you can park in the areas near the Kiosko Restaurant or in the official car park which costs €2 per day and is located just before the restaurant.

On the other hand, it also you can park in the south access areaFrom here you will have to take the shuttle bus that will drop you off at the north entrance next to the Restaurant El Kiosko, the price of this shuttle bus is 2€ each way, remember to carry cash.

Any of the options you choose if you come by car is fine, just keep in mind that you have to come well in advance as the distances are far apart.. The shuttle bus, whether you park in the north or south area, you will have to take it, we explain more in the section 'Caminito del Rey Route'.

Train

Regional trains are available from Malaga María Zambrano station with a stop at El Chorro.. You can check the timetables on the Renfe website. by clicking here. Make sure you put in the destination station: El Chorro, here you can check both the timetable and the outward journey, it takes about 40 minutes and the price ranges from 5€ return.

Once you get off at the El Chorro train stop, you will have to walk about 100 metres to the shuttle bus stop that takes you to the North Access, the shuttle bus costs €2 each way, if you choose this option remember to bring cash. Please note that the El Chorro train stop is the southern access to the Caminito del Rey, where it ends. The shuttle bus takes you to the north access at the Kiosk where the activity starts, we tell you a little more about it in the section on Caminito del Rey' route.

Excursion from Malaga

It is undoubtedly the most convenient option as you don't have to worry about transportationThe excursion includes bus from Malaga and different areas of the Costa del Sol, guaranteed tickets to the Caminito del Rey, official guide during the journey and the tour of the Caminito del Rey and most importantly, it drops you off at the north access to start the activity and picks you up at the south access without worries to return you back to the pick up point you chose in the booking process.

You can book the excursion to the Caminito del Rey from Malaga here.

Caminito del Rey tickets: prices and reservations

El Caminito del Rey is located open all year round from Tuesday to SundayIt is closed on Mondays, although you may be able to find tickets on Mondays in exceptional cases. It is also closed on 1st January, 24th, 25th and 31st December.

The general entrance to the Caminito del Rey is priced at 10€ per person from 8 years old, from the official website of the Caminito del Rey. are often easily depleted The tickets are on sale on the same day as they go on sale and direct purchase of tickets at the Caminito del Rey checkpoints is not possible.

Therefore, in case you run out of tickets, we advise you to make a reservation in advance. tickets with guided tour from El ChorroThis tour includes: entrance tickets, shuttle bus, a bottle of water and a guided tour during the visit. You can make your reservation by clicking here.

On the other hand, if you don't have your own transport the most convenient option is to book the excursion to the Caminito del Rey from Malaga which includes: entrance fees, return transport and guided tour during the tour. You can make your reservation by clicking here.

The Caminito del Rey Route

The route of the Caminito del Rey has a total length of 7.7 kilometres with footbridges 1 metre wide and 105 metres high. It is a linear pathThe one-way road runs downhill from the northern access at Ardales to the southern access at El Chorro.

There are two ways to get to the northern access, a short one of 1.7 kilometres known as Pista de Gaitanejo and starts in a small tunnel 200 metres from the Kisoko Restaurant, on the other side of the tunnel. the longest trail of 2.7 kilometres known as Senda de Gaitanejo starts from Alfonso XIII's armchair known as the King's Armchair, or by going through a tunnel right next to the restaurant El Kiosko. Each trail has a duration of 20 - 40 minutes respectively. Both trails reach the control hut, north access, located at the Gaitanejo Hydroelectric Power Station.

Once at the access control you will be able to show your tickets, either on paper or via mobile device, the authorised personnel will will provide you with a protective helmet and a sanitary cap. to put between the helmet and the head for hygienic reasons.

When accessing the official king's road from the north access to the exit in the south there is a distance of almost 3 kilometres which are divided between 1.5 kilometres of footbridges and another 1.5 kilometres of path along the river. The total duration of this route is approximately 2 hours walking slowly until you cross the suspension bridge and from there you will only have 2 kilometres left to finish the route and reach the southern access at El Chorro where the trail ends, at this control hut you will have to return the helmet that was given to you at the beginning.

The total duration is between 3 - 4 hours depending on your pace.

Remember that if you have left your car in the north access car park, from where the Caminito del Rey starts, you will have to take the shuttle bus which costs €2 per person and takes between 15-20 minutes to get back to the north access from the south access. The bus stop is about 200 metres from the end of the Caminito del Rey and is next to the El Chorro train stop.

Here you can find more information about the route of the Caminito del Rey.

What to take with you to do the Caminito del Rey

We recommend that you take the following with you:

• Wear comfortable clothing and closed shoes, we recommend trekking or sports clothing.
• Carry a small backpack with water and some snacks.
• If it's sunny: take sunscreen.
• If rain is forecast: take a mackintosh or waterproof clothing, the use of umbrellas is strictly forbidden.

Prohibited articles at the Caminito del Rey

In the Caminito del Rey you have to comply with the rules inside the enclosure and that there are no lockers to leave your belongings, so please note that the following items are forbidden not to take them with you:

• Selfie sticks and drones
• Umbrella
• Making loud noises
• Smoking
• Grubbing up vegetation
• Bathing in the river
• Leaving the path
• Bringing animals
• Bulky suitcases or bags
• Motorbike or bicycle helmets.
• Wear flip-flops open at the back.

Caminito del Rey with animals

It is not permitted to visit the Caminito del Rey with animals due to the characteristics of the facilities.

Likewise, if you are thinking of going to the area with your pet and you want to do the Caminito del Rey, you can always leave it in a day care centre or with a pet sitter during the hours of the route, we recommend you to book through the Gudog platform.

Caminito del Rey with children

The Caminito del Rey is not an easy trail, although it is considered one of the most dangerous routes in the world, this was before its reopening in 2015. It is currently quite safe.  The truth is that the Caminito del Rey can be done with children, but there is a minimum age, so it is not possible to access with children. under 8 years of age.

In case you come to the tour with your children, they will must be accompanied by an adult and carry identity documents for entry in the case of minors.

It is forbidden to carry children in your arms and to carry bulky rucksacks.

We recommend that you bring some food and drink, but not to stop to eat on the walkways. It is also forbidden to litter, so we recommend that you bring a bag to dispose of your rubbish in so as not to litter the natural environment.

General recommendations

Finally, here are some general recommendations for the Caminito del Rey:

• TicketsTickets per day are limited, so we recommend that you buy them in advance.
• In advanceIf you have tickets, as we said before, from the Kiosk Restaurant and the north entrance there is a short distance to cover, so we advise you to arrive 30 minutes in advance from the time shown on your ticket.
• There are no toilets available on the routeYou will find them next to the Restaurant el Kiosko, at the ticket offices of the north access and once the trail ends at the ticket offices of the south access.
• No signal coverage no wifi connection inside the Caminito del Rey path.
• The difficulty of the whole route is relatively lowIt is a downhill and linear path, there is no gradient although you do have to walk through forest terrain and there are some stairs.
• Caminito del Rey may close due to weather conditions such as rain or wind, or due to construction or repairs. In either case, you can find information on the situation at its websiteIt is very important to consult it even on the day of the visit to find out how the situation is.

If you are thinking of going to the Caminito del Rey do not hesitate to organise your visit with us for more comfort.