{"id":74290,"date":"2022-08-24T11:17:24","date_gmt":"2022-08-24T09:17:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/visitanddo_1790.test\/?p=74290"},"modified":"2026-09-30T22:37:10","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T20:37:10","slug":"what-we-see-on-my-kings-road","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitanddo.com\/en\/what-we-see-on-my-kings-road\/","title":{"rendered":"What to see at the Caminito del Rey"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Caminito del Rey is not just about footbridges. Along its 7.7 kilometres<\/strong> there are ten points worth noting<\/strong>, because if you don\u2019t know what you\u2019re looking at, you\u2019ll walk right past half of it.<\/p>\n

Van in the order in which you\u2019ll come across them<\/strong>, from north to south.<\/p>\n\n

1. The Conde del Guadalhorce reservoir<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"The
The reservoir, 200 metres from the El Kiosko restaurant.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About 200 metres from the El Kiosko restaurant<\/strong> There is the dam. It was built between 1914 and 1921<\/strong> under the supervision of the engineer Rafael Benjumea<\/strong>, so that we can make the most of three rivers together: Tur\u00f3n, Guadalhorce and Guadalteba<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

And here\u2019s the detail that almost nobody knows:<\/strong> the reservoir It wasn\u2019t always called that<\/strong>. It was subsequently renamed \u00abConde de Guadalhorce\u00bb in 1953<\/strong>, in memory of its builder. Because Benjumea Alfonso XIII himself appointed him Count of Guadalhorce<\/strong> on 12 September 1921, four months after this dam was opened.<\/p>\n

In other words: The reservoir is named after the title the king bestowed upon his engineer.<\/strong> Benjumea would eventually become Minister for Public Works in 1926.<\/p>\n\n

2. The King’s Chair<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"The
It was here that Alfonso XIII signed the certificate marking the completion of the dam.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It is not a natural formation<\/strong>, although it is sometimes described that way. It is a set comprising a table, benches and an armchair, all carved from stone<\/strong>, made from the same stone as the reservoir and placed here on purpose.<\/p>\n

What is it for:<\/strong> so that Alfonso XIII signed the certificate of completion of the works<\/strong>, the 21 May 1921<\/strong>. He did so in the pouring rain, after lunch.<\/p>\n

And there\u2019s a story behind it:<\/strong> during the Civil War they threw the group into the waters of the reservoir<\/strong>. Years later, it was recovered and returned to its original location. What you see today spent some time underwater.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s opposite the Engineer\u2019s House<\/strong>, which Benjumea had built. It is not open to the public.<\/p>\n\n

3. The Tafonis Tunnel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Tafoni<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A short tunnel on the approach path. Tafonis are rounded cavities<\/strong> which erosion carves into the sandstone, and as you emerge from the tunnel you\u2019ll see four caves<\/strong> formed in this way.<\/p>\n

A brief guide:<\/strong> From the viewpoint at the Gaitanejo Dam, you can see the cave dwellings in Sierra Parda<\/strong>, which used to be accommodation for the hydroelectric power station staff. Look for them on the hillside.<\/p>\n\n

4. The Gaitanejo power station<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"The<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This is the very reason for the Caminito\u2019s existence.<\/strong> The road was built between 1901 and 1905<\/strong> so that the workers could maintain the hydroelectric power station. It wasn\u2019t built for a stroll.<\/p>\n

And here\u2019s an interesting fact about how it came about:<\/strong> Benjumea hired seamen<\/strong> to build it. They were the only ones used to working suspended from ropes at great heights.<\/p>\n

This is where the Gaitanejo Gorge<\/strong>, the first gorge, which narrows considerably at its narrowest points. The river lies at your feet.<\/p>\n\n

5. The Chocolate Ladder<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Chocolate<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After the first kilometre, the gorge opens out and You go down to the river via some concrete steps<\/strong> which are so called because of their shape and colour. A small tunnel lies ahead.<\/p>\n\n

6. The King\u2019s Bridge, at the Tajo de las Palomas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Puente<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The king passed this way on his way out.<\/strong> Alfonso XIII travelled through it in order to take the train<\/strong> which is right opposite, and bring their visit to an end.<\/p>\n

Two more things to look at at this stage:<\/strong> the Talud Viewpoint<\/strong>, next to the track, and the Toro Cave<\/strong>, which the blacksmiths used whilst installing the original walkway.<\/p>\n

An honest observation about the king:<\/strong> It is said that he didn\u2019t manage to walk the whole way<\/strong>. It was that visit that led the locals to name it \u00abthe King\u2019s Path\u00bb. The full story can be found at The origins of the Caminito del Rey<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n

7. The Hoyo Valley<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Valle<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A breather on the journey.<\/strong> One and a half kilometres from the northern entrance, between the two gorges, the path descends to ground level and crosses a valley covered in vegetation. It\u2019s a welcome change.<\/p>\n

This is where you need to stop<\/strong> to have a drink and a bite to eat, because you can\u2019t do that on the catwalks.<\/p>\n

And there are two things to look out for:<\/strong><\/p>\n