In addition to its exceptional cultural offering and spectacular beaches, Málaga province is full of hidden treasures, boasting countless landscapes with outstanding natural beauty. One of the best known is the famous Caminito del Rey (King’s Path).
Got a few spare days and want to enjoy some good weather surrounded by nature? If so, keep reading, because this guide has everything you need to know to visit the Caminito del Rey in Málaga: where to find it, how to get there and even accommodation recommendations should you decide to extend your Málaga getaway.
What is Caminito del Rey?
The Caminito del Rey is an aerial walkway, barely a metre wide, which was built between 1901 and 1905 parallel to the walls of the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes natural park, 100 metres above the Guadalhorce river.
Along its 3-kilometre span, the Caminito del Rey passes through three significant Málaga towns (Álora, Antequera and Ardales), leading many geographers to claim that Caminito del Rey could be considered the geographic centre of Málaga province.
As well as its central location and the fact that it is one of the most spectacular natural settings on the Costa del Sol, since it was opened in 2015, Caminito del Rey has become one of the province’s most popular tourist attractions, welcoming over 300,000 visitors each year.
Where does Caminito del Rey get its name?
Over recent decades, all sorts of urban legends have surrounded this unique feat of engineering seeking to explain the origin of Caminito del Rey, some more accurate than others.
Málaga’s historical archives, however, show that Caminito del Rey was built due to the need to join (with a shorter route) the Salto de El Chorro and the Salto del Gaitanejo waterfalls, two important installations of Sociedad Hidroeléctrica del Chorro, a company today known as Endesa.
According to myth, Caminito del Rey was built by prisoners on death row, who risked their life in the hope of reducing their sentences. The truth, however, is that Caminito del Rey was built by local sailors who (used to hanging from the ropes on their vessels) were unfazed by working suspended in the air, held only by ropes anchored to clifftop.
Choosing the name of this spectacular walkway was much easier than building it. On 21 May 1921, King Alfonso XIII travelled to Málaga province to open the Presa del Conde del Guadalhorce (today popularly known as the Playa de Ardales beach). To do so, he needed to cross the walkway, and it was from that point that the locals started to call the path the “Caminito del Rey”, and the name has stuck to this day.
Where is Caminito del Rey?
El Caminito del Rey is located in the centre of the province of Malaga, at a distance of:
- 40 km from Malaga city
- 45 km from Antequera
- 50 km from Marbella
- 70 km from Ronda
How to get there?
- By car: From Malaga, take the A-357 towards Ardales and follow the signs to El Chorro.
- By train: From Malaga-Maria Zambrano station there are trains to El Chorro, from where you can take a shuttle bus.
- By bus: There are organised excursions from different points on the Costa del Sol.
How to visit Caminito del Rey
There are essentially two ways to visit Caminito del Rey: by yourself or with a guided tour.
We recommend an excursion or guided tour of Caminito del Rey, for several reasons:
- It is easier to get tickets.
- As well as your entry ticket, the guided tour includes an expert guide to accompany you and explain the curiosities and lesser known facts on the history, geography and biodiversity of Caminito del Rey.
- If you book an excursion to Caminito del Rey (available from different towns in Málaga), you can save time and money as you won’t have to look for parking or wait in long queues to use the Caminito del Rey shuttle service.
However, if you’d prefer to visit Caminito del Rey by yourself, be aware of the following:
- Book tickets as soon as possible, particularly if you want to visit Caminito del Rey at the weekend or in peak season, i.e., spring or summer.
- On Wednesdays and Thursdays there tend to be fewer visitors to Caminito del Rey, so it is easier to get tickets for these days.
- Morning tickets sell out quicker than afternoons.
There is another option that not everyone is aware of: hotel + Caminito del Rey ticket packages are available. Most hotels near Caminito del Rey can access exclusive tickets for their guests, so this is a good option if general sale tickets are sold out.
The million dollar question: is Caminito del Rey dangerous?
Although for many years Caminito del Rey de Málaga was considered one of the most dangerous paths in the world, today the walkway has been completely restored and does not pose any danger to visitors. However, bear in mind that entry is not permitted for children under the age of 8 and that, given its height, we do not recommend a visit to Camino del Rey for people who suffer from vertigo.
Live the Caminito del Rey Experience!
Now that you know everything you need to know to visit the Caminito del Rey in Malaga, the only thing left to do is to enjoy this unique experience in a breathtaking natural environment. Plan your trip and go for a walk along this iconic path!
