Caminito del Rey

Hike · One way · Moderate

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Hike · Málaga, Spain Start 36.9316°N 4.8018°W

The walk at a glance

6.7 km from the shuttle stop to El Chorro

Distance

6.7 km / 4.2 miEl Kiosko to El Chorro

Route

One wayNorth to south only

Difficulty

ModerateEasy ground, big drops

Climb

Mostly downAbout 140 m up, 260 m down

Time

3 to 4 hoursBus stop to the station

Open

Tuesday to SundayShuts in rain or high wind

Early in the morning, before the heat, you can walk a narrow boardwalk on the wall of a limestone gorge more than 100 metres above the river, then cross it on a hanging bridge.

The route, El Kiosko to El Chorro

Earth pathBoardwalks and bridgesTrack and lane

Elevation hover the line205 to 386 m

The route is from OpenStreetMap. Of the two ways from the shuttle stop to the entrance, it takes the shorter one, through a small tunnel, and it finishes over the suspension bridge and down the track to El Chorro. In the gorges and the tunnel the terrain model measures the rock above the path, so those stretches are drawn straight, and the chart shows the shape of the walk rather than exact heights.

The walk

Gaitanejo, the first gorge, is barely 10 metres wide, and the boardwalk runs along one wall with the old concrete path just below it. Beyond it the walls open into the Valle del Hoyo, a pine wood crossed on an earth path, with benches to rest on.

The best of it comes last, in the Gaitanes gorge. There is an exposed run of boardwalk, a balcony with a glass floor, and a hanging bridge, 35 metres long, with a grille floor you can see the river through.

The river in the gorge, with the boardwalk on the cliff to the right

Walkers crossing the hanging bridge high above the Gaitanes gorge

Near the end, a 110-metre suspension bridge carries you across the gorge to the track down to El Chorro. The steeper old way down stays open if you would rather not cross.

Expect company on the walkway: guided groups move slowly and passing is tight.

The terrain

The route is mostly downhill, with short climbs. Any reasonably fit walker can manage it. The height is the real test: the official advice is not to go if you suffer from vertigo.

The way in is a gravel track and a lit tunnel. Both gorges are boardwalk, the valley between them is an earth path, and there are steps where the path changes level. The boardwalks are narrow, so keep to the right and pass with care.

4.1 kmEarth path
The valley between the gorges, and the paths into El Chorro

1.1 kmBoardwalks and bridges
Both gorges, the hanging bridge and the suspension bridge

1.5 kmTrack and lane
The way in to the entrance, and the track down from the suspension bridge

Know before you goBe at the north entrance 30 minutes before your slot. It is about 25 minutes on foot from the shuttle stop, so leave the stop an hour ahead. You get a helmet at the entrance and wear it the whole way; wear walking shoes, because staff turn back flip-flops and heels.

Trailhead: The shuttle stop at El Kiosko, the restaurant by the Conde de Guadalhorce dam above Ardales. Of the two ways to the entrance, the shorter starts at the small tunnel, a short walk along the road.
Getting there: From Málaga María Zambrano, a few trains a day stop at El Chorro, about 40 minutes away. At El Chorro, take the shuttle bus from beside the station to El Kiosko at the north end, a 15 to 20 minute ride; the walk then brings you back to the station. By car, park at the visitor centre on the Ardales side, about 50 minutes' drive from Málaga, and take the shuttle from there.
Getting back: The walk ends at El Chorro station. If you parked on the Ardales side, take the shuttle back from the stop beside the station; one ticket covers every ride that day.
Best time: Book the earliest slot you can reach. The first entry is at 9am, which suits a car; by train from Málaga, the first arrival makes a late-morning slot the realistic one. In July and August, enter before 10am if you can, because the middle of the day is hot.
Open: Open Tuesday to Sunday and on the odd holiday Monday, and closed on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January. Spring and autumn are the comfortable seasons; in summer the gorge can pass 30°C. Rain or strong wind can close the walk, so check the official site on the morning you go. The last slot of the day is at 2.50pm or 5.20pm, depending on the season.
Access: Not step-free: wheelchairs, pushchairs, walking poles, crutches, large backpacks and dogs, guide dogs included, are all banned on the walkways. Nobody under eight may enter, and anyone under 18 must come with an adult and carry ID.
Cost: A timed ticket from the official site, either on your own or with a guide; it sells out weeks ahead in spring and summer. The shuttle is a separate ticket, cash only on board, or booked with your entry.
Bring: At least a litre and a half of water each, snacks and sun cream. Eat before or after, because there is nowhere to stop for a meal on the walkways. If rain is forecast, bring a raincoat: umbrellas are banned.
Toilets: At the entrance and at the exit only.
Take it with you
Directions: To the visitor centre car park in Google Maps

Caminito del Rey

The walk at a glance

The route, El Kiosko to El Chorro

The walk

The terrain

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