Caminito del rey

Opened on March 28, 2015. the so-called The "King's Path" is currently Malaga's biggest attraction and the most anticipated event of the year. 

Closed for a few years and renovated for a trifle of over 7 million euros, the route makes an electrifying impression and should be one of the first places of your trip around Andalusia :)

Trail  stretching along the steep walls of the limestone gorge Desfiladero de los Gaitanes (near El Chorro) was built between 1901-1905 for the purpose of  transporting materials and two people  dam construction companies who needed a road connecting the gorge inlet and outlet. Unconfirmed sources say that it was built by prisoners sentenced to death. In 1920. trail  and commissioning  Conde del Guadalhorce hydroelectric power plant was inaugurated by the king  Alfonso XIII, who was the first to walk this dangerous route, which gave rise to the name Camino del Rey - "The Path of the King".  

It should be noted that both walls of the rock cliff between which the Guadalhorce River flows,  they are over 100 m high, making it one of the steepest rock gorges in Europe. 

At one time it was considered one  of the most dangerous climbing sites in the world, it attracted many adrenaline and mountain climbing enthusiasts with mountaineering equipment and experience.  However, the material from which the path was built - sand, cement and metal supports - did not stand the test of time and the path began to deteriorate, and  after several decades, many sections of the trail collapsed into the abyss, leaving single steel brackets stuck into the rock.

However, this did not deter the daredevils who wanted to overcome the route, which resulted in 5 fatal accidents. Therefore, the Andalusian authorities decided to close the route,  and entry was punished with severe fines.

The reform of Caminito del Rey has been talked about for a long time, in the end the authorities of Malaga decided to cover it  facility renovation costs -  over 5.5 million euros, 2.2 million euros was covered by Caminito, the rest was allocated to other adaptation expenses  area.  The old Caminito was left intact as a new path, consisting mainly of wooden panels and brackets drilled into the rock, was positioned just above it. In addition, the route has been enriched with glass plates and suspended at a height of 100m above the ravine  a bridge connecting both sides of the Balconcillo de los Gaitanes.  

Tickets can be purchased on the official website of Caminito del Rey , which for the first 12  months were  for free now  the cost per person will be 10  euro.  Tourists are allowed on the route every half an hour, and at the same time up to 400 people can stay on it. Opening hours: 

April 1 -  October 30: from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

November 1  - March 31: from 10.00 to 14.00

Closed  December 24, 25, 31 and  1st of January.  

You can enter the Caminito only recently from the northern side  in Ardales. You can travel by car or train to El Chorro from Malaga Maria Zambrano station. First train towards Ronda  departs at 10.05, second at 16.48 towards Sevilla Santa Justa. The journey time is 40 minutes and the one-way ticket costs € 6.05 or € 9.70 (when choosing  Ida y Viuelata round trip ticket too  € 4.85).  WITH  El Chorro to Malaga train  is leaving  from El Chorro station

at 9.33, 15.03 and 18.03.  

I have to admit the tour every time  do  a huge impression on me. Beautiful views, breathtaking cliffs and a railroad carved in the rock. You just have to see it! : D Without a doubt, one of my favorite places, where memories stay with me for a long time :)