Complete Guide to Caminito del Rey 2026

This is the most complete guide you'll find on the Caminito del Rey. If you read everything here, you'll arrive better prepared than 95% of visitors.

What the Caminito del Rey is

The Caminito del Rey is a 7.7 km trail that runs through the interior of the Gaitanes gorge, in the province of Málaga. It was built in 1905 by workers from the Chorro Hydroelectric Plant to connect the system's two dams. It was closed and deteriorating for decades until it was rehabilitated and reopened to the public in 2015.

What makes it unique: the wooden walkways fixed directly to the vertical wall of the canyon, more than 100 meters above the river. It's not a conventional hiking trail — it's a combination of industrial history, engineering, and natural scenery with no equivalent in Spain.

Tickets

Where do you buy them? Official tickets are only sold online on the park's website. They are not sold at the box office on the same day.

How much do they cost? Approximately €10 per person at the standard rate (check the current price on the official website).

How far in advance do you need to book? It depends on the season:

Easter and spring long weekends: 2-3 months ahead
April-June weekends: 4-6 weeks ahead
Spring/summer weekdays: 2-3 weeks
Autumn and winter: 1-2 weeks is usually enough

What if the website is sold out? Organized tours have their own allocation. When the official website has no tickets left, tours may still have availability.

How to get there

By car: the most practical way. From Málaga it's about 55 km (1h) via the A-357 toward Ardales.

On a tour from Málaga: the most convenient option if you don't have a car. Includes transport, a guide, and in the full version, the entry ticket.

By train: Cercanías C-2 commuter line from Málaga to El Chorro station (1h, price ~€4-5). Useful if you have schedule flexibility.

Parking and the shuttle

The route is linear — you enter at one end and exit at the other. The recommended system:

Park at the south car park (next to the Ardales Visitor Center)
Take the shuttle to the north access (~€1.55 per person)
Do the route from north to south
Finish next to your car at the south access

Arrive at the south car park 30-40 minutes before your entry slot to have some margin.

What to bring

Mandatory:

Closed footwear (if you show up in sandals, you won't get in)
ID or passport (tickets are name-specific)

Highly recommended:

Water: minimum 1 liter per person (1.5L in summer)
Snacks for a 4-hour route
Sunscreen and sunglasses (summer)
Layered clothing (winter)

Prohibited:

Trekking poles
Umbrellas
Selfie sticks
Pets
Baby strollers

The helmet is given to you at the control booth, free of charge and mandatory.

The route

Distance: 7.7 km one-way Elevation gain: minimal (100m accumulated, essentially flat) Duration: 3-4 hours (groups with children or older adults: 4-5h) Direction: north-south only, no option to do it in reverse

The 5 stretches:

North access (km 0-2): quiet forest path to get acclimated
Entrance to the gorge (km 2-3.5): the walls close in, first walkways
Gaitanejo walkways (km 3.5-5.5): the spectacular stretch, 100m above the river
Hanging bridge (km 5.5): the highlight, with views in every direction
Exit to the south access (km 5.5-7.7): the canyon opens up, back to the forest

When to go

Season	Temperature	Tickets	Notes
January-February	Cold	Easy	Risk of closure due to rain
March	Ideal	Easy	A great underused option
April-May	Ideal	Hard	The best season, book 6-8 weeks ahead
June (1st half)	Good	Normal	Go in the first slot
July-August	Hot	Normal	Avoid if possible; go very early and very hydrated
September-October	Good	Normal	The second-best season
November-December	Cool	Easy	Risk of closure due to rain

The height factor

There are stretches over 100m above the river, with railings. People without a fear of heights have no problem. People with acrophobia can freeze up — it's a real risk worth assessing before going.

There's no exit halfway through the route if someone freezes up or gets tired. You have to finish.

What you'll find in the area

The Chorro reservoir: next to the north access, a spectacular green-turquoise color
Ardales: a town 4km from the south access, set menus with regional cuisine
Ardales Caves: Paleolithic cave paintings
Climbing in El Chorro: a benchmark area in southern Spain
Campillos Lagoons: flamingos and waterfowl (30km away)

Quick questions

Are there bathrooms on the route? No. Only at the start and the end. Is there drinking water? No. Bring your own. Is there phone signal? Variable, not reliable inside the canyon. Can you go with a dog? No. What's the total cost? With your own car: ~€15-20 (ticket + shuttle + gas). With a full tour: €45-55.

This guide is updated regularly. If you have specific questions not covered here, the blog articles go deeper into each topic: how to get there from Málaga, Granada, and Seville, what to bring, the history of the Caminito, where to stay, and much more.