The Caminito del Rey is a walkway fixed to the cliffs of the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes gorge, in the middle of Málaga province and under 60 km from the city. You walk it one way only, from Ardales in the north to El Chorro, in Álora, in the south: 7.7 km in all, of which 2.9 km is the controlled section of boardwalks and the rest is approach and exit paths. Allow three to four hours.
You need a ticket for a set day and time. On the official website, caminitodelrey.info, a general ticket costs €10 and the official guided visit €18. The minimum age is 8, you are given a helmet at the control hut, and the walk can be closed for heavy rain or strong wind.
If the official website still has tickets for your date, that is the most economical option. If not, or you would rather be driven from Málaga, there are tours with transport further down.
These are Viator experiences at the Caminito del Rey, such as a tour with pickup in Málaga city, each with its price, duration and reviews from other travellers. They suit you if you would rather not drive or work out trains and shuttles, or if individual tickets have sold out for your date; check what each one includes (ticket, guide, transport) before booking. If you only need entry and the official website has places, buying there costs less.
It began as a service path, built between 1901 and 1905 for the El Chorro hydroelectric scheme. It takes its name from King Alfonso XIII, who walked it in 1921 when he came to open the Conde del Guadalhorce dam. After decades of neglect, the Málaga provincial council restored it and it reopened to the public at the end of March 2015.
It lies in the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes nature area, between the municipalities of Ardales and Álora. In places the canyon walls rise more than 300 metres and the gorge narrows to under 10 metres wide. The practical starting point is the Visitor Reception Centre at Puerto de las Atalayas (Ardales), 57.7 km from Málaga city.
Tickets are sold on the official website for a specific day and time; groups go in every 10 minutes. Once you have paid, you log in to your personal area and add each visitor's name to their ticket before downloading it. There is no need to print it: your phone will do.
The ticket office at the north entrance only sells tickets if places are left, and the Visitor Reception Centre does not sell them at all. The official website also says dates after 2 May will go on sale later, so if your day is missing, check again. Prices as of October 2026:
By car from Málaga, take the A-357 towards the MA-5403 through Cártama, Pizarra, Carratraca and Ardales: 59.1 km, a little over 50 minutes.
By train, Renfe regional services stop at El Chorro - Caminito del Rey station in Álora, which is where the walk ends. The shuttle bus runs from there to the north entrance. Check Renfe's timetable in advance.
Because the route is linear, leave the car at one end and use the shuttle for the other:
From the El Kiosko area there are two ways to the north entrance control hut: the pedestrian tunnel and Gaitanejo track (1.5 km, about 20-25 minutes) or the Gaitanejo path from the big tunnel (2.7 km, 35 to 50 minutes). You must be in the entrance area at least 30 minutes before the time on your ticket.
At the hut your ticket is checked and you are given a helmet. Then come the first canyon, the Gaitanejo gorge; the second, Tajo de las Palomas; the open Valle del Hoyo, on a footpath; and the third, the Gaitanes gorge, with walkways more than 100 metres up and the suspension bridge. The controlled section is 2,955 metres long, 1,550 of boardwalk and 1,405 of path, and the official website allows between an hour and a half and two and a half hours for it. It is mostly downhill, with some climbs and steps.
You come out at El Chorro, where you hand back the helmet. The shuttle stop is about 300 metres away and the railway station roughly 15 minutes on foot from the exit hut.
The organisers say it plainly: the walkways, the height and the suspension bridge, 105 metres above the river, 35 metres long and with a see-through grille floor, give many visitors a sense of vertigo. There is a railing throughout, and for most of the way the boardwalk is no wider than a metre and a half. It is not recommended if you suffer from vertigo, heart, breathing or mobility problems, or lack a basic level of fitness.
There are no toilets or bins between entrance and exit, and mobile signal is almost non-existent. Bring at least 1.5 litres of water each, fruit, nuts or cereal bars, sun cream and walking shoes. Not allowed:
It opens Tuesday to Sunday, plus some notable Mondays, and closes on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January. Entry slots run from 9:00 until 14:50 or 17:20, depending on the season.
You can still go in light rain, but with a waterproof jacket: umbrellas are banned. In heavy rain or strong wind the organisers may close the walk, especially because of the suspension bridge. They notify visitors by text, email, Telegram and social media; if you have heard nothing 24 hours before, the visit goes ahead, although it can still be suspended during the day for safety. If it closes, you can move your date or request a refund from your personal area within four calendar days of the notice.
For the countryside in flower, the official website suggests March and April.
On the official website a general ticket costs €10 and the official guided visit €18. The shuttle bus (€2.50) and car park (€2 a day) are extra. Prices are as of October 2026.
Three to four hours in total, including the approach and exit paths. The full route is 7.7 km, of which 2.9 km is the controlled section of walkways and the Valle del Hoyo.
Yes, from the age of 8, with an original ID or family book to prove it. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Nobody may be carried on the walkways.
No. You are given one at the north entrance control hut once your ticket is checked, and you hand it back at El Chorro.
From your personal area on the official website you can change the date, subject to availability, or ask for a refund, in both cases within four calendar days of the notice.