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El Chorro · Málaga province

Walk the Caminito del Rey

A boardwalk bolted to the walls of the Gaitanes gorge, a hundred metres above the Guadalhorce river, an hour inland from Málaga. Step out over turquoise water, cross the hanging bridge, and watch griffon vultures ride the air below your feet.

  • Tickets, guides, day trips
  • Helmet included
  • Free cancellation
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Independent guideTickets and experiences hand-picked by our editors.

Free24hcancellation ↓
Start and finish, spelled outWhere each tour begins and how you get back
Nine options, hand-pickedFrom the plain ticket to a day from Seville
Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before, on every tour here
Secure bookingCheckout on GetYourGuide

Tickets & tours

Choose your Caminito del Rey tour

In the centre, the most booked option: your entry slot with a live guide on the boardwalk. Either side, the plain ticket for walking at your own pace and a coach day from Málaga and the coast. Every card opens a full tour page.

Caminito del Rey Entry Ticket Walk at your pace ★ 4.83 to 4 hours

Caminito del Rey Entry Ticket
Entry slotNo guideOwn pace

The plain entry ticket: you walk the gorge on your own, at your own speed, with the safety staff along the route. Best if you are driving or coming by train.

What's included
  • Entry ticket for a set time slot
  • Helmet at the entrance
  • Walk without a guide, at your own pace
  • Shuttle bus back to the start paid in cash on board
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Full tour details
Length3 to 4 hoursFree cancellation Book this
Guided Tour and Entry Ticket Most booked ★ 4.62 hours

Guided Tour and Entry Ticket
Entry slotLive guideRadio headsets

Your entry slot plus a bilingual guide on the boardwalk, with headsets so you hear the story above the river. You make your own way to the north gate.

What's included
  • Entry ticket for a set time slot
  • Live guide in English or Spanish
  • Helmet and radio headset
  • Meets at the control booth, north access
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Full tour details
Length2 hoursFree cancellation Book this
From Málaga & Costa del Sol: Guided Day Trip Transport included ★ 4.86 to 8 hours

From Málaga & Costa del Sol: Guided Day Trip
Coach pickupEntry + guideBreakfast stop

A coach from Málaga, Torremolinos, Benalmádena or Fuengirola, a breakfast stop, then the gorge with a guide. The bus waits at the exit.

What's included
  • Coach from the city and the coast and back
  • Entry ticket and expert guide
  • Helmet and safety briefing
  • Breakfast stop in Ardales (food not included)
  • Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Full tour details
Length6 to 8 hoursFree cancellation Book this

More ways to walk the gorge

All tours
Tickets, Guided Tour, Shuttle & Water Starts at the station ★ 4.74 to 7 hours

Tickets, Guided Tour, Shuttle & Water

Start and finish by El Chorro station, shuttle included, five guide languages Length4 to 7 hoursTour details → Tour with Official Guide and Drink Official guides ★ 4.73 hours

Tour with Official Guide and Drink

Official guides trained in first aid, groups split by language Length3 hoursTour details → Accredited Guided Tour, Small Group or Private Six languages ★ 4.83 to 4 hours

Accredited Guided Tour, Small Group or Private

Guides in Dutch, German, French, Italian, English or Spanish Length3 to 4 hoursTour details → From Málaga: Caminito del Rey All Included Wine tasting ★ 4.87.5 hours

From Málaga: Caminito del Rey All Included

Coach, entry, a tour leader, sweet wine and olive oil tastings Length7.5 hoursTour details → From Seville: Caminito del Rey Hike Day Trip From Seville ★ 4.510 hours

From Seville: Caminito del Rey Hike Day Trip

A long day from Seville with a stop in the old town of Osuna Length10 hoursTour details →

Compare

Which option suits your day

The boardwalk is the same on every tour. Three questions sort out the rest: how do you get there, do you want a guide, and where do you want to end up afterwards?

TourWhere it startsGetting thereBest forLength
Guided Tour and Entry TicketNorth access, ArdalesYour own car or the trainA guide without a coach2 hoursBook this
Caminito del Rey Entry TicketNorth access, ArdalesYour own car or the trainDrivers who like their own pace3 to 4 hoursBook this
From Málaga & Costa del Sol: Guided Day TripPickup in Málaga and the coastCoach from Málaga and the coastNo car, staying on the coast6 to 8 hoursBook this
Tickets, Guided Tour, Shuttle & WaterEl Chorro, south accessTrain to El Chorro, shuttle includedTrain travellers4 to 7 hoursBook this
Tour with Official Guide and DrinkEl Kiosko, north accessYour own car or the trainOfficial guides, grouped by language3 hoursBook this
Accredited Guided Tour, Small Group or PrivateEl Kiosko, north accessYour own car or the trainGuides beyond English and Spanish3 to 4 hoursBook this
From Málaga: Caminito del Rey All IncludedPickup in central MálagaCoach from central MálagaTastings on the way home7.5 hoursBook this
From Seville: Caminito del Rey Hike Day TripPickup in central SevilleCoach from SevilleStaying in Seville10 hoursBook this

Every tour here cancels free up to 24 hours before. Children under 8 are not allowed on the path, on any tour.

Before you book

One way in, one way out.

Here is what most booking pages skip. The Caminito del Rey is a one-way walk. You enter at the north access near Ardales, walk downhill through two gorges and a valley, and come out at El Chorro, on the other side of the mountain. You cannot turn round and walk back. Your car, or your coach, is somewhere else.

That is why the tours differ. The boardwalk, the helmets and the safety staff are the same for everyone. What you are really choosing is how you reach the north gate and how you get back: your own car and the shuttle bus, the train to El Chorro, or a coach that waits for you at the exit. Choose that first, and the right tour usually picks itself.

2.9

kilometres of boardwalk, out of a 7.7 km route. The rest is access path, according to the official site.

Entry ticketGuided visitShuttle tourDay trip
A wooden boardwalk with railings running along a limestone cliff face above a deep gorge
The rebuilt boardwalk opened in 2015, laid above the remains of the path from 1905.
01

Do I need a guide?

No. The plain ticket lets you walk alone. A guide adds the story of the dams, the railway and the king.

02

Is it scary?

High, but fenced. Railings, helmets and staff along the way. Vertigo is a reason to skip it.

03

How much walking?

7.7 km in three to four hours, mostly downhill. No toilets or water on the route.

04

Who should skip it?

Children under 8, wheelchair users, and anyone who cannot walk for a few hours on uneven ground.

Your walk

How the day runs

North to south, always downhill. Here is the usual shape of a visit, from the car park to the exit.

01

Reach the north gate

Park, take the shuttle to El Kiosko, then walk through the tunnel path to the control booth.

30 minutes early
02

Helmet and briefing

Show your ticket and ID, collect a helmet and, on a guided tour, your radio headset.

At the entrance
03

The two gorges

Gaitanejo, the open Valle del Hoyo, then the Gaitanes gorge and the hanging footbridge.

About 2 hours
04

Out at El Chorro

Hand back the helmet, then catch the shuttle or your coach back to the start.

The way back
A wooden boardwalk with railings bolted to a sheer limestone cliff high above a riverThe boardwalk A narrow footbridge strung across the gorge between two rock wallsThe hanging footbridge Turquoise reservoir water below pine-covered hills near the north accessThe reservoirs at the start Remains of the old concrete path on rusted rails below the new boardwalkThe old path below An open valley with pines and limestone outcrops between two gorgesValle del Hoyo A long suspension bridge crossing high over a green river gorgeThe new suspension bridge An iron railway bridge spanning the mouth of a deep limestone gorgeThe railway bridge A griffon vulture gliding past sunlit limestone cliffsGriffon vultures Walkers in helmets seen from behind on a boardwalk along a cliff faceHelmets on, single file

Plan your trip

Plan your gorge day

Tickets, timing, ages and what to bring: one tab each.

  • Timed entry: every visitor has a time slot, and groups enter every ten minutes.
  • Released in blocks: the official site puts months of tickets on sale at once, and the spring block sold most of its tickets within hours.
  • No sales at the Visitor Reception Centre: buy online or at the ticket office at the north access, if any are left.
  • No changes, no refunds on official tickets, except an exchange when the path closes for weather. Tours booked here cancel free up to 24 hours before.
  • Open Tuesday to Sunday: closed on Mondays, apart from a few announced ones, and on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January.
  • Arrive early: be at the access 30 minutes before your slot, and at the car park an hour before.
  • Allow three to four hours for the walk, plus the shuttle back.
  • Weather: strong wind, heavy rain or extreme heat can close the path, sometimes on the day.
  • Children under 8 are not allowed, and under-18s must be with an adult.
  • Children need an original ID or family book to prove their age. Adults must carry an ID document too.
  • Wheelchairs, prams, crutches and walking poles are not allowed, and you may not carry anyone on the boardwalks.
  • No animals, guide dogs included. No drones.
  • Closed shoes with grip, fastened at the heel. Flip-flops and heels are refused.
  • At least 1.5 litres of water each: there is none on the route, and no toilets either.
  • A small daypack with snacks. Large backpacks, umbrellas, tripods and selfie sticks stay behind.
  • Sun hat and sunscreen in summer, a light raincoat in winter. Read what to wear.
North accessThe startNear Ardales, by the reservoirs and El Kiosko restaurant, where most guided tours meet.
El ChorroThe finishThe south access in Álora, near the railway station and the shuttle stop.
MálagaAbout an hourBy car on the A-357, or by Renfe train to El Chorro station.
Shuttle busBoth waysLinks the two accesses all day. Pay online with your ticket or in cash on board.
The route7.7 kmOne way, mostly downhill, 2.9 km of it on the boardwalks.
Refund24 hoursFree cancellation up to a day before, on every tour on this site.

Where it happens

Where the tours start

Two gates, two meeting areas

Control booth, north access · Restaurante El Kiosko · La Garganta, El Chorro · Coach stops in Málaga

Most guided tours meet at the north access: at the control booth, a walk of about 1.5 km through the tunnel from the shuttle stop, or at El Kiosko restaurant. One tour meets at El Chorro, by the station, and includes the shuttle up to the start. The coach day trips collect you in Málaga, Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola or Seville.

  • Guided tours: north access, near Ardales
  • Shuttle tour: El Chorro, by the station
  • Day trips: pickup in the city or on the coast
See every tour by type

Around your trip

Everything else worth knowing

Seasons, what walkers wish they had known, what to see nearby, and the fine print.

  • Spring and autumn: mild days and green slopes. Our pick, and the slots go fastest.
  • Summer: hot. Heat has closed the path on some August days. The gorge gets more shade in the afternoon.
  • Winter: cool and quiet, but wind and heavy rain cause most closures.
  • Read the best time to visit guide.
  • Book the shuttle with your ticket online, or carry cash: the driver takes no cards.
  • Eat before or after. Only light snacks are allowed on the boardwalks, and there are no bins.
  • Mobile signal is weak in the gorge, so download your ticket before you leave.
  • Look down near the start: the old concrete path from 1905 still clings to the rock under the new one.
  • Look-alike ticket sites appear in search results. The official one is caminitodelrey.info.
  • Cueva de Ardales: a Palaeolithic cave with painted figures, visited only on small booked guided tours.
  • Bobastro: ruins of a ninth-century stronghold with a church cut into the rock, above El Chorro.
  • The reservoirs: turquoise lakes by the north access, with pine woods and picnic spots.
  • Ronda: another gorge, crossed by the Puente Nuevo. Our Ronda day trip page has it.
  • Every tour on this page cancels free up to 24 hours before.
  • Light rain: the path stays open, umbrellas are banned, bring a raincoat.
  • Strong wind closes the hanging bridge. Closures are posted a day ahead when possible, but can come on the day.
  • Official tickets cannot be refunded, only exchanged after a weather closure.

Desfiladero de los Gaitanes

A hundred metres up, the river below.

Pick how you get there, then pick your date.

Book now

Guest reviews

What walkers say

4.6 ★★★★★
16,680 reviews · Guided tour and entry ticket
GetYourGuide rating
★★★★★

Nice scenery. Comfortable walk. Great guide. Really enjoyed it.

Wayne · Guided tour and entry
★★★★★

Great experience. Easy to check in, friendly and helpful multi lingual staff. Route is simple to follow with stunning views.

Steve · Entry ticket
★★★★★

This is not to be missed. Splendid scenery and Spanish history. Would strongly recommend it!!

Ian · Day trip from Málaga
★★★★★

Amazing! I conquered my fear of heights and had THE most amazing experience.

Melanie · Guided tour with shuttle
★★★★★

Excellent tour, excellent guide (Rachel). Really enjoyed the history and pointing out things we would have missed.

Clare · Tour with official guide
★★★★★

Great hike with our guide, Pirate. And what a fantastic environment. Impressive canyon.

Henk · Accredited guided tour
★★★★★

Fantastic day with the family with spectacular scenery.

Catherine · Day trip from Málaga
★★★★★

Great trip with Ricardo ! Bring water and good shoes ( sometimes going down in slippery )

Moez · All included from Málaga
★★★★★

Great from the pick up, coach to the hike and back, well worth the visit.

Another gorge, another day

Add Ronda and Setenil

Walk inside the Gaitanes gorge one day, look into Ronda's El Tajo from its bridge the next.

From Málaga: Ronda & Setenil with Wine & Tapas

From Málaga: Ronda & Setenil with Wine & Tapas

★ 4.8 · 9 hours

The Caminito puts you inside a gorge. Ronda puts you on top of one: the Puente Nuevo spans the El Tajo canyon, and the day ends in Setenil de las Bodegas, a village built under its rocks. Book it for a different day.

Puente NuevoSetenil cave housesWine and tapas option

Length9 hoursFree cancellationBook this

The guide

The Caminito del Rey, explained

It was built for workmen, not walkers. A century later it is the most famous path in Andalusia, and one of the easiest to get wrong on the day.

A path for a power station

Between 1901 and 1905 the Sociedad Hidroeléctrica del Chorro pinned a narrow walkway to the walls of the gorge so its workers could move between two hydroelectric plants, carry materials and inspect the water canal. The engineer behind the scheme, Rafael Benjumea, went on to build the dam upstream. When King Alfonso XIII came to open it in May 1921, he walked the path, and the name stuck: el Caminito del Rey, the King's little path.

Then nobody maintained it. By the 1990s handrails were gone and whole sections had fallen into the river. Climbers kept coming anyway, several people died in 1999 and 2000, and in 2001 the accesses were closed. A new boardwalk, built above the old one, opened on 28 March 2015.

Remains of the old concrete path on rusted rails below the new boardwalk
The old path still clings to the rock under the new boardwalk.

What you actually walk

The route is 7.7 km, and only 2.9 km of it is boardwalk. You start in the north near Ardales, by the turquoise reservoirs, and reach the gate on an access path, either through a lit tunnel or past El Kiosko restaurant. Then come the Gaitanejo gorge, the open Valle del Hoyo, with a glass-floored balcony nearby, and the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, where the walls close in and the hanging footbridge crosses at about 105 metres above the river. Since June 2026 a new 110-metre suspension bridge offers a second way down to El Chorro. The whole thing runs downhill and takes three to four hours.

The honest small print: nothing sold online gets you a different boardwalk. A tour adds a guide, a coach or a shuttle, and that is the real choice. If you have a car and like your own pace, the plain entry ticket is all you need.

Ticket, guide or day trip?

A guided entry is the most popular option, and for good reason: the guide fills in the dams, the railway and the vultures, and you still drive yourself. The plain ticket suits walkers who want to stop where they like. Without a car, a coach day from Málaga or the coast is the simplest answer, and the shuttle tour from El Chorro station is the cleanest train option.

A long suspension bridge crossing high over a green river gorge
The suspension bridge that opened in June 2026, on the final stretch towards El Chorro.

When to book

Early. Official tickets go on sale in blocks months ahead, and spring dates disappear within hours of release. Spring and autumn are the kindest seasons to walk; summer brings heat closures and winter brings wind. Whatever the month, plan the way back before the way in.

Turquoise reservoir water below pine-covered hills near the north access
The reservoirs by the north access, where every walk begins.

Compare the tours

Guides

Plan it properly

In-depth guides to the questions people ask most before booking. See all guides.

TicketsRelease blocks, sold-out dates, ID and refunds.With or without a guideWhat a guide adds, and when you can skip one.Getting thereCar, train, shuttle or coach, and where to park.Is it scary?The heights, the bridges and who should skip it.What to wearShoes, layers, rain and the banned list.Best time to visitMonth by month, time of day and closures.

From the blog

News from the gorge

Ticket releases, closures and what is new on the path. All posts.

Changes planned for 2027A visitor cap, more guides, new works. Still a proposal.Winter tickets 2026-2027The December to May block, sold-out dates and closures.The new suspension bridge110 metres long, 50 metres up, and optional.

FAQ

Questions before you book

Straight answers to what people ask most about the Caminito del Rey.

How difficult is the Caminito del Rey?

Not very. It is 7.7 km in total, mostly downhill, with 2.9 km on the boardwalks and the rest on access paths. Allow three to four hours. You need normal fitness and a head for heights, not hiking experience. More in is the Caminito del Rey scary.

Can I do the Caminito del Rey without a guide?

Yes. The general entry ticket lets you walk on your own, and safety staff are posted along the route. A guide adds the history of the dams, the railway and the old path. See guided or on your own.

Can you just turn up at the Caminito del Rey?

Not safely. Entry is by timed slot, the Visitor Reception Centre does not sell tickets, and slots for spring and winter sell out within hours of release. Book first: the tickets guide explains how.

How long does the Caminito del Rey take?

Three to four hours from the car park to the exit, according to the official site. The boardwalk part takes about an hour and a half to two hours. Add the shuttle ride back to the start.

Where does the Caminito del Rey start and finish?

It runs one way only, from the north access near Ardales to the south access at El Chorro. The two ends are far apart by road, so you return on the shuttle bus or a tour coach. The getting there guide has every option.

How do I get to the Caminito del Rey from Málaga?

By car on the A-357 towards Ardales, by Renfe train to El Chorro station, or on a coach tour such as the day trip from Málaga and the Costa del Sol, which includes the entry and a guide.

Is the Caminito del Rey safe?

Yes for normally fit visitors who follow the rules. The old path, where several people died in 1999 and 2000, was closed and replaced by a new boardwalk with railings in 2015. Helmets are compulsory, and staff and first-aid points line the route.

Is the Caminito del Rey OK if you are scared of heights?

Most people with a mild fear of heights manage, because the railings are high and the path is wide enough to keep to the wall. The cantilevered sections and the hanging bridge sit about 105 metres above the river. Vertigo is a real reason to skip it.

What should I wear for the Caminito del Rey?

Closed shoes with grip that are fastened at the heel, layers, a sun hat and at least 1.5 litres of water. Large backpacks, walking poles, umbrellas and selfie sticks are not allowed. The what to wear guide has the full list.

Do I need my passport for the Caminito del Rey?

Bring an ID document. Adults must carry one, and children aged 8 to 17 must prove their age with an original ID or family book. Children under 8 are not allowed in.

What is the best time to visit the Caminito del Rey?

Spring and autumn, for mild days. Summer heat can close the path, and winter wind can too. Our best time guide goes month by month.

Can I cancel a tour if the path closes?

Every tour on this site cancels free up to 24 hours before. If the Caminito closes for weather, the terms depend on the operator: the day trip from Málaga, for one, offers a full refund or a new date.

Ready to book

Helmet on, step out over the gorge.

Timed entry, local guides and free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every tour.

Guided tour and entryBook this Day trip from MálagaBook this

More: the entry ticket · the shuttle tour · the day trip from Seville

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