Caminito Del Rey, Andalusia: All About the World’s Most Dangerous Path

The world’s most dangerous path, the path of death, the suicide path, or even the King’s Path. These are all names for the famous Caminito del Rey trail clinging to cliffs hundreds of meters above vast canyons. You’ll find Caminito del Rey in southeastern Andalusia, ideally as a day trip from Malaga. So, do you want to experience a bit of adrenaline? In this guide I will share with you everything about Caminito Del Rey, Andalusia: All About the World’s Most Dangerous Path.

If you don’t have an extreme fear of heights and want to experience this exceptional scenery, then definitely don’t hesitate and head to this trail in Spain. The trail winds around high rock walls, through narrow gorges above the river canyon, and don’t worry, today it is completely safe.

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Caminito Del Rey: Basic Information

Caminito del Rey is an approximately 8 km long trail, which was formerly considered one of the most dangerous in the world, even earning the nickname path of death. Today, however, it is no longer so dangerous and offers tourists a unique experience in the form of a walk along a path hanging over 100 meters high on a vertical rock face with views of breathtaking nature and a canyon-like valley.

The trail leads through cliffs, canyons, and the Guadalhorce River valley, full of beautiful nature. You might notice flying birds of prey, fish in the river, and if you’re lucky like us, you’ll even see a family of chamois. However, snakes, lizards, and spiders also live in the area. You probably won’t encounter them during your visit.

At the start of the trail, you’ll be given a hygienic hairnet and a safety helmet, which you must not remove from your head throughout the entire journey. And if you have children under 8 years old, unfortunately, they are not allowed on the trail.

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History of the Trail

The Caminito del Rey trail, literally ‘King’s Path’, was built in 1905 and served to provide access for employees to the hydroelectric power plants in the area.

It is named after King Alfonso XIII., who came to the trail in 1921 to inaugurate the construction of the El Chorro hydroelectric power plant. This was intended to ensure sufficient water and electricity for the residents of Malaga. However, the King only walked 700 meters along the trail.

Over time, however, the trail began to deteriorate due to insufficient maintenance, and this caused several falls and tragic deaths. Concrete sections collapsed, railings were missing, and in some places, only iron beams remained.

Thus, in 1999, the trail was closed to the public. However, this only added to its exclusivity and did not prevent further fatal accidents. The Spanish authorities thus decided to reconstruct the trail, and in 2015 it reopened to tourists (the renovation cost 138,000,000 CZK).

Interesting fact: Underneath the new trail, you can notice the remnants of what the trail looked like before. It’s a chilling sight.

Difficulty and Length of the Route

At first glance, it might seem that Caminito del Rey is only for adrenaline junkies. But that’s not the case. The entire route from the tunnel to the end of the scenic section is approximately 8 kilometers long and is almost entirely flat. Therefore, it’s easily manageable even for people with lower physical fitness.

You can complete the entire route in approximately 3 hours, but of course, it depends on your abilities, pace, and number of stops.

It might be more challenging for those who are afraid of heights. The walkways are at a great height, but you can’t fully see beneath them, so you don’t feel like you’re hanging in mid-air. However, I see a problematic part towards the end of the trail, where a suspension bridge awaits you, through which you can see down and which sways a bit. Another attraction is the “balcony” with a glass floor, which only four people can access at a time.

Caminito Del Rey: 3 Parts of the Trail

The trail itself begins in front of the Gaitanejo hydroelectric power plant area, where you will show your valid ticket. You should be at this location at the time indicated on your purchased ticket. We were about half an hour late because we had trouble finding parking and the entrance, but they still let us in without any issue. (However, for the easier work of local staff and tour organization, I do not recommend this approach. 😄)

Subsequently, you will receive a helmet from the staff and listen to a brief safety briefing. After that, you will either be admitted to the route or you will set off into the area with a guide (depending on the type of ticket you purchase).

The first part of the route leads along the rocks above the river, and the passage is not at such a great height. The rock crevice will eventually open up, giving you a view of the Hoyo valley. While walking through the first part, you might notice pigeons nesting in the narrow rocks and birds of prey circling above the cliffs.

The second part of the route is the Hoyo valley, where you will find yourself back “on solid ground”. Along the way, you can enjoy magnificent views of the river valley, rocks, and nature. This part of the route is suitable for rest or a snack. If you’re lucky, you might encounter some animals.

The third, and probably most beautiful, part of the trail is the Gaitanes Gorge. You’ll find yourself back on wooden walkways, but this time they are much higher and offer magnificent views. You’ll reach a spot where the rocks are truly enormous, and a scenic train railway runs through them. It was at this very spot that we encountered much bolder adventurers — a pair of climbers.

Continuing along the path, you’ll reach the “balcony” with a glass floor, which offers perhaps the best angle for photos.

Soon you’ll reach the suspension bridge, which is the real adrenaline rush. The bridge is suspended at a height of 105 meters and is built from a metal grid, so you can see all the way to the ground. Unfortunately, for the faint-hearted, there’s no turning back, and you simply have to cross the bridge.

After the adrenaline-pumping crossing, only the rest of the route, a few tens of meters, awaits you. You will arrive at the village of El Chorro, where you’ll return your helmets, can refresh yourself, and use the restroom. Subsequently, you’ll board a bus that will take you back to the start of the route. That is, unless you’re parked in El Chorro.

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When to Visit the Trail

Caminito del Rey is open every day from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM (last possible entry) except Mondays (Monday entries are only sometimes available, check availability on the website).

Caminito del Rey is a trail through nature, so it’s a good idea to check the weather forecast before you plan your trip. The best time to visit depends on your preferences.

However, if there’s a risk of strong winds or heavy rain, the organizers may close the trail for safety reasons. If the weather is unfavorable, you will be given an alternative date for your visit. However, this is not very convenient for tourists. Visits are permitted during occasional rain.

Where to Buy Tickets

Before tackling the trail, you’ll need tickets, as the route is subject to a fee. You can purchase them online via the official website, where you can also purchase parking and a shuttle bus ticket.

Or you can choose one of the organized tours to Caminito del Rey on the travel portal GetYourGuide.

But beware, tickets need to be secured well in advance. It is recommended at least 2 months in advance, because only a specific number are sold for a certain day and time, so they tend to sell out very quickly.

You can purchase admission in two forms, namely:

• basic for 10 euros,
• or with a guide for 18 euros.

Basic admission means you only pay for entry to the trail and then walk it yourself at your own pace. With a guide, you’ll have a guided tour in a group.

I bought tickets a month before flying to Malaga, and of course, the basic tickets were already sold out. But since we really wanted to go on the trail, we had no choice but to pay for a guide as well.

If you pay extra for tickets with a guide, at the entrance, in addition to a helmet, you’ll receive headphones with a radio and listen to the commentary along the way. The commentary about the trail is interesting and in English, but the group’s pace is quite slow. Fortunately, the guide announced at the very beginning that we could leave the group anytime and walk the trail at our own pace. Which we did right after the first part of the trail.

How to get to the Trail

Caminito del Rey is located in Spanish Ardales in southeastern Andalusia. Therefore, you can take a trip to the King’s Path from Malaga, Ronda, or even further afield Seville. However, the closest major city is Malaga, from where you can drive along the A-357 road or take a train to the village of El Chorro.

We had a rental car, and the journey from Malaga took us about an hour. By train, it takes 45 minutes, and a one-way ticket costs 6 euros.

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Where to Park

If you go on a trip to Caminito del Rey by car, then you have several parking options.

Assuming you purchase parking as part of your ticket (for 2 euros), your parking lot will be the very first one you encounter upon arrival and is called Visitors’ Reception Centre Parking. However, from there it’s quite a distance to the trail entrance, and you’ll need to arrive at least an hour in advance and then approach the entrance tunnels by bus.

The second option near the shorter tunnel is the smaller Ardales car park, which also costs 2 euros but tends to fill up quickly. The third option is several parking spaces near the El Kiosko restaurant, but again — they are usually already taken.

Another option is to park at the end of the trail in the village of El Chorro. From there, you can use bus transport to get to the entrance of Caminito del Rey. The last and free option is the edges of the local roads.

Where is the Entrance?

Personally, I found the trail entrance quite confusingly marked, and at first, we had no idea where to go. Caminito del Rey actually has two entrances in the form of tunnels. One is located next to the El Kiosko restaurant and is longer (2.7 km), the second is about 250 meters higher right next to the main road, and that one is shorter (1.5 km).

Take the shorter tunnel if you have a ticket with a guide. If you’re going alone, the choice of path is up to you. However, keep in mind that the time on your purchased ticket is counted from the entrance to the trail, not from the tunnel. Therefore, allow enough time for the walk to the main entrance (approx. 30 minutes).

If you’re wondering which direction to walk the trail, you can forget about it right away. The trail is one-way and a shuttle bus runs between its beginning and end, which will take you back and forth as many times as you need.

Understand it this way: if the exit of the route in El Chorro is closer for you, you can park your car there, and a bus, which runs every half hour, will take you to the trail entrance.

Caminito Del Rey Shuttle Bus

The shuttle bus runs between the entrance and exit of the trail every day when Caminito del Rey is open, at 30-minute intervals. A ticket costs 2.50 euros and can be purchased from the driver or at the stop’s booth.

Payment is only possible in cash. The advantage is that for 2.50 euros, you can ride between stops as many times as you wish.

The bus has a total of four stops, namely at the Visitors’ Reception Centre Parking, El Kiosko restaurant, Ardales car park, and the village of El Chorro, where the trail ends.

Tips for Visiting the Caminito Del Rey Trail

Here are a few final tips for you:

• You can bring drinks and a snack for refreshment on the trail.
• Wear suitable and comfortable footwear; it doesn’t have to be trekking boots, but they won’t let you in with flip-flops.
• Don’t forget sunscreen or, conversely, a raincoat (depending on the weather forecast).
• Selfie sticks are not allowed on the trail.
• There are no restrooms available on the trail.
• If you plan your Caminito del Rey visit for the morning, you can still fit in another trip.

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