Caminitio del Rey – Follow the King’s footsteps

El Caminito del Rey (The King’s little pathway) is a walkway, pinned along the steep walls of a narrow canyon in El Chorro, near Ardales in the province of Malaga, Spain. The name is often shortened to Camino del Rey (English: King’s pathway). The walkway had fallen into disrepair and was partially closed for over a decade. After four years of extensive repairs and renovations, the walkway re-opened in 2015. It has been known in the past as the “world’s most dangerous walkway” following five deaths in 1999 and 2000.

The walkway was built to provide workers at the hydroelectric power plants at Chorro Falls and Gaitanejo Falls, on order to cross them, to provide for transport of materials, and to facilitate inspection and maintenance of the channel. The construction began in 1901 and was finished in 1905. King Alfonso XIII crossed the walkway in 1921 for the inauguration of the dam Conde del Guadalhorce and it became known by its present name. The walkway is 1 meter (3 ft) in width, and rises over 100 metres (330 ft) above the river below.

The original path was constructed of concrete and rested on steel rails supported by stanchions built at around 45 degrees into the rock face. It deteriorated over the years and there were numerous sections where parts or the entire concrete top had collapsed. The result was large open-air gaps bridged only by narrow steel beams or other supports. Few of the original handrails existed although a safety wire ran the length of the path. Several people lost their lives on the walkway and, after two fatal accidents in 1999 and 2000, the local government closed both entrances. Even so, in the 4 years to 2013, four people died attempting to climb the canyon.

The regional government of Andalusia and the local government of Málaga agreed in June 2011 to share costs of restoration (including car parking and a museum) of €9 million. The project took approximately three years to complete. Many of the original features remained in place.

In March 2014, the cornerstone of the rehabilitation project was laid by specialized alpinists. The walkway reopened on 29 March 2015 and was listed in the best new attractions for 2015 by Lonely Planet. Total length of the route is 7.7 km, divided into 4.8 km long access ways and 2.9 km long boardwalks. As for the boardwalks, the most famous part of the trail, 2.9 km of their length between the entrance to them and the exit point, comprises 1.5 km long boardwalks, and 1.4 km long paths or forest walkways. Estimated time for the full length of the route (this is the way that comprises the two boardwalks, and the paths and the forest walkways that serve as the entrance to the area or its exit) is between 3 and 4 hours. Visitors should mind the long distance and the steep slopes that are to be covered in order to access the boardwalks.

If you start your trip in Málaga City, take the A–357 motorway, and go towards MA-444, through the Municipalities of Cártama, Pizarra, Carratraca, and Ardales. This route is 59.1 km long, and it takes 50 minutes by car. In Pizarra, you can also go to Álora by motorway, and then along A-343 to the train station El Chorro. This route is a little bit longer – 60 km, and you will take a little more than one hour to get to your destination. The road is narrower and curvier than the previous one. There are coaches between the northern access (Ardales) and the southern one (El Chorro), which go in both directions. The tickets are available at a very reasonable price, depending on whether you have a transport card for the area of Málaga.  Thanks to the coaches, visitors who come to El Caminito del Rey Path will be able to go back to the start point along the MA-444 road.

ATTENTION: The path El Caminito del Rey is linear not circular. This is why you need to make sure to come back to the start on your own. Nevertheless, there are coaches between the northern access (Ardales) and the southern one (El Chorro), which go in both directions. The tickets are available at a very reasonable price of € 0.94 or 1.5, depending on whether you have a transport card for the area of Málaga.  Thanks to the coaches, visitors who come to El Caminito del Rey Path will be able to go back to the start point along the MA-444 road.

For more information and ticket reservations click here.

Merken