Caminito del Rey
Pinned to the sheer limestone walls of the Gaitanes Gorge 60 km north of Málaga, the Caminito del Rey is a restored 8 km mountain pathway that threads through one of the most dramatic river gorges in Europe — with sections of glass-floored walkway suspended 100 metres above the Guadalhorce river below.
The route and the scenery
The trail begins at the northern entrance near Ardales and ends at the southern exit near Álora, passing through two distinct gorges — the Gaitanejo and the Gaitanes — connected by a high plateau of wild scrubland. The most spectacular section is the narrow gorge where the boardwalk clings to a vertical cliff face barely a metre wide, with swifts screaming past at eye level.
The original pathway was built between 1901 and 1905 for workers maintaining the hydroelectric infrastructure; at its most dangerous it earned the nickname 'the world's most dangerous path'. The fully restored and safety-certified version reopened in 2015 and is now entirely safe, though vertigo-inducing views remain very much part of the deal.
Planning your visit
The trail is one-way and requires pre-booked timed entry — slots sell out weeks ahead in spring and autumn, which are the best seasons (summer heat in the gorge is intense). Book directly at caminitodelrey.info. The standard ticket costs €10 plus a €1.50 booking fee.
Shuttle buses connect the two entrance points; most visitors take the bus to the northern gate at Ardales and walk south to Álora, where a train runs back to Málaga Centro-Alameda station in about 45 minutes. Allow 4–5 hours total including transport.
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