Ocio

Some tips to visit the Caminito del Rey


entorno caminito del rey

Without a doubt, the Caminito del Rey is an essential visit when you are in Malaga. Reopened to the public after an intense reform in 2015, it offers the visitor an 8.5-kilometer route between trails and walkways that are suspended 100 meters high. His visit brings us closer to the Natural Site of the Gorge of the Gaitanes, a limestone rock gorge created by the passage of the Guadalhorce River over millions of years. The culminating moment: crossing the suspension bridge almost ending the route.

caminito del rey
Walkway in the Caminito del Rey, Image: Visit Costa del Sol

However, a visit to the Caminito del Rey without prior planning can make you not enjoy to the fullest what is one of the best experiences to be amazed at the Costa del Sol. We will give you some tips:

Reserve your ticket

First, it is necessary to book your ticket in advance. There are two main modes: through the portal https://reservas.caminitodelrey.info/, where there is very little availability and you have to reserve it well in advance; or manage it through any of the tourist establishments and agencies that exist in the environment.

We also offer you the possibility to book this activity from one of the guided tours available, we leave you the link below.

Reach the Caminito del Rey

To get to Caminito del Rey, you can do it in your own car, by train or by bus.

If you decide to take your own car, you can park it for a small fee (between € 3 and € 5) in the areas enabled for it both in the South zone in El Chorro (Álora) and in the North zone (Ardales).

From Málaga capital, a train leaves daily to Caminito del Rey. With the purchase of the ticket, as it is a combined trip, you will have the round trip ticket, access to nearby, shuttle bus and the entrance to Caminito del Rey. These tickets you cannot buy beforehand. The arrival station is about 15 minutes from the entrance to the Caminito. Next to the station, you can find shuttle buses that will bring you closer to the beginning of the Caminito del Rey path.

aparcar caminito del rey
Parking areas in the Caminito del Rey. Map: CaminitodelRey.info
 

Wear comfortable clothes

El Caminito del Rey is considered an active tourism activity, with which we recommend that you dress in comfortable clothes suitable for the occasion. Hiking shoes, sneakers with grip, cotton t-shirt, pants, a raincoat if it is in winter and a cap if it is in summer … The Caminito del Rey is not a walk in the city, it is an 8 km route in a natural environment. 

Protect yourself from the sun (or rain)

Being an activity that takes place outdoors, it is essential that you apply sunscreen and wear a cap that protects you from the sun. In winter time, do not forget a raincoat. However, you will not be able to carry an umbrella, since it is not allowed on the tour.

Do not miss something to snack

Taking the tour can take between 2 and 3 hours, so we recommend you bring something to snack on such as nuts or fruit. If the visit is at lunchtime, you can bring sandwiches. Keep in mind that there are no shops or vending machines throughout the tour.

Go to the bathroom before starting

Another of the tips we give you when you visit Caminito del Rey is to do your homework before leaving. There are no bathrooms on the entire tour, so you better go to the bathroom before starting.

Make sure you turn around

The route of the Caminito del Rey is linear, although next year the works will begin to make it circulate. Therefore, when you finish the tour of the South Gate (Álora), if you have left your vehicle in the North (Ardales) area, you can return to it through the shuttle bus service.

El Caminito del Rey with children

Children over 8 years old accompanied by adults are allowed to enter Caminito del Rey. If you decide to do this activity as a family, the tour can be tremendously fun, but do not forget that you are in a natural environment with walkways over 70 meters high, so you will have to walk with caution. The path is guarded by a railing and a metal mesh, from where we can not fall, unless we make an effort to do so.

puente caminito del rey
Bridge over the Caminito del Rey. Image: Malaga Hoy

Enjoy the surroundings

The surroundings of Caminito del Rey are full of wonderful places to know. In the area of the Swamps (North Access), you can enjoy water sports and vestiges of the great hydraulic works that were carried out in the area in the 19th century. One of the most emblematic things to visit in the Reservoirs is the so-called “Armchair of the King“; which is a set of two benches, an armchair and a table all made of stone, where King Alfonso XIII signed the completion of the works of the Conde de Guadalhorce reservoir. From the King’s Armchair, on the other side of the reservoir you can see the “Engineer’s House” or “House of the Count”, to which the passage is closed.

In addition, you can visit the Ruins of Bobastro, an old Mozarabic church located on a large sandstone plateau known as Mesas de Villaverde. In the area there are still vestiges of Bobastro, one of the most conflictive medieval cities in the history of the area.

bobastro caminito del rey
Mozarabic hermitage of Bobastro. Image: Toñi Gallego

In the South (El Chorro), you can enjoy the best views of the Gaitanes Gorge or take any of the hiking trails that are marked by the area. The Arab Staircase, for example, allows you to cross the Sierra de los Castillejos through its central part, taking advantage of a discontinuity in the wall and thanks to the steps carved into the rock and the stones and rocks of the place. This was how to save a steep slope more comfortably for both men and animals, avoiding having to make a long detour to access the Cortijo de Campedrero.

Ideal accommodation to visit the Caminito del Rey with Cubo’s

From Cubo’s we offer you a wide variety of rural houses in the province of Malaga that you can book to visit this emblematic place, we have different options of villas or houses about an hour away, so you can enjoy a day to make this route and you will also be very close to the best beaches on the Costa del Sol.



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *