Caminito del Rey is a beautiful trail and one of the most memorable experiences in Andalusia, Spain. The path is well-maintained, safe, and adapted for visitors.
Nevertheless, the feeling of “extremeness” never disappears. Narrow paths, cliffs, and great heights create a strong impression – especially during the first and last minutes, when you must cross a hanging bridge.
Caminito del Rey – what you need to know before you go
The most impressive spots on Caminito del Rey
For the kids and us, the highlights were:
- narrow wooden walkways built into the cliffs
- the glass observation platform
- the hanging bridge at the end of the route
As you walk, new views constantly open up – canyons, the river below, and high cliffs all around. It’s one of those places where it’s hard to stop taking photos.
Practical information before visiting
How to get there? We arrived the evening before, stayed overnight in the town of Ardales, and after the hike, continued to Ronda. If you want to reach Caminito del Rey from Málaga, it’s not far either – driving from Málaga takes about one hour.
It’s important to know that the entrance and exit are in different places, so you need to plan your return.
One option is to arrive at the special parking lot (parking costs about 2 euros), then take a bus (2.5 euros per person) that takes you to the starting point. Note that from where the bus drops you off, you’ll still need to walk about 1.5 km to the entrance. After completing the trail, you’ll end up in the town of El Chorro, where another special bus will take you back to the parking lot.
Another option, recommended by our accommodation host and which worked perfectly for us, is to arrive in El Chorro, park your car there (ideally near the train and bus station, or in the free public parking lot below), and take the bus to the entrance. After the walk, you won’t need to wait for a bus – you can continue your journey directly from your parked car.
Tickets
Tickets must be purchased in advance. Absolutely! And as early as possible. We bought ours from our partner’s website, as there were no spots left on the official site. Do not risk trying to get tickets on the day, especially during holidays or high season – the number of people allowed on the trail is limited, and tickets often sell out.
Since we couldn’t get tickets from the official website, we bought them from our partner’s site. No extra registration was needed. We were admitted with these tickets.
There are several options:
- buy entrance tickets and walk independently (usually only available on the official website)
- buy a guided tour – we chose this, and it was totally worth it. The guide accompanied us during the hike and shared the history of the trail, plus information about the plants and animals.
We recommend choosing a guide if you want to learn more.
The route and other practical information
- Trail length: about 7–8 km
- Duration: ~2.5–3 hours
- The route is one-way.
- It’s not a physically difficult hike, but you need comfortable shoes (not necessarily hiking boots, but closed shoes suitable for long walks), suitable clothing, water, and sunscreen.
- At the start, you’ll be given helmets (it’s mandatory to wear them throughout the hike).
- Is it suitable for kids? Yes, but only for children over 8 years old. IDs are checked if there’s any doubt about age.
- The hike is only for those who are not afraid of heights.
- Toilets are available only at the beginning (before the entrance) and at the end of the trail.
- At the end of the hike, you’ll find places to get food and drinks.
