Caminito del Rey in Málaga: A must-see nature walk

Want to get a little adrenaline in the blood during your next visit to the Costa del Sol? Forget it if you suffer from vertigo….
Then we can recommend a visit to the newly renovated path called in Spanish “El Caminito del Rey” in the El Chorro area of Malaga.

The path “Caminito del Rey” is located about an hour’s drive from Malaga a little further inland from  Alòra and was built in 1905 by the Hydroelectric company El Chorro as it needed to have an access between its two hydroelectric power plants lying in the mountain gorge Desfiladero de los Gaitanes. The path was to make easier access for the maintenance workers overseeing the hydropower stations and transport material between them. The pathway was carved into the steep mountainside and a suspension bridge crosses the several hundred meter deep gorge.

As time passed by the lack of maintenance made the path deteriorate but despite of that as the area is famous for mountain climbing, it was continued to be used by climbers.  After several fatal accidents happened due to the poor state of the path, it was closed off.

A year ago, the regional government began to renovate and reconstruct this path. It has been a very complicated work to get the pathway reconstructed, but now it is finally set for opening.

The trail is 3 km long and made of wooden beams which are drilled into the mountain with iron bars. Some places along the path have glass floor so you can see the gorge and the river hundreds meters below you.

To get an idea of the heights where the path goes, then take a look at this beautiful video. We are sure that even with the worst fear of heights you want to take the walk or perhaps, not …?

Watch here the video how the royal path was reconstructed.

The official opening is being planned so that it is open for Easter, but so far the set day has not been published. In order to visit the path you must reserve online (the website is still not published), as it only allows groups of 25-30 people at a time to go on the trail with a guide. The first 3 months the entrance will be for free.

As soon as we hear where and how you can reserve online for a visit to El Caminito del Rey, we will let you know via our newsletter or Facebook.

Caminito Gossip! The trail was named the “royal pathway” after the king Alonso XIII went along the path during his inauguration in 1921 of a water reservoir.  It also featured in the 20thCentury Fox film called Von Ryan’s Express and until its repair was known as one of the world’s most dangerous hikes!  Antonio Banderas has already been to see it with the Mayor of Malaga.  Day 2 of the Cycling Tour of Spain will wiz around the Caminito area on  the 22nd of  August!

Click here to see the official website of the El Caminito del Rey.

How to get to El Chorro:
From Malaga take the A-357 towards Cartama and at km 22 follow the signs for  El Chorro, Embalses. Here you can either stop at El Chorro – or continue and follow the directions for a walk along the trail Sendero de Gaitanejo which is a circuit of 5.5 km.

Photos: Diputación de Málaga