The Caminito del Rey is one of the most famous walks in Spain. A series of boardwalk pathways cling to the cliffs of a gorge, creating a thrilling yet scenic walk.
The Caminito del Rey once had the distinction of being one of the most dangerous walks in the world, when the original, deteriorating concrete trail fell into disrepair. It attracted thrill seekers from around the world, but in 2014, brand new boardwalks were built, making this a much safer walk. Some may say that it lost some of its thrill factor, but it remains a very popular experience in southern Spain.
We walked the Caminito del Rey in May 2024. In this guide, we cover what you need to know to walk the Caminito del Rey, with up-to-date information on the trail, tours, the shuttle bus route, and other important things to know before you go.
Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
What is the Caminito del Rey?
El Caminito del Rey (The King’s Little Path) is a walkway that runs through the Gaitanes Gorge. It was constructed between 1901 and 1905 to access the Hydroelectric Power Station El Chorro.
In 1921, King Alfonso the 13th walked this trail, giving it the name “Caminito del Rey.”
Over the years, the concrete trail fell into disrepair. Hikers and thrill seekers from around the world walked the crumbling concrete platforms, using mountaineering gear for safety.
In 2014 the original trail closed. Between 2014 and 2015, wooden boardwalk trails were built, replacing the original concrete trails. The concrete trails still are in place, they just sit a meter or two below the newer boardwalks.
The boardwalk paths run along the cliffs of the gorge. In some places, these trails hover 100 meters above the river.
Where is the Caminito del Rey?
The Caminito del Rey is located in Andalusia, Spain, near the cities of Ronda and Málaga.
How Do You Get to the Caminito del Rey?
The easiest way to get to the Caminito del Rey is by car. If you will not have a rental car, it is possible to travel to El Chorro by train and use the Caminito del Rey shuttle bus to get around. Another option is to join a guided tour from Málaga.
Map of the Caminito del Rey Trail & Parking
Below is a map of the area, which includes the parking lots, shuttle bus stops, Caminito del Rey walking trail, and the walking route to get to the Caminito del Ray path.
How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest and the walking routes. Click the star next to the title of the map to add this map to your Google Maps account. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu button, go to “Your Places,” click Maps, and you will see this map on your list.
Caminito del Rey Trail Guide
Next up is what to expect on the Caminito del Rey, from start to finish. After this section, we get into tickets, parking, and the use of the shuttles, which can be a bit complicated.
But first, our Caminito del Rey Trail Guide.
Caminito del Rey Stats
Distance: 4.8 kilometers (3 miles) one-way
Difficulty: Easy
Time: 1 to 3 hours
These are the stats for the Caminito del Rey trail only. You may see different numbers on other websites, but those numbers include some of the additional walking you will do to get to and from the trail (we list this next).
There is a wide range of time, depending on how fast you move. Guided tours move very slowly through the gorge whereas if you are a fast hiker and aren’t on a tour, you can do this walk much faster.
The Caminito del Rey is one-way only. It starts at the North Entrance and ends at the South Entrance.
To get to the North Entrance, it is a 1.6 km (1 mile) walk from Restaurante El Kiosko (the bus stop and parking closest to the North Entrance). From the South Entrance, it is a 450 meter (0.25 mile) walk to the bus stop.
Grand Total: 7 km (4.33 miles); this includes the Caminito del Rey trail plus the additional walks to get to and from the trail. Note: the official website lists a longer distance because they are using a longer walking route to get to the North Entrance.
Restaurante El Kiosko
This restaurant is the starting point for the entire experience. There is a shuttle bus stop here (more on this later) and the drop off point for tours of the Caminito del Rey. A short walk up the street is a small parking lot.
This restaurant has three toilets and when we did this, it took us 30 minutes to wait in line to use the bathroom. There are also toilets at the North Entrance, but for whatever reason, they were not open during our visit (but there are quite a few of them and they look relatively new so hopefully they open soon!). Once on the trail, there are no toilets.
Water and snacks are available for purchase from the restaurant.
From Restaurante El Kiosko, there are two walking routes to the North Entrance. We picked the shorter of the two (the official website uses the distance of the longer route in their stats). This walk starts off flat and runs along the road, then goes through a short tunnel, and then is a slightly downhill walk on a wide gravel road. This walk is 1.6 km (1 mile) and takes 15 to 20 minutes.
This is the map located at the El Kiosko Restaurant showing the two walking routes to the entrance of the Caminito del Rey. We walked the dark blue route, the shorter of the two routes.
North Entrance
This is where you will show your ticket and pick up your helmet.
There are three lines: those with tickets for a guided visit, those with tickets for an unguided visit, and a line to purchase tickets. On the day we did this, only guided tours were available for purchase.
Once you have your helmet and have joined your group (for those taking a guided tour), you will start the hike.
There are toilets here but again, they were closed during our visit.
The Caminito del Rey
The very first thing you will see is the hydroelectric plant. This is a popular spot to stop and take photos, plus you will get your first glimpse of the gorge.
The first view into the gorge
From the start of the trail, it is roughly a 400 meter walk to get onto the first boardwalk trail.
Entrance onto the boardwalk paths
The first series of boardwalk paths takes you through a very narrow gorge. This first section is the shorter of the two boardwalk trails and not quite as high as what you will walk later. It’s a nice warm up for what is to come.
Here is the first section in photos:
Once you emerge from the gorge, you will walk on dirt paths that take you in and out of trees, with views of Rio Guadalhorce. This section is about 1.5 km (1 mile) long.
Next comes the best part of the Caminito del Rey. This second section of boardwalk trails sits higher than the first section and is much more dramatic. You can see the old concrete paths sitting below the newer boardwalks, plus the views of the gorge are incredible.
Other perks of this part of the trail are a glass platform that hovers far above the river and spectacular views in all directions.
Entrance onto the second section of boardwalk paths
This is the view looking back towards the first gorge
One of the first things you will come to is this glass platform
This section ends with a walk across a suspension bridge and a few more boardwalk platforms clinging to the cliffs.
To get off of the boardwalk trail, be prepared for a stair climb. At this point, your feet will hit another gravel trail. It is a relatively easy walk to the end point of the Caminito del Rey. Be sure to turn around every once in a while…you get a great view of the boardwalk trails attached to the vertical cliffs.
Helmet Drop Off & End of the Caminito del Rey
From the end of the boardwalk trail to the helmet drop off point, it is a 1.4 km (0.9 mile) walk. Drop off your helmets here. There are small food and souvenir stands as well as toilets.
From this point, it is a 450-meter uphill walk to get to the shuttle bus stop in El Chorro.
Doing This Guided versus Unguided
You have two options on how to walk the Caminito del Rey: guided and unguided.
We did the walk unguided. Tickets for unguided visits are very limited but it is the way to go. Doing this walk at your own pace and not in a large group is a much better experience, in our opinion.
This is a very safe walk and no special equipment is needed, other than a helmet, which is included with your entrance fee. You don’t need via ferrata equipment or special shoes, and no experience rock climbing or doing a via ferrata is necessary.
The only advantage of taking a guided tour, that I can think of, is having a guide to tell you the history of the gorge and possibly spot wildlife in the cliffs and mountains above the trail.
The guided groups move at a very slow pace. If you want to take lots of photos and learn this history, a guided tour may be worth it for you. But if you like to move a bit faster, or don’t like the idea of group tours, book an unguided ticket to the Caminito del Rey.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: For the best overall experience, book one of the first unguided time slot to the Caminito del Rey. You’ll get ahead of the tour groups and have the chance to walk the boardwalks with relatively few people. The downside is that there will be shadows in the gorge that early in the morning, so photography could be a bit challenging.
Caminito del Rey Tickets
There are two ticket types:
- General (Unguided): €10
- Guided Visit: €18
Purchase your ticket in advance on the official website. Tickets are available roughly 3 months in advance. As soon as you know your dates of travel, book your tickets, because this is a popular activity and tickets sell out fast.
When you purchase your ticket, you will book a time slot for entry. This is the time you need to be at the North Entrance of the Caminito del Rey. It takes approximately one hour to ride the shuttle to the El Kiosko restaurant and walk to the North Entrance. If you have a 10 am entrance time, plan on parking no later than 9 am, to give yourself enough time to get to the North Entrance.
General (unguided) tickets are limited and sell out far in advance. If you cannot purchase an unguided ticket on the official website, check GetYourGuide. We purchased our unguided tickets on GetYourGuide since they were sold out on the official website. These tickets are called ‘Caminito del Rey: Entry Ticket’ on GetYourGuide.
Guided tickets are also available on GetYourGuide, if all tickets are sold out for the day you plan to do this walk.
IMPORTANT: Children younger than 8 years are not permitted to walk the Caminito del Rey.
Caminito del Rey Shuttles & Parking
If you have a rental car, there are two parking lots for the Caminito del Rey: one near the El Kiosko restaurant and one at the Caminito del Rey Reception Center.
There is a shuttle bus that makes a loop, connecting these two parking lots and El Chorro. The shuttles run roughly every 10 to 15 minutes, depending on demand.
Caminito del Rey Reception Center
According to the official website, the Caminito del Rey Reception Center is the preferred parking lot. This is a very large lot with ample parking. There are toilets here but for some reason they were not open during our visit.
This lot has parking attendants and we felt like our car was very secure here. If you are doing this hike and will have luggage or bags in your car, this is the safest place to park from our research and experience.
Parking cost €2, paid in cash.
This is where we parked and highly recommend it.
Parking near the North Entrances
There is a smaller lot near the El Kiosko restaurant (near the North Entrance). This lot is less secure from what we have read online and heard from other travelers.
The Caminito del Rey Shuttle
There is a large shuttle bus that connects all three lots. Buses arrive roughly every 10 to 15 minutes.
The shuttle costs €2.50 per person and includes your return trip. These tickets are purchased on the bus.
If you park at the reception center, board the shuttle bus and it takes approximately 10 minutes to drive to the El Kiosko restaurant. Walk the Caminito del Rey and then ride the shuttle from El Chorro to the reception center (about 10 minutes travel time).
If you parked at near the El Kiosko restaurant, do the hike and then ride the shuttle from El Chorro to the reception center (stay on the bus) to the El Kiosko parking lot.
So, regardless of where you park, you will have to ride the shuttle. If you park near the El Kiosko restaurant, you don’t have to arrive so early, which is an advantage, but parking is limited and we read reviews of theft being an issue in that lot.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: It takes about one hour to ride the shuttle to the El Kiosko restaurant and walk to the North Entrance, so plan on arriving to the parking lot one hour before your entry time.
What to Bring to the Caminito Del Rey
- Your entry ticket
- Cash (euros) for parking and the shuttle
- Passport
- Sunglasses
- Food/snacks
- Water
A daypack is permitted but large backpacks are not allowed.
Putting it All Together: Caminito del Rey Timeline
Park at least one hour before the time on your entry ticket.
Ride the shuttle to the El Kiosko restaurant (if you parked at the reception center).
Walk to the North Entrance of the Caminito del Rey. Show your entrance ticket and pick up your helmet.
Walk the Caminito del Rey.
Drop off your helmet, have a snack, and then ride the shuttle back to your car.
Best Caminito del Rey Tours
If unguided (general) tickets are sold out on the official website, check GetYourGuide (this is how we purchase our tickets).
Guided tours can also be purchased on GetYourGuide, if these are also sold out on the official website.
You can also book a ticket on GetYourGuide that includes a guided tour plus the tickets for the shuttle bus.
If you will be staying in Málaga, this tour gets rave reviews.
You can also take a guided tour of the Caminito del Rey from Seville or Granada.
Our Experience
We booked our tickets roughly 5 weeks in advance and could only get a guided visit at 9 am. On the day we planned to walk the Caminito del Rey, we were driving from Granada to Ronda, with the plan of doing the walk on the way. However, rainy weather cancelled our walk.
Tim was able to book two unguided tickets via GetYourGuide for a visit two days later, which was amazingly lucky. We had perfect weather so everything worked out, maybe even better since we could do the walk unguided. We ended up doing this as a day trip from Ronda.
So, if you are booking your tickets last minute or are struggling to get unguided tickets on the official website, GetYourGuide can really come in handy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How hard is the Caminito del Rey?
The Caminito del Rey is an easy walk that is 7 km (4.33 miles) in length. Visitors walk a mix of gravel roads, hiking trails, steps, and boardwalk trails attached to the rock faces of the gorge.
How long does it take to walk the Caminito del Rey?
It takes anywhere from 1 to 3 hours to walk the Caminito del Rey, depending on how fast you walk and whether or not you take a guided tour (guided tours generally take longer). Including the shuttle bus rides and additional walking to get to and from the trail, the entire experience takes 3 to 5 hours.
How scary is the Caminito del Rey?
For those with a fear of heights, this can be a very challenging experience, as some of the boardwalk paths hover 100 meters over the river. However, it is a very safe walk, with well-maintained boardwalk trails with guardrails and fencing.
Is the Caminito del Rey worth it?
The Caminito del Rey is worth it for those who want to walk through a picturesque gorge with the thrill of the elevated boardwalk trails. However, this is a crowded, touristy experience. For those who like to hike, this experience can be frustrating, with large, slow moving guided groups plus lots of people on a relatively short trail.
If you have any questions about the Caminito del Rey or if you would like to share your experience, you can do so in the comment section below.
More Information for Your Trip to Spain
ANDALUSIA: In our guides to Andalusia, Spain, we cover the best things to do in Seville and we have a one day itinerary with a walking tour of Ronda.
BARCELONA, SPAIN: Start with our guide to the best things to do in Barcelona. Plan your visit with our 3 Day Barcelona Itinerary, our guide on Where to Stay in Barcelona, and get recommendations on where to eat in Barcelona.
PORTUGAL: If your trip to Spain includes Portugal, don’t miss our Portugal Bucket List (for the best things to do in Portugal) and our 10 Day Portugal Itinerary, which contains multiple ways to plan a trip to Portugal. Our Portugal Travel Guide contains all of our guides to Portugal and is a great starting point for planning your trip.
Read all of our articles about Spain in our Spain Travel Guide.
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