Why you should do Málaga’s Caminito del Rey if you haven’t already done so

Málaga province is home to a whole wealth of hidden treasures, from the aesthetically beautiful – white villages sunk into imposing hillsides, ancient cave formations and stunning stretches of coastline – to curious local gastronomy and unique customs, festivals and celebrations, amongst many other things…

The Caminito del Rey – or King’s Pathway – is one such treasure. Located in El Chorro in the north of Málaga province, it is a 7.7-kilometre walkway that runs from the Count of Guadalhorce Reservoir along the steep walls of a narrow gorge, crossing its steep ravine via a narrow rope bridge and ending at El Chorro Dam in Álora.

Certainly not for the faint-hearted, the official website warns tourists that the cliff-side boardwalks, steep walls and hanging footbridge – which stands 105 metres above the Hoyo Valley and river below – make many visitors feel “inevitably dizzy”.

While this may not exactly put you at ease, you will be comforted by the fact that thousands of visitors brave the heights and tackle the winding walkways every year. So much so, in fact, that you have to reserve tickets as far as six to eight weeks in advance in order to tread the legendary King’s Path.

It is worth it, though. The panoramic views from the caminito are absolutely sublime and, although you don’t need to be a Crossfit champion to scale the heights, the feeling of physical accomplishment is gratifying, too.

There is also a new addition to the walk this year. Installed at the beginning of 2018, a new, 650-metre long climbing route – or via ferrata, for those in the know – features a zip-line and two Nepalese bridges and is designed for the more ambitious climber.

It is advisable to give yourself up to seven hours to complete the main walk, since you’ll want to stop intermittently to rehydrate yourself and take advantage of the plethora of photo opportunities.

To get to the Caminito del Rey, there is a train that runs between Málaga María Zambrano and El Chorro which takes just 42 minutes, and there are rail links from as far as Fuengirola, too. Alternatively, it is almost exactly an hour’s drive from the provincial capital through beautiful countryside.

If you’ve done the Caminito del Rey, why not leave us a message below and tell us about your experience!