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(S/E) From the campsite entrance, head back towards the MA 9006 road and cross it to reach a path that climbs steeply opposite. We soon leave this path for a barely visible trail that winds its way through blocks of pink sandstone
(1) Cairns mark the route, which frequently follows grooves carved into the rock by erosion. The path is sometimes lost, but the cairns guide us. Throughout the climb, magnificent views of the Embalse del Conde de Guadalhorse come into view. At the start of autumn, following a dry summer, the water level appears particularly low.
(2) Upon reaching a wooded ridge, we take a barely visible path through the undergrowth to the left (cairns) to quickly reach the Pico de la Cueva, from where the view takes in the entire region: reservoirs, fields of wind turbines and the vast olive groves characteristic of Andalusia.
(3) We then return to the starting point on the ridge.
(2) We continue along a well-marked path southwards, then eastwards to reach the ledge overlooking the El Chorro valley, surrounded by towering rock faces
(4) Turning north, a short, steep descent leads to the foot of the rocky peak of Pico del Convento. In a few minutes, we can easily make a round trip to the summit by carefully following the cairns
(5) From the peak, the view is panoramic. A quick, steep and sometimes slippery descent over the gravel covering the limestone leads to the end of a track coming from the car park at the start of the Caminito del Rey.
(6) From there, a short climb leads to the Mirador de las Buitreras, a dizzying peak towering several hundred metres above the gorge in which the Caminito del Rey was built. Vultures glide above the cliffs, riding the air currents.
(7) We retrace our steps.
(6) We continue straight on along the track which leads to a road.
(8) We turn left and follow it for about 1.5 km to reach the starting point (S/E).
