Caminito del Rey

A spectacular but easy trail with footbridges along the cliff face, sometimes overlooking the Rio Guardhalhorce from a height of 100 m. This trail has been fully secured and reopened in 2015.

Details

n°39619020

Creation:
05 Sep 2023

Last update:
08 Dec 2024

Last review:
01 Dec 2025

Activity: Walking
Distance: 3.95 mi
Average duration: 3h 05
Difficulty: Moderate
Back to start: No
Ascent: + 1,421 ft
Descent: - 1,880 ft
Highest point: 1,486 ft
Lowest point: 650 ft

Country: Spain
City: Ardales
Start: N 36.931062° / W 4.800555°
End: N 36.907876° / W 4.759669°
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Description of the walk

There are several parking options between the El Mirador restaurant and the El Kiosko restaurant in the village of Ardales. Either a pay-and-display car park, or, if you arrive early enough, spaces along the road before the El Kiosko restaurant

(S/E) Follow the road south for about a hundred metres.

(1) Take the tunnel on the left-hand side of the road between the two restaurants mentioned above. Once you’ve come out the other end, turn right until you reach the start of the trail.

(2) After receiving safety instructions and a helmet (to be worn throughout the walk), simply follow the path and enjoy the view!

(3) Pass the Balcon de Cristal viewpoint, cross the bridge over the River Guadalhorce and reach the archway marking the end of the secured trail: the helmet return point (not very well signposted) is further along the path, towards the town of El Chorro.

(4) Carry on along the path that runs alongside the reservoir and head for the Ermita El Chorro.

(5) Carry on straight ahead to reach El Chorro and the bus stop for the return journey (E).

Waypoints

S : mi 0 - alt. 1,198 ft - Car park
1 : mi 0.08 - alt. 1,191 ft - Tunnel
2 : mi 0.86 - alt. 1,027 ft - Safety information point
3 : mi 2.63 - alt. 1,063 ft - Balcon de Cristal
4 : mi 2.91 - alt. 938 ft - End of the secured trail
5 : mi 3.47 - alt. 659 ft - Ermita El Chorro
E : mi 3.95 - alt. 755 ft - El Chorro, bus station

Notes

For the return journey, you must take the shuttle bus (one every 30 minutes or so) back to the car park. The shuttle bus stop is in the centre of El Chorro, near the station, opposite the El Chorro kiosk: do not stop at what appears to be a bus stop opposite the Tourist Office; the shuttle bus stop is further on. You can buy shuttle tickets at the stop (small kiosk).

Tickets can be booked online, approximately two to three months in advance. You can choose to go with or without a guide. You must select a departure time and arrive 20–30 minutes before your chosen time.
https://www.caminitodelrey.info/en/

It is also possible to buy tickets on the spot, provided it isn’t too busy (there is a daily limit).

There are no toilets along the route.

A safety briefing is held before departure: helmets must be worn; flip-flops and high heels are not permitted; sturdy footwear is required; selfie sticks are prohibited; smoking is not permitted; children under 8 are not allowed; and dogs are not permitted.

Worth a visit

During the short stretch on dry land, keep your eyes peeled – if you’re lucky (and quiet!), you might spot some chamois.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5

Based on 3 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5

Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5

Route interest
5 / 5

Patrick VK

01 Dec 2025 at 09:30 3600

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 20, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful and interesting hike in a magnificent setting.
It's a shame that the booking process is a bit complicated.

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jrnelson

03 Nov 2025 at 13:49 3600

Unavailable without booking at least 15 days in advance, probably more during peak season!

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culigan

06 Oct 2025 at 08:28 7200

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike with no particular difficulties, except that you must not be afraid of heights, although the route is very well secured and regulated. In fact, there is not as much elevation gain as advertised, but this has apparently been rectified.
Be careful of the heat, however, depending on the time of year you choose to go.

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Denis26

08 Dec 2024 at 13:57 3600

Thank you, MGR Moustache, for pointing that out; I’ve just checked and the elevation difference has been corrected.

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MGR Moustache

08 Dec 2024 at 12:23 3600

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 15, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A truly spectacular, well-known and popular walk, with strictly regulated access, but well worth a visit.
Everything is laid out in such a way that you feel completely safe, and you come away thinking that, after all, you don’t suffer from vertigo…
As for the walk’s details, I’m very surprised by the 480 m elevation gain mentioned. I think it’s significantly less. Hikers shouldn’t be put off trying it because of this figure. Perhaps there are some inaccuracies arising from the fact that the elevation profile may have been plotted based on the natural terrain’s contour lines rather than following the footbridges. This needs checking.

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