The Caminito del Rey is an 8 km one-way walk through the El Chorro gorge, about an hour’s drive inland from Málaga and a little over an hour from Marbella. Tickets cost €10, children under 8 aren’t allowed, and the walk takes three to four hours. Because it starts and ends in different places, the trickiest part of the day is getting back to where you began.
The Caminito del Rey used to be called the most dangerous path in the world. Today it’s a safe, well-built boardwalk pinned to the side of a gorge, and one of the most popular days out in Andalucía. Most people planning it from the coast ask the same questions: how to get tickets, how to get there without a car, how to cope with the summer heat, and how to get back to the start once you come out at the other end.
Key Takeaways
- General tickets cost €10 and guided visits €18, bought on the official site with a fixed time slot (as of October 2026).
- Children under 8 cannot enter, and anyone aged 8 to 17 must be with an adult and carry ID.
- The route is about 8 km, one-way from north to south, and takes three to four hours including the walk to the start.
- It’s open Tuesday to Sunday and closed on Mondays, with closures for strong wind, heavy rain and occasional heat alerts.
- A connecting bus links the two ends for €2.50, paid in cash on board or bought online.
- The Caminito is about 50 minutes by road from Málaga and a little over an hour from Marbella.
What the Caminito del Rey is
The Caminito is a walkway along the walls of the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, a narrow gorge near Ardales in Málaga province. The original path was built in the early 1900s for workers at the hydroelectric plant, and it fell into ruin before being rebuilt and reopened. It is run today by the Diputación de Málaga.
The route is about 8 km long and runs one way, north to south, from Ardales to El Chorro. Along the way you walk on narrow boardwalks and stairs, cross a hanging bridge about 105 metres above the river, and step onto a glass-floored balcony over the gorge. Since June 2026, a new 110 m suspension bridge near the end lets you skip almost a kilometre of steep descent.
Tickets and time slots
Tickets are sold on the official site, caminitodelrey.info, and each one has a fixed date and entry time.
| Ticket | What you get | Price (as of Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| General | Self-guided walk, up to 10 tickets per purchase | €10 |
| Official guided visit | Certified guide, Spanish and English, groups up to 30 | €18 |
| Connecting bus (add-on) | Unlimited rides between the two ends that day | €2.50 |
| Car park (add-on) | Visitors’ Reception Centre car park, per day | €2 |
Rules worth knowing before you book
- Age limits. Children under 8 cannot enter. Visitors aged 8 to 17 must be with an adult and carry original ID or a passport.
- No refunds or changes. If the organisers close the path, for example because of strong wind, you can swap your ticket to another date in your personal area.
- Tickets are released in blocks. The dates from 30 June to 6 December 2026 went on sale on 8 April 2026, around 220,000 tickets in one go. Summer weekends go first, so book as soon as your dates are released.
- Arrive at least 30 minutes before your slot. The walk from the north car park to the start takes up to 50 minutes, so allow more.
- Buying on the day. The ticket office at the north access sells any tickets left on the day, but the Visitors’ Reception Centre does not sell access tickets.
Opening days and summer heat
The Caminito is open Tuesday to Sunday and closed on Mondays, 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January. Walking times vary by season, so check the official timetable for your date.
The path closes when the weather makes it unsafe, usually for strong wind or heavy rain. Warnings go out by email and SMS, and if there’s no notice 24 hours ahead, the walk normally goes ahead. Light rain doesn’t stop it, but umbrellas aren’t allowed.
Summer inland is much hotter than on the coast. July 2026 was one of the warmest on record in Andalucía, and nearby Coín reached 44.5 °C on 23 July (AEMET). The path has closed on days with an official heat alert in past summers. In July and August, an early slot is the most comfortable choice, and the official advice is to carry at least 1.5 litres of water each, with sun cream and a hat. There are no toilets between the entrance and the exit.
What to bring and what to leave behind
- Closed walking shoes that fasten at the back. Flip-flops and heels aren’t allowed.
- Water and light snacks. Only water, energy drinks, chocolate, bars, nuts and fruit are allowed, and there are no stops for eating on the route.
- A small bag only. Bulky backpacks, umbrellas, walking sticks and selfie sticks are not allowed.
- No pets, including guide dogs.
- A helmet is handed out at the start and collected at the end.
The walk isn’t recommended for people with vertigo, breathing or mobility problems, or a cardiac condition.
The one-way problem: getting back to the start
Because the Caminito starts in Ardales and finishes in El Chorro, you end the walk about 8 km from where you began. There are three ways to deal with it.
| Drive and park | Train and bus | Private driver | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getting there | About 50 min from Málaga, about 1h10 from Marbella | Train from Málaga to El Chorro, then the connecting bus up to the start | Collected at your hotel or villa |
| Getting back to the start | Connecting bus back to your car (€2.50) | Train from El Chorro | Driver collects you at the El Chorro end |
| Fits an early slot | Yes | Often not: check train times first | Yes |
| Parking | €2 a day, arrive an hour early | Not needed | Not needed |
| After the walk | Drive home tired | Wait for a train | Sit back |
Driving yourself
Follow the A-357 from Málaga through Cártama and Pizarra, then on towards Ardales, about 59 km and a little over 50 minutes. Park at the Visitors’ Reception Centre or the Ardales municipal car park (€2 a day each), walk to the start, and when you finish at El Chorro take the connecting bus back to the north side. The bus stop is about 300 metres from the end of the walk, and the ride takes 15 to 20 minutes. It’s run by a separate operator, so carry cash.
By train and bus
The only station is El Chorro-Caminito del Rey, on the line from Málaga María Zambrano. From El Chorro you take the connecting bus up to the north access to start the walk, then finish back near the station. It works well for later slots, but the first train from Málaga can arrive too late for an early-morning ticket, so check the Renfe timetable before you book your slot. From Marbella, add about an hour on the bus to Málaga first.
With a private driver
A driver solves the one-way problem completely. Your driver drops you at the north access in good time for your slot, then drives round to El Chorro to collect the group as you come out. No car park, no bus queue, no train times, and nobody has to drive home after four hours on their feet. One vehicle carries groups of up to 39.
Tell us your date, your entry time and your group size, and we’ll quote the day. Get a quote or call +34 951 279 117. Quotes include VAT, motorway tolls and child seats.
Making a day of it
The Caminito takes most of a morning, which leaves the afternoon free. The area around Ardales is worth slowing down for:
- The Ardales reservoirs. The Conde de Guadalhorce reservoir, close to the start of the walk, has a recreation area that locals treat as the beach of Ardales, a good place for a break after the walk. Check the rules on site before you swim.
- Lunch. The official advice is to eat before you start or after you finish. El Kiosko, at the north access, is the obvious meeting point, and Ardales and El Chorro both have places to eat.
- Bobastro. About 4 km from Ardales, the ruins of Bobastro include a church carved into the rock. Check opening times before you go.
A summer day might look like this from Marbella:
- 07:00: leave Marbella (or about 07:30 from Málaga).
- 08:15: arrive at the north access and walk to the control booth.
- 09:00 to 12:30: the Caminito, finishing at El Chorro.
- 13:00 to 15:00: lunch, then an hour by the reservoir.
- 16:00 to 17:15: back to the coast.
Plan your Caminito day
The Caminito del Rey is easier than its reputation and harder to organise than it looks. Book your slot as soon as the dates are released, choose an early time in summer, and decide before you go how you’ll get back from El Chorro to the start. With that sorted, it’s one of the best mornings out in Andalucía.
Got your tickets? Send us your date, entry time and pick-up address, and we’ll quote a driver who drops you at the start and collects you at the finish. Request a quote or call +34 951 279 117.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the starting point for the Caminito del Rey?
The walk starts at the north access in Ardales, near the El Kiosko restaurant and the Visitors’ Reception Centre. From there it’s a 1.5 km or 2.7 km walk, about 25 to 50 minutes, to the control booth where the walkway begins.
How do I get from Málaga to the Caminito del Rey?
By car it’s about 59 km, a little over 50 minutes via the A-357. By public transport, take the train from Málaga María Zambrano to El Chorro and the connecting bus up to the north access. A private driver can drop you at the start and collect you at the finish.
How long does it take to walk the Caminito del Rey?
Three to four hours in total, including about 50 minutes from the car park to the start and about two and a half hours on the walkway itself.
How much is the Caminito del Rey?
A general ticket costs €10 and an official guided visit €18 (as of October 2026). The connecting bus between the two ends is €2.50 and parking is €2 a day.
How difficult is the Caminito del Rey hike?
It’s a moderate walk on a safe, fenced boardwalk, with some stairs and a long walk to the start. It isn’t suitable for children under 8, and it isn’t recommended for people with vertigo, breathing or mobility problems, or a cardiac condition.
Is the Caminito del Rey worth it?
Yes, if you’re happy with heights. The views from the boardwalks and the hanging bridge over the gorge are the reason it draws visitors from all over the world, and it’s a very different day from the beaches on the coast.
Photo credits
- Main image: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The hanging bridge over the Gaitanes gorge: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The cliffs of the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes trap the heat in summer: Frayle from Salamanca, Public domain
- Helmets are handed out at the start and collected at the end: Millars, CC BY-SA 4.0
- The walk runs one way, from Ardales to El Chorro: Frayle from Salamanca, Public domain
- The reservoirs near Ardales, close to the start of the walk: Werner Wilmes, CC BY 2.0
