Private Caminito del Rey Tour with Your Own Driver

What you'll see

• Walk the boardwalk high above the Guadalhorce in the Gaitanes gorge
• Look down on the old concrete path still clinging to the rock
• Cross the hanging bridge over the river near the end of the route
• Rest in the open Valle del Hoyo between the two canyons
• Spot griffon vultures riding the thermals above the cliffs
• See the turquoise reservoirs around Ardales on the way in

The Caminito del Rey is a walkway pinned to the vertical walls of the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, a limestone gorge the Guadalhorce river has carved through the mountains north of Málaga. The original path was built in the early 1900s so workers could reach the canal and the hydroelectric works below; King Alfonso XIII walked it in 1921, and the name stuck. Today a modern boardwalk runs just above the crumbling old one, which you can still see under your feet.

The route is one-way, from north to south, about 7.7 km including the access paths. That is the catch for anyone driving themselves: you end up several kilometres from your car. With a private driver it stops being a problem. You are dropped at the start, the car moves round by road, and it is parked and waiting at El Chorro when you come out. The driver and car are at your disposal for the whole tour, so a swim at the reservoirs or an earlier return is just a matter of saying so. You also skip the hunt for a parking space at the reservoirs on busy weekends.

Choose where we pick you up

How the day goes

Optional official guide

There is no Andalusian official guide from us on this tour. The Caminito del Rey has its own official guided visit, run by the site, which we recommend: a guide walks the route with your group, explains the engineering, geology and wildlife, and keeps the pace sensible on the exposed sections. You book it as a ticket type for a set time. If you prefer to walk at your own pace, the general ticket lets you do so, and information panels along the way cover the basics.

Tickets

Entry to the Caminito is by timed ticket only, and weekends, spring and autumn sell out well ahead. We can reserve the general ticket or the official guided visit on your behalf, paying only the official price, or you buy them yourself and send us the slot. The timetable of the day is built around that slot. Keep your booking on your phone, as staff check it at the control point. Children under eight are not admitted.

Good to know

• Wear trainers or walking shoes with a firm grip; flip-flops are not allowed on the walkway.
• Carry water and sun cream: much of the route is exposed, and in summer the gorge holds the heat.
• Helmets are compulsory and provided at the entrance; you return them at the exit.
• Small backpacks are fine, but there are no toilets or shops along the walkway itself.
• People with a strong fear of heights should know the path is fenced but very exposed in places.
• The Caminito can be closed for strong wind or heavy rain; if so, we will discuss a new date or another plan with you.

Price per vehicle

Fixed price for the whole vehicle and the whole day, the same from anywhere between Málaga and Marbella. Includes driver, fuel, tolls, parking and all the waiting time. Entry tickets not included.