Caminito del Rey: a practical guide to tickets, the route and getting there

The Caminito del Rey is the most talked-about walk in the province of Málaga, and also the one that catches most visitors out. People turn up without a ticket, in sandals, with a six-year-old, or with a hire car parked at the wrong end of a route that only goes one way. None of this is difficult to avoid, but you do have to know the rules before the day itself.

This guide covers what matters in practice: how the timed tickets work and why they vanish, whether the official guided visit is worth choosing over general entry, what the 7.7 km actually consist of, who should not attempt it and what to put on your feet. It finishes with the transport puzzle, which is where a private car and driver earn their keep.

Tickets: timed, limited and gone early

You cannot simply arrive and walk in. Entry is sold for a specific date and time slot, the number of people per slot is capped, and popular days are fully booked long before they come round. Weekends, public holidays and the mild months of spring and autumn are the first to go.

So the ticket fixes the day, not the other way round: settle your slot first. If you book transport with us, we can handle the tickets too, charging only their face value; otherwise, pass us the slot you bought. Keep the confirmation on your phone.

Official guided visit or general entry

There are two ways in. General entry lets you walk at your own speed, stop where you please and read the panels along the path. The official guided visit, organised by the Caminito itself, puts you in a group with one of the site's guides, who explains the old hydroelectric works, the geology and the birds overhead.

We recommend the guided visit for a first time. The gorge is impressive without commentary, but the story of the workers' path and of King Alfonso XIII's visit in 1921 adds a great deal, and a guide sets a steady rhythm on the exposed sections. Choose general entry if you are a keen photographer, dislike groups or want to linger. Check the language of the guided slot when you reserve.

The route: 7.7 km, from north to south

The walk is linear and runs in one direction only, from the north access near Ardales to the south exit at El Chorro. The figure of 7.7 km includes the approach and the way out; the boardwalks themselves are well under half of that. You begin with a forest track from the road to the control cabin, where tickets are checked and helmets handed out.

After the cabin come two stretches of boardwalk through narrow canyons, separated by an open valley with an ordinary footpath. The second canyon is the famous one, with the walkway high above the river and a suspension bridge at the end. The gradient is gentle and mostly downhill, with some flights of steps. Allow three to four hours in all.

Who can do it, and who should not

The minimum age is eight, and it is enforced: staff may ask for proof, so bring a child's passport or ID. Babies in carriers are not accepted either. There is no way through for wheelchairs or pushchairs. Otherwise no special fitness is needed, just a few hours on your feet with no shortcut back.

Vertigo is the real filter. The boardwalks are solid, about a metre wide and fenced on the open side, yet you can see the river through the gaps and the drop is very long. If a balcony on a fourth floor makes your palms sweat, choose another outing; once you are halfway, turning round is not an option.

What to wear and carry

Dress for a mountain footpath. The helmet is supplied at the entrance and stays on until the exit.

• Closed shoes with a grippy sole: trainers or hiking shoes. Sandals, heels and beach footwear are turned away.
• Water for the whole walk, since you will not find a tap or a kiosk between the two gates.
• Sun protection from April to October: cream, sunglasses and a thin cap that fits under the helmet.
• A small rucksack, so both hands stay free.
• Use the toilets at the entrance area before you start.

Wind, rain and closures

The Caminito closes when conditions in the gorge are unsafe, typically strong wind, heavy rain or the risk of falling stones after a storm. The decision is taken by the site, sometimes on the morning itself, and ticket holders are told how to change their date.

Put the Caminito early in your holiday so there are spare days for a second attempt, and watch the forecast for Ardales, not for the beach.

Getting there, and the problem of the two ends

Because the route starts in one place and finishes in another, independent visitors must close the loop themselves. A shuttle bus links the south exit with the north access, and on busy days the wait can be long. Drivers also have to find a parking space near the reservoirs and then reach the control cabin on foot in time for their slot.

With private transport none of that applies. From Málaga the drive is about an hour, some 60 km; from Marbella roughly 1 h 15 and 100 km. Your driver sets you down at the north access with time in hand, takes the car round by road and is parked at El Chorro when you emerge. The whole outing takes around six hours and costs €390 in the E-Class or €510 in the V-Class, per vehicle; tickets are separate.