Caminito del Rey: A stunning walking path
For centuries Caminito del Rey made headlines all over the world and was considered one of the most impressive and extreme routes. Today the route has been adapted into an idyllic stroll that retains the vertiginous charm of the old route as it traverses the massive cliffs carved over centuries into this area of the Spanish coast.
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In the heart of the Costa del Sol, the Guadalhorce River, on its way through the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, erodes the rock in order to create unique shapes. Shapes that were exploited during the industrialisation of the area in the 19th century, adapting the management of commerce to the complicated orography by installing a peculiar railway that meandered through the mountain connecting the industry of Malaga with the mining basins of Cordoba. In 2015, colossal reforms were promoted to adapt the route to all audiences, with walkways where you can safely stroll between the cliffs.
In 2015, colossal reforms were promoted to adapt the route to all audiences, with walkways where you can safely stroll between the cliffs.
In 1906, the construction of the Salto Hidroeléctrico del Chorro (Chorro Hydroelectric Dam) was a milestone in Spanish engineering. The peculiarity of its location led to the creation of a route for its maintenance that would go down in history, an intricate crossing through majestic gorges that would eventually form the Camino de los Balconcillos, which in 1921, after the passing of King Alfonso XIII, would be renamed the Caminito del Rey.
HOW TO GET THERE
To start the route it is necessary to book your ticket in advance on the official website https://www.caminitodelrey.info/es/entradas/comprar. The general parking area is located in El Chorro (Álora), from where the shuttle bus will take you to the start of the route. Open all year round except 24, 25 and 31 December, and 1 January, from Tuesday to Sunday, the price is around 10€ per person. Enjoy a different kind of leisure on the Costa del Sol in this unique place carved in stone.
