Caminito del Rey: tickets, tours from Málaga and how to get there
The 4 ways to walk it that we sell, compared, with the official price, opening hours, how to get there from Málaga and what to do if it's sold out.
- Official ticket
- €10
- Route
- 7.7 km, one way
- Visit length
- 3 – 4 hours
- Minimum age
- 8 years
- Book
- Weeks or months ahead
About Caminito del Rey
The Caminito del Rey is a walkway pinned to the walls of the Gaitanes Gorge, the canyon cut by the Guadalhorce river between Ardales, Álora and Antequera, in inland Málaga province. It was built between 1901 and 1905 so that workers from the Sociedad Hidroeléctrica del Chorro could get from one hydroelectric plant to the other and keep an eye on the canal running along the canyon.
It owes its name to King Alfonso XIII, who walked it in 1921 when he came to open the Conde del Guadalhorce dam. Over the decades the old concrete path crumbled and became a dangerous route used by climbers, until it was closed after several fatal accidents.
Málaga's provincial council restored it with a new wooden walkway laid above the old one, which can still be seen below, and reopened it in 2015. Today it is a one-way trail of about 7.7 km, with some 3 km of walkways more than 100 metres above the river, walked in a single direction and with a helmet.
Every way to visit Caminito del Rey
Tickets and tours with their own allocation: still available when the official site is sold out.
Which option suits you?
Our pick depending on what you're after.
| If you want… | We recommend | Rating | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| The most popular | Caminito del Rey from Málaga: guided tour with transport | 4.9 (19,083) | €72 |
| If you're going independently | Caminito del Rey: entry ticket with official guide (no transport) | 4.6 (16,892) | €30 |
| A guide just for your group | Caminito del Rey from Málaga: Private Trip with Your Own Guide | — | €792 |
| Private transfer from Málaga | Caminito del Rey from Málaga with Private Transport | — | €610 |
Practical info
Opening hours
Tuesday to Sunday, with entry slots every half hour from 9am until 2:50pm or 5:20pm, depending on the season. Closed on Mondays (with some exceptions), 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January, and on days of strong wind or heavy rain.
Official prices
General ticket €10. Official guided visit €18 (groups of up to 30, in Spanish and English). Shuttle bus between the two entrances €2.50. Parking €2 a day.
Getting there
Renfe train to El Chorro–Caminito del Rey, about 50 minutes from Málaga. By car it's 59 km, just over 50 minutes, to Ardales. The route is one way: you'll need the shuttle bus to get back.
When to book
Weeks or months ahead on the official website: tickets are released in blocks and spring and autumn dates sell out within days. They can't be changed or refunded unless it closes due to bad weather.
In-depth guides
Caminito del Rey: tickets, how to get there and tips
Caminito del Rey: tickets from €10 (book weeks ahead), how to get there by train from Málaga or by car, the 7.7 km route in 3-4 hours and what to bring.
GuideCaminito del Rey tickets sold out: what to do and the options left
If the official Caminito del Rey website has no tickets: the two official ticket types, the north entrance box office, resold tickets with a guide, the tour from Málaga and backup plans nearby.
GuideCaminito del Rey independently, on a group tour or private: which pays off for your group
Caminito del Rey independently from €12.50 (ticket and shuttle), on a group tour from Málaga for €72 or private at €156-396 per person. Which to pick.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Caminito del Rey difficult?
Can I buy a ticket on the spot?
What happens if it closes because of wind or rain?
What should I bring?
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