A visit to the Caminito del Rey was chosen as one of the Lonely Planet’s top new travel experiences when it opened in 2015 and it is proving very popular for residents and tourists to the Costa del Sol. There is a combination of gentle hiking through stunning scenery and vertiginous sections of boardwalks, with the amazing suspension bridge spanning the gorge which is something out of an Indiana Jones movie. The route is around 7.5 kilometres and is fairly flat, hiking the trail normally takes around two and a half hours and is suitable for people of all fitness levels.
Insider’s Tip – The walk is not suitable for wheelchair users and children younger than 8 are not permitted.
What people love is that it is now safe and strictly controlled, with hard hats a must and visitor numbers restricted, yet still gives the thrill of being so high up. They have kept the old walkway so you can see how it once was and at some points the new route runs closely alongside it, which is a nice nod to the history of the place. The wildlife, flora and fauna and scenery are all breath taking, and it feels like a challenge (without the danger). We think it’s something that should be on everyone’s bucket list!!
As we mentioned, the visitor numbers are controlled and tickets are restricted, so booking in advance is essential. You can book on the website where it will show you the times of the visits that are available. We advise booking a month in advance to avoid disappointment for the day you want, or go with a tour company who have allocated tickets to give you more flexibility. Tickets are 10€ and you can add a guided tour for 8€ and include the shuttle bus too for a total of 19.55€ Visit the booking page to check availability. Here’s a great article from the Independent about their experience of Walking the Caminito del Rey to learn more about this incredible day trip.
Getting to the Caminito del Rey
The Caminito del Rey is about 60 kilometres from Malaga City. If you are staying in one of our Marbella vacation rentals, you can drive there in just over an hour. There is a local train which goes there from Malaga as well, but it’s pretty slow.
Insider’s Tip – It’s important to note that it is not a circular route, so you will need to take the shuttle bus back to your car or the train station if you are not travelling with a tour group.
