Caminito del Rey
Caminito del Rey is a narrow walkway pinned to the side of a steep gorge, originally built in the early 20th century for hydroelectric plant workers and later left to fall into dangerous disrepair before being rebuilt and reopened to the public in 2015 as a controlled tourist attraction. The current version is a new steel-and-wood boardwalk suspended over the gorge, safe but still genuinely dramatic given the height and the sheer rock walls of the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes.
Because access is tightly controlled with timed tickets and one-way walking direction, it's a very different experience from its dangerous, abandoned-ruin reputation of decades past; it's now a well-managed, family-appropriate hike rather than an extreme sport. It requires advance booking, sometimes weeks ahead in high season, and getting between the two trail ends typically needs a pre-arranged shuttle.
Caminito del Rey FAQs
No longer, the original crumbling walkway was rebuilt in 2015 with safety railings and a controlled one-way route; it's now considered safe for most visitors including families.
Yes, mandatory timed-entry tickets, and they often sell out weeks ahead in spring and summer.
The full route is about 7.7 km including approach trails, with the famous boardwalk section being a few kilometers of that, taking roughly 3-4 hours total.
By car (about an hour), organized tour, or train to El Chorro combined with a shuttle to the entrance, since public transit doesn't go directly to the trailhead.
The walkway is safe but exposed with significant drops below; those with a strong fear of heights may find sections uncomfortable despite the railings.
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