Caminito del Rey and Gaitanes Gorge: 2026 Guide

The Caminito del Rey is a linear, one-way route running from north to south, starting in Ardales and ending at El Chorro (Álora). According to the official website it is about 8 km long and takes 3 to 4 hours. Everything below comes from that website; conditions can change, so check your ticket and the website before you go.

Tickets

• General ticket: €10 (maximum 10 tickets per purchase).
• Official guided visit: €18, in groups of up to 30 people, in Spanish and English.
• Where to buy: at caminitodelrey.info or at the ticket office at the north access. The website states that tickets are not currently sold at the Visitors’ Reception Centre. The ticket includes a code that is read on entry.

You may enter the route only through the north access; entering anywhere else, especially along the railway tracks, is forbidden.

Opening times and days

It is open Tuesday to Sunday. It is closed on Mondays, on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January, and on any day when a closure is agreed. The website gives a schedule of “from 9:00 until 14:50 or 17:20, depending on the season”. You must be at the access point 30 minutes before your booked time. The website has a meteorology section and another for redeeming tickets if there is a closure; it does not publish a specific wind threshold.

Age and ID

Children under 8 are not allowed in. Those aged 8 to 17 must be accompanied by an adult, and everyone over 8 must carry the original ID card, passport or family book to prove their age.

Getting there and parking

• Parking: the car park at the Visitors’ Reception Centre (Puerto de las Atalayas) costs €2 per day. The website recommends arriving at least one hour early and lets you reserve a space when buying your ticket.
• Shuttle bus: it leaves from that car park and is run by a company other than the Caminito. It operates from 7:40 to 19:00 and takes about 15-20 minutes to the stop next to the El Kiosko restaurant. It costs €2.50 per person and is valid both ways on the day of your visit. You can buy it on the website, linked to your ticket, or pay the driver in cash; cards are not accepted.
• From El Kiosko to the control booth: there are two walking accesses: the pedestrian tunnel (about 1.5 km, 20-25 minutes) or the Gaitanejo track (about 2.7 km, about 50 minutes). Both lead to the booth at the Gaitanejo dam, where tickets are validated and the helmet is collected.
• End of the route: after the walkways there are about 2.1 km of downhill path to El Chorro station, next to the return bus stop. The helmet is returned at El Chorro.

Rules

You must wear hiking footwear that is firmly secured to the foot, especially at the heel, and wear the safety equipment handed out at the entrance for the whole route. According to the official website, the following are forbidden:

• Unsuitable footwear (flip-flops, high heels) or clothing that restricts movement.
• Large backpacks or bulky items, canes, crutches, prams, wheelchairs and selfie sticks, as well as carrying anyone in your arms.
• Tripods, flying drones without authorisation, or entering with an umbrella when it rains (a raincoat is fine).
• Animals, swimming in the river, smoking, littering, shouting, or leaving the marked path in the Valle del Hoyo.

What you will see and what is nearby

The route follows walkways hung above the Guadalhorce river, crosses the Valle del Hoyo and ends at El Chorro. If you have time left, the official website also highlights the Ardales cave, the Las Aguilillas necropolis and the rock church of Bobastro in the area. For food, look for local dishes such as the sopa perota of Álora or the Aloreña de Málaga olive (P.D.O.). If you are leaving from the city, see our guide to what to see in Málaga.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Caminito del Rey cost and where do you buy tickets?

According to the official website, the general ticket costs €10 and the official guided visit €18. Tickets are sold at caminitodelrey.info or at the ticket office at the north access.

What is the minimum age and what ID do you need?

Children under 8 are not allowed in. Those aged 8 to 17 must be accompanied by an adult, and everyone over 8 must carry the original ID card, passport or family book to prove their age.

How do the car park and the shuttle bus work?

The car park at the Visitors’ Reception Centre costs €2 per day. The bus, running from 7:40 to 19:00, costs €2.50 per person, is valid both ways on the day of your visit and is paid on the website or in cash to the driver. From the stop near El Kiosko you walk between 20 and 50 minutes to the control booth, depending on the access you choose.

Official sources

• Caminito del Rey — official website (Málaga Provincial Council)
• Caminito del Rey — compulsory rules and prohibitions

Before or after the walk, the Málaga guide and the two-day city itinerary complete the trip.