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Caminito del Rey from Álora

By Maartje, host at Finca Alora

Caminito del Rey is what most guests put first on their list. Rightly so. It's one of those paths where halfway through you forget to take photos because you've just gone quiet. Below are my tips, built up over a few years of sending guests there and going regularly myself.

Getting there

From Álora you drive in about 25 minutes to the northern entrance. You take the road towards Carratraca, then Ardales, and signs at the reservoirs point you the rest of the way. It's a pretty drive through white villages and along ridges. No complicated route, no motorway feel.

One thing to know: at the end of the path you're in El Chorro, not back at your car. A free shuttle bus brings you to the northern entrance. It runs every half hour. The last one leaves fairly early, so if you start late, skip the connecting trail by the reservoir.

What the path actually is

The Caminito itself is 2.9 km. That sounds short, but with the connecting trails through the pine forests it adds up to 7.7 km and three to four hours. The path hangs in a few places about 100 metres up along the gorge wall. Fully rebuilt in 2015 with steel railings, wooden planks and a new suspension bridge. Safe, and spectacular at the same time.

What I always tell guests: the most beautiful part is the last third, just before the suspension bridge. Don't rush past to get the gorge behind you. Sit for a moment. It'll come back to you on the terrace tonight.

Tickets, and why you shouldn't wait

Book in advance at caminitodelrey.info. In high season (May to June, September and October) time slots often sell out three to six weeks ahead. A standard ticket is around €10, with a guide €18. The guided tour is nice if you're interested in the geology or the story of how the path was built. Otherwise a standard ticket with the audio app in your pocket works just fine.

My standard advice: pick the first time slot, 9:30. It's cooler, the light still falls from the side rather than straight down, and on the first few hundred metres you walk without queues in front of you. Getting up early pays off.

What you really need to know

• Helmet: handed out at the entrance. On your head, not in your backpack. Stones can come loose from above, however rarely.
• Shoes: hiking shoes or sturdy trainers. No flip-flops, heels, or shoes you still need to break in.
• Water: at least a litre per person. No drinking water on the path.
• Heights: be honest with yourself. Large stretches run along a steep wall. The railings help, but seeing that you're 100 metres above the river is striking either way.
• Children: from 8 years old, under 12 with an adult.
• Pets: not allowed on the path.

What I usually pass on

Combine your visit with lunch at Restaurante Los Caballos back in Álora, or at La Taberna del Caminito near the exit in El Chorro. Both are used to walkers who finally want to eat after three hours.

If you finish early: the El Chorro reservoir is a ten-minute drive away. Emerald green water, a few spots to swim, and if you have energy left you can rent a kayak.