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Discover the Caminito del Rey: a breathtaking catwalk above the El Chorro gorge in Malaga
More than 3 kilometres long and 100 metres from the ground, the spectacular Malaga catwalk is not for the faint-hearted
The Desfiladero de los Gaitanes Natural Area is situated at the very centre of Malaga province, nestled between the municipalities of Álora, Antequera and Ardales. It’s one of the most spectacular and dramatic landscapes in the Andalucia region, its steep canyon walls soaring above the Guadalhorce River.
The world-famous Caminito del Rey, or the King’s Little Path in English, is a footbridge that was originally built as a maintenance road for personnel from the Saltos de Gaitanejo and El Chorro water plants. This path – or catwalk as it is commonly known – has recently been restored and offers visitors a breathtaking view of the gorge below from more than 100 metres up.
Before the arrival of the AVE service, the gorge provided the only rail connection between Malaga and inland Andalucia via a long tunnel that was dug into the eastern wall. These days there’s a second underground tunnel around 1 kilometre away under the Peña Huma for high-speed rail access.
History of the Caminito del Rey
The construction of the Caminito del Rey began in 1901 and lasted 4 years, after which time is was most frequently used by maintenance workers from the hydroelectric power stations, although locals from nearby towns did eventually start to use it too. It was baptised the Caminito del Rey after a visit from King Alfonso XIII, who used the footbridge to inaugurate the Conde del Guadalhorce dam.
Daring soldiers, hanging from ropes suspended from the top of the cliff, built the primitive path, which was initially made of loose and fairly treacherous wooden planks.
Foot traffic along the catwalk picked up between 1940 and 1950 as locals used it in their daily lives and incredibly, young children would even traverse the gorge unsupervised on their way to school.
The Caminito del Rey today
Today, the Caminito del Rey has been completely transformed into a top tourist destination in Spain and the footbridge is now far more secure – if still rather daunting. The only drawback is that the catwalk is, unfortunately, not suitable for those with reduced mobility.
For brave visitors that can drag their eyes away from the path ahead, the gorge beneath the footbridge is a riot of colour and natural activity: Aleppo pines, stone pines, holm oaks and eucalyptus line the riverbanks, interspersed with a rich layer of vegetation made up of junipers, broom, rockrose, oleanders, rushes and reeds.Mountain birds such as the Egyptian vulture, griffon vulture, golden eagle and the honey buzzard call this corner of Malaga home while several species of amphibians and numerous reptiles can also be found. The Ibex lynx inhabits the highest points, together with foxes, rabbits, dormice, badgers and genets.
Thousands of tourists flock to the area each year and the route can be accessed through two different entrances: from Álora, via the El Chorro Station, or Ardales.
The darker side of the Caminito del Rey
The recent renovation of the Caminito del Rey cost in the region of 4.6 million euros but before this investment, accidents were frequent due to its state of disrepair. As a result of the number of deaths the footbridge was actually closed to visitors in 1999 and both entrances were blocked off, but this didn’t stop foolhardy adventurers.
Many tragedies have befallen the perilous beauty spot, but two in particular garnered worldwide attention.
In 1993 during a school excursion, a 12-year-old girl fell between a gap in the footbridge and plummeted to her death below. Her fall was witnessed by several other children from La Rinconada in Seville and their chaperones.
On August 12 2000, a group of 4 friends sneaked into the area with the idea of using a rusty old cable that connected the bridge with the train tunnel as a zip line. Not thinking of their combined weight, 3 of the buddies launched themselves off the rock at the same time; the hitch connected to the train side of the gorge couldn’t take the pressure, and the cable gave way.
Main attractions
Along the Caminito and among its surroundings visitors will find a plethora of things to enthral and amaze. Here are some of the highlights:
Suspension bridge
The main attraction, at least for the true daredevils out there, is undoubtedly the suspension bridge which is located at the Álora entrance and dangles 105 metres above ground.
The sturdy yet free-moving bridge sways with every step and the brave of heart can catch glimpses of the water below through the spaced-out slats underfoot.
Fossils
It might seem incredible but while you walk towards the suspension bridge don’t forget to take a look at the walls. Deeply embedded but clearly visible are countless marine fossils, since this section of the gorge was part of the seabed millions of years ago.
Remains of a tragedy
If you enter from Álora, shortly after crossing the bridge you will see a plaque and an old steel rope hanging towards the bottom. This was used as a zip line for many years until the August 2000 tragedy, and has been left as a memorial to the three lost young lives.
Crystal gazebo
If you thought the footbridge sounded daunting, you haven’t seen anything until you’ve ventured out into the void that is the crystal gazebo – a vast glass floor overlooking the gorge that will make you feel as though you’re walking on air.
Visitor tips
- The Caminito del Rey has a limit of 300,000 visitors per year and 1,100 visitors per day. It’s essential that you pre-purchase a ticket online or via a travel agency.
- The 8-kilometre-long trial is uneven and challenging, so it’s recommended that visitors be in relatively good shape and don proper footwear. The use of a helmet is mandatory; this will be given to you at the entrance.
- If you suffer from vertigo it should be avoided since much of the way travels along a height of about 105 meters with steep walls and hanging bridges.
- There is no age limit but parents are asked to use common sense when it comes to bringing young children along. It’s worth noting that it’s forbidden to carry or lift anyone, including kiddies.
- The entrance fee includes compulsory insurance.
- Visitors must be present at least 30 minutes in advance of their reservation time to organise into groups.
- There is no bathroom area on the entire route... remember that.
- It is totally forbidden to smoke or light fires throughout the entire route.
How to get to the Caminito del Rey
As mentioned above, the Caminito del Rey has two entrance points:
From Álora
This road is very steep but it’s the closest to the El Chorro train station.
From Ardales
At the other end, the Ardales entrance may be more suitable for many since a large part of the route is downhill.
If you do not have a vehicle, there is a bus line that connects both towns for a reasonable price. In addition, Spain’s Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda (Mitma) has approved the launch of a new Malaga-El Chorro-Caminito del Rey local Cercanías train service, which will begin operating in March 2023.
Images: Archive
