# Caminito del Rey and El Chorro

The walkway through the Gaitanes Gorge, with tickets from €10 on the official website, plus kayaking, a via ferrata, Bobastro and the Ardales Cave nearby.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/andalusia/caminito-del-rey · Revisado: 2026-11-12

The Caminito del Rey is an 8 km walkway hung on the walls of the Gaitanes Gorge, between Ardales and El Chorro, in inland Málaga. It was built in the early 20th century for the workers at the Guadalhorce hydroelectric plants, fell into disrepair over decades and reopened in 2015 with new, safe walkways. Today you walk it with a ticket, a helmet and in one direction only, and there is a whole day's worth of things around it: green reservoirs, a via ferrata, a church carved into the rock and a cave with Palaeolithic paintings.

## How do you buy tickets?

Only on the official website, caminitodelrey.info, or at the ticket office at the north entrance if there is space left. The general admission ticket costs €10 and you go at your own pace; the official guided tour costs €18, in groups of up to 30 people. Don't buy from other websites that imitate the official one: anything you find outside caminitodelrey.info, active tourism companies or your accommodation is a resale or a package with a guide. Spring and autumn weekends sell out weeks ahead.

Visitors must be 8 or older and carry their original ID card or family record book. Dogs, walking sticks and umbrellas are not allowed. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, with the last departure around 14:50 or 17:20 depending on the season, and it closes on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January.

## How do you get there from Málaga, Seville or Granada?

From Málaga, it is about an hour by car along the A-357 towards Cártama and Ardales; follow the signs for the Caminito to the Visitor Reception Centre, at the Atalayas pass. By train, Renfe stops at El Chorro in about 45 minutes: you arrive at the end of the route and take the shuttle bus up to the start.

From Seville it is a little under two hours along the A-92 to Campillos and then on towards Ardales. From Córdoba, an hour and three-quarters along the A-45 to Antequera and the A-384; from Granada, a little under two hours along the A-92. From Cádiz or Huelva it is more than two and a half hours: stay overnight in the area.

## Where do you park and how do you get back to the car?

The Caminito starts in one place and ends in another, and that is what confuses people most. Park in the north, in the car park at the Visitor Reception Centre (€2 a day; booked with your ticket). From there you walk to the access control along the Gaitanejo Path (2.7 km, about 50 minutes) or through the tunnel (1.5 km, 20 to 25 minutes). You need to be at the access point 30 minutes before your time slot, so get to the car park an hour early.

When you finish, in the El Chorro neighbourhood, you hand back your helmet and take the shuttle bus: €2.50 with unlimited trips that day, from 7:40 to 20:00, paid in cash to the driver or bought with your ticket. It takes 15 to 20 minutes to the El Kiosko stop, next to the north entrance.

## How much time do you need?

Allow half a day for the Caminito: an hour to arrive and walk to the start, three or four hours on the route and the shuttle back. With that and a meal, the day is done. If you have the afternoon free, add kayaking on the reservoir, Bobastro or a stroll around the viewpoints at the dam. The Ardales Cave is a two-hour visit at 10:00 (and at 16:00 on Friday and Saturday), so it fits better into a day of its own or with a night in the area.

With a weekend, the plan grows: the Caminito on Saturday, the via ferrata or the cave on Sunday and, if you are coming from Córdoba or Granada, a return via Antequera, about 45 minutes away.

## When should you go?

From October to May. The walkway is in the sun almost all the way and in July and August it gets very hot at midday: if you go in summer, book the first slot, at 9:00. In winter the weather is good for walking, but the organisers close the route in rain or strong wind; they notify you by email, text message or social media, and if there is no notice 24 hours before, the visit goes ahead. There are no refunds, but a weather closure can be rebooked from your account. It is closed on Mondays except on some public holidays.

## What should you bring?

Closed shoes with a proper sole, water, something to eat, sun protection and, if rain threatens, a raincoat: it is a must because umbrellas are banned. There are no toilets or bins along the route, only at the entrance and the exit. Leave the selfie stick in the car: they take it off you at the checkpoint.

## Where should you eat?

In the north, the El Kiosko Restaurant, next to the shuttle stop and above the reservoir, serves breakfast from 8:30 and home cooking. At the exit, the La Garganta Restaurant has a terrace over the gorge and a kitchen open from 12:00 to 22:30, which is handy because the Caminito can finish at any time.

## Dónde está
- Zonas: Curious Places
- Cerca: Antequera (a 22.1 km), Setenil de las Bodegas (a 36.2 km), Ronda (a 40.0 km), Sierra de Grazalema (a 55.5 km)

## Qué hacer
- **The Caminito del Rey, from Ardales to El Chorro** (3 h 30 · 8 km · From age 8, with basic fitness and no vertigo · General €10 · Official guided visit €18 · Shuttle bus €2.50 extra): What it is
A walkway hung from the walls of the Gaitanes Gorge, above the Guadalhorce river. The full route is 8 km and done in one direction, north to south: you start at Ardales and finish in the El Chorro district, in Álora. Allow between 3 and 4 hours. The most famous stretch is the suspension bridge of the third canyon, about 35 m long, some 105 m above the river with a grated floor.
Tickets
They are bought on the official website, caminitodelrey.info. The general ticket costs €10 and you go at your own pace; the official guided visit, €18, in groups of up to 30 people with a guide, in Spanish or English. If there is space it is also sold at the ticket office of the north access, but at a weekend do not count on it. The Visitor Reception Centre does not sell tickets.
How to reach the start
Park at the Visitor Reception Centre, at the Atalayas pass (€2 a day). From there there are two accesses to the control hut: the Gaitanejo Path, 2.7 km and about 50 minutes, or the tunnel and track, 1.5 km and about 20 to 25 minutes. You must be at the access at least 30 minutes before your time. At the end, in El Chorro, you return the helmet and take the shuttle bus back to the car.
- **El Chorro Via Ferrata with a Guide** (3 h 30 · From age 12, reasonably fit; no experience needed · From €55): The El Chorro via ferrata climbs the limestone walls of the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, at the south exit of the Caminito del Rey, with iron rungs, a safety cable and several aerial sections. It is rated K3, medium difficulty, and La Garganta, the hotel and restaurant in the El Chorro hamlet, runs it with a qualified guide from €55 per person. You don't need to have done one before; you do need to be fit and comfortable with heights.
From La Garganta reception to the stone bridge
You meet at the reception of the La Garganta hotel, at 1 Avenida Caminito del Rey. There they fit your harness, helmet, energy absorber and carabiners, and the guide explains how to pass the anchors before you head for the wall.
The climb is vertical and almost all on rungs, with views of the valley and the reservoir. At the top come the three sections that set it apart: a 35-metre zip line over the Encantadas reservoir, a 15-metre Tibetan bridge and a 30-metre monkey bridge, where you move along a cable with two more at hand height. The company warns that the hard part is the length rather than the technique: your arms tire before your head does.
The descent is on foot along paths, passing the stone bridge of the Caminito del Rey, and often with griffon vultures overhead. You finish back at La Garganta. In all, between three and four hours.
Who can do it
Under-11s are not admitted, and those aged 12 to 17 must go with an adult. It is not accessible for people with reduced mobility. The group is small and the minimum is two people: if that isn't reached, the company gives you notice in good time and offers another date or activity. The guiding is in Spanish or English.
What's included and what you bring
The €55 includes the technical equipment, the qualified guide and activity insurance. You bring sports or hiking footwear with a good sole, water and clothing suited to the season; thin gloves help with the cable. Transport and food are not included.
Getting there and parking
The El Chorro-Caminito del Rey halt, on the C-2 commuter line from Málaga, is about 100 metres from reception. By car, park free at the south access to the Caminito, about five minutes away; the hotel car park is for guests only. Afterwards, the La Garganta restaurant has its terrace next door, and if you want to stay the night, the La Garganta hotel is in the same building.
Rainy, windy or hot days
In heavy rain, dense fog or wind the company changes or cancels it. In summer the limestone wall soaks up heat: choose the first departure. And don't do it on the same day as the Caminito del Rey: doing both back to back adds up to too many hours of sun and walking.
- **Kayaking on the Conde de Guadalhorce Reservoir** (2 h · Families and groups; unguided · From €16): The Conde de Guadalhorce reservoir, the one you can see from the north entrance to the Caminito and which locals call the El Chorro reservoir, has calm water and pine trees growing right down to the shore. You hire a self-bailing sit-on-top kayak for two hours and paddle at your own pace up the tail of the reservoir, to corners you can't see from the road. It is the easiest activity in the area and the best fit for a free afternoon after the walk.
What's included and what it costs
You book through La Garganta, from €16. The equipment is handed over by Indian Sport at its base at Parque Ardales campsite, on the shore of the reservoir. The price includes the kayak, paddle, life jacket, a waterproof drum for your phone and keys, the navigation permit, insurance and day entry to the Parque Ardales municipal facilities. Before you set off you get a few basic instructions and a recommendation of where to paddle.
There is no guide, the difficulty is low and no experience is needed: as it is a reservoir there are no waves or currents, which is why it works well for couples, groups of friends and families. You can bring a pet for a supplement. Cancellation is free up to 48 hours beforehand; after that the money is not refunded. There are options for people with reduced mobility, but they ask you to check before booking.
When to go
The hire depends on the weather: it is changed or cancelled in heavy rain, dense fog or strong wind. On the reservoirs in this area the wind tends to pick up in mid-afternoon, so if you can choose, morning or late afternoon in summer are the calmest times. Stay close to the shore if you notice it blowing. In summer bring a hat, sun protection and water: there is no shade on the water.
Getting there and what to combine it with
The meeting point is Parque Ardales campsite, beside the reservoir, near the north entrance to the Caminito. You get there by car: from Málaga it is about an hour and from Antequera a little less. There is no direct bus to the campsite.
The natural plan is to combine it with the Caminito del Rey in the morning and the kayak in the afternoon, or with a walk to the dam and the Sillón del Rey. For lunch, El Kiosko is a few minutes away, right on the reservoir.
- **The ruins of Bobastro and its rock-hewn church** (1 h · Everyone; dirt tracks with some gradient · €3 · €2 retirees and children aged 5 to 12): On a sandstone plateau above El Chorro, in the Mesas de Villaverde, lie the remains of Bobastro, the fortified city of Omar ben Hafsún, who rebelled against Córdoba in the late 9th century. What you visit is the rock church: three naves carved directly into the rock, without built walls, at the edge of the hill. From above you see the reservoir and the sierra.
What you will see
The archaeological site, from the 9th and 10th centuries, brings together the remains of the Islamic city, a Muslim necropolis and, at the centre, the Mozarabic church hewn from the rock and joined to a hermit complex. It was built around the year 917 and is attributed to Ben Hafsún, who converted to Christianity. It is the only church of Mozarabic origin known in what were the lands of al-Andalus, and so it forms part of the landmarks proposed alongside the Caminito del Rey as heritage of the area.
Its plan is basilical, with three naves and a horseshoe-shaped apse. Being hollowed out of the stone, with no vaults or added walls, it is walked like a sculpture in negative: the arches, pillars and apse are the rock itself. A few metres away are the remains of the fortress.
Hours and admission
According to the Junta de Andalucía's Cultural Agenda, the church is visited Tuesday to Sunday and on Monday public holidays, from 10:00 to 15:00, with guided visits every hour. Admission costs €3, and €2 for retirees and children aged 5 to 12. Bookings are taken on 952 458 046, the heritage telephone of Ardales Town Hall. The guides do not entirely agree on the hours, so call before going up. Allow an hour with the walk.
Getting there
By car, take the MA-444 from Ardales towards El Chorro; about 6 km along a tarmac road branches off to the right and climbs to Bobastro. From the car park there is a short walk along a dirt track with some gradient. There are no facilities: bring water and footwear with a sole.
It combines well with the Cueva de Ardales, which is also visited with a guide and in the morning, or with lunch at La Garganta, down in the El Chorro district. With children it is a short and curious visit: going into a church made inside the rock usually catches their attention.
- **Cueva de Ardales, Palaeolithic paintings with a guide** (2 h · From age 8; groups of 15 people at most · €15 · €5 for ages 8 to 12): A cave with Palaeolithic engravings and paintings, among the most important in Andalusia, on the Calinoria hill, on the outskirts of Ardales. It is visited in groups of at most 15 people, with a guide, on a visit of about two hours that starts at the Prehistory Interpretation Centre, at Avenida de Málaga, 1, in Ardales.
What you will see
The cave, also called the Doña Trinidad Grund cave, was sealed for about 3,500 years until an earthquake opened its entrance in 1821. From 1823 it received visitors, but its art was not valued until 1918, when the French prehistorian Henri Breuil studied it. He described about twenty animals; today 1,010 representations are known on 252 panels, including 98 animals, 10 human figures and 9 handprints.
It is a highly branched karst system, divided into five areas: the Sala del Saco, the Sala de las Estrellas, the Galerías de los Laberintos, the Calvario and the Galerías Altas. The full visit covers the art of the two great phases, that of the Neanderthals and that of the sapiens, the excavation areas and one of the Neolithic funerary deposits. Inside, flint and bone tools have also been found alongside the figures.
Before or after, you see the Interpretation Centre, a two-storey building at the entrance to the village, with parking, which displays the prehistory of Ardales and pieces from forty years of research. It is included in the ticket.
Hours and tickets
Visits are on Tuesday to Thursday and Sundays at 10:00, and on Fridays and Saturdays at 10:00 and 16:00. Mondays, closed. General admission costs €15 from age 12 and reduced €5, for ages 8 to 12. It is bought in advance on Giglón, where it is worth reading the visit rules. For questions, the Town Hall can be reached on 952 458 046 and 609 200 165, and at patrimonio@ardales.es. School groups book on 608 931 657.
Getting there and what to combine
The meeting point is in Ardales, a few minutes by car from the Caminito del Rey and from the dam and the Sillón del Rey. Combine it with the rock church of Bobastro, which is also seen in the morning: with them you have the area's prehistory and Middle Ages in one day.
- **The Conde de Guadalhorce Dam and the Sillón del Rey** (40 min · Everyone · Free): North of the gorge, three reservoirs meet: Conde de Guadalhorce, Guadalteba and Guadalhorce, with green water among pine woods. Next to the Conde de Guadalhorce dam is the Sillón del Rey (the King's Chair), the stone seat where Alfonso XIII sat when he inaugurated the dam in 1921, the visit that gave the Caminito its name. It is a short, flat walk, good for waiting for your entry slot or for anyone not doing the walk.
What you will see
The dam is part of the group of hydraulic and railway works that transformed this spot between the 19th and 20th centuries and which are now presented alongside the Caminito itself as a heritage site of the first order: the El Chorro, Conde de Guadalhorce and Gaitanejo dams, the walkways of the hydroelectric drop, and the railway station and bridges. The Caminito's original walkways were built precisely to serve these works.
From the dam and the area around the Sillón you can see the reservoir water wedged between pine-covered hills and, in the distance, the mountains that close off the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, a natural site protected since 1989 and a special protection area for birds.
Who it's for
For those left outside the Caminito: children under 8, who cannot enter the walk; anyone with vertigo; or anyone with a dog, which can walk here on a lead. It is also for anyone who arrives early before their entry time. There are bathing areas on the reservoir in summer, and the restaurant El Kiosko, with a terrace over the reservoir, is just a few metres from the Sillón del Rey.
Getting there
The dam and the Sillón are next to the north access to the Caminito, in the Parque Ardales area. You get there by car from Ardales. If you are also doing the walk, parking at the Visitor Reception Centre, at Puerto de las Atalayas, costs €2 a day. The walk is free and has no opening hours.
Combine it with kayaking on the reservoir, which sets off from the campsite opposite, or with the Ardales Cave, a few kilometres away, if you book a place on a guided visit.
- **Sport climbing at El Chorro** (4 h · Experienced climbers with their own equipment): Before the Caminito, El Chorro was already known for climbing: more than 2,000 limestone routes on south-facing walls, such as Las Encantadas, Frontales, the Escalera Árabe or the gorge itself. There are routes for almost any grade and style, and a good part of the sectors are a short walk from the El Chorro district and its railway station.
When to go
The season lasts almost all year. From December to March is when there are most climbers, because the south-facing walls take advantage of the winter sun. Spring and autumn give the most pleasant conditions, with mild temperatures and plenty of daylight. Only July and August complicate climbing because of the heat: then you have to start early and look for sectors in the shade, and it helps to ask someone who knows the area.
Who it is for
For experienced climbers with their own equipment: rope, quickdraws, helmet and harness. If you do not climb on your own, the alternative in the area is the El Chorro via ferrata, which climbs the wall with cable and rungs and takes three to four hours in total, at medium difficulty. It is not advisable in rain or wind, and in summer you must carry plenty of water.
To learn or to climb with someone to lead you, ask at your accommodation: those in the El Chorro district work with guides and schools in the area. Do not climb in the sectors facing the Caminito without checking the rules of the site, which is a protected natural area.
Where to stay and how to get there
Olive Branch is the climbers' guesthouse: it is at the foot of Las Encantadas, about 200 metres from the wall, and a short walk from Frontales, the Escalera Árabe and the gorge. It has a shared kitchen for those who cook for themselves. La Garganta, next to the station, is the other base in the district.
You can arrive by train from Málaga: the C-2 Cercanías line ends at El Chorro station, about 45 minutes away. By car, from Málaga it is around an hour. On rest days, the Caminito del Rey or a while kayaking on the reservoir completes the trip.

## Dónde comer
- **La Garganta Restaurant** (Restaurant, El Chorro (Álora), €€). Qué pedir: the leg of Málaga suckling kid or the kid in aloreña sauce, migas to share and grandma's cake
- **El Kiosko Restaurant** (Restaurant, Ardales, €). Qué pedir: tapas and raciones to share, a dish-of-the-day stew and a homemade dessert; breakfasts too, before the walk.

## By car: By Car, with Parking Booked
The car is the usual way to go: from Málaga it takes an hour and the Visitor Reception Centre car park costs €2 a day. As the Caminito is linear, you leave the car in the north and return to it on the shuttle bus from El Chorro. With a car you can also fit in the Ardales Cave and Bobastro on the same day.
Presupuesto orientativo: 50–110 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're driving
- **La Garganta Hotel** (Hotel): La Garganta is the hotel of the El Chorro hamlet, in the municipality of Álora, at the very point where the Caminito del Rey ends and the Málaga commuter train stops. It occupies a building with a restaurant, café, panoramic pool and the reception of its adventure-tourism company, which runs the via ferrata and other outings in the gorge. Its address is 1 Avenida Caminito del Rey.
At the end of the Caminito and beside the train
The south exit of the Caminito is about 300 metres away and the El Chorro-Caminito del Rey halt, on the C-2 line from Málaga, about 100 metres. That makes it possible to do the trip without a car: you arrive by train, sleep, take the shuttle in the morning to the north entrance and, when you finish the walk, stroll down to the hotel. By car you get there along the Álora road to El Chorro or coming down from Ardales past the reservoirs. The hotel has parking for its guests.
Nine different rooms
The website lists nine types: double, double with terrace, superior double, superior double with jacuzzi, superior loft, duplex, junior suite, double suite and a room for four people with a terrace, the option for families. All have free wifi and a kettle for tea and coffee. There are rooms adapted for reduced mobility, subject to availability: let them know before booking. The website doesn't publish fixed prices; they appear in its search tool according to the date.
If you book on the website, breakfast is included, and guests get a discount on the hotel's activities, including the Caminito ones; you have to ask for it at reception. Check-in is from 14:00 and check-out until 12:00; late check-out is charged separately and depends on occupancy. Reception is open from 7:30 to 23:00.
Pool, table and activity
The outdoor pool, panoramic and with hydromassage, is open from 9:00 to 21:00. Downstairs, the La Garganta restaurant serves Málaga cooking from 12:00 to 22:30 without closing in the afternoon, and breakfast is served until 11:00. From the same reception departs the El Chorro via ferrata, which ends back at the hotel.
With a dog or with children
The hotel accepts pets: you need to tell them beforehand so they can explain the conditions, which the website doesn't detail. For families, the four-person room with terrace and the pool are the practical choices; teenagers have the via ferrata from age 12, with an adult.
- **Olive Branch El Chorro** (Hostel, desde 20 € / bed): Olive Branch is a rustic guesthouse with a garden at the foot of Las Encantadas, one of the climbing walls of El Chorro, about ten minutes' walk from the hamlet and its station. It has been open for more than eighteen years. It sits halfway between a guesthouse and a hostel: rooms with bathroom for couples, shared bunks for anyone travelling on a tight budget, and a kitchen that is the heart of the house.
Two hundred metres from the wall
The Las Encantadas rock is about 200 metres away, five minutes on foot. El Chorro has more than 2,000 climbing routes, and the house explains that you can climb almost all year: December to March is the peak season, spring and autumn are usually the most pleasant, and July and August are tough because of the heat. If you don't climb, from here you can walk down to the hamlet, where the train stops and the Caminito del Rey ends, and climbing in El Chorro and the via ferrata both start from the same area.
Double with bathroom or bunk
Rooms with bathroom cost €70 a night for two in winter and €80 in summer. Beds in a shared room cost between €20 and €24 per person. In both cases sheets, towels and satellite wifi are included; breakfast is optional and paid separately. There is also an apartment with its own kitchen, dining room and living room. The website doesn't publish check-in and check-out times or a minimum stay; ask when you book.
The kitchen, the wall and the pool
The shared kitchen is open at all hours, with fridges, hobs, utensils and a dining area; in the morning, from 8 to 10, it is shared with the breakfast team, and from 15 to 20 with the house chef. There is a laundry for guests, a pool for hot days, a common room with a pool table, books and games, a training wall and a yoga platform. The showers have gas-heated hot water.
The house organises yoga and Pilates retreats and activity weekends; on those dates it can be full of groups.
Without a car from Málaga
The train from Málaga takes about 45 minutes to El Chorro, according to the house, and you walk up from the station. To start the Caminito del Rey from the north, catch the shuttle in the hamlet. For eating out, La Garganta restaurant is next to the station.
- **Parque Ardales Campsite** (Campsite, desde 16 € / pitch): Parque Ardales Campsite sits on the shore of the Conde de Guadalhorce reservoir, among pine trees, in the municipality of Ardales. It is open all year and combines pitches for tents, caravans and motorhomes with 40 m² apartments with water views. For the Caminito del Rey it is one of the closest places to stay to the north access: about 1.5 km to the pedestrian access and another 1.5 km of path to the ticket office.
The pitches and what they cost
There are three types. Tent pitches, in the shade of the pines, for five people at most, with or without electricity. Caravan and motorhome pitches take vehicles up to 8 metres and have a 15 A hook-up, drinking water, grey-water drainage and chemical toilet emptying. Camper vans up to 6 metres have their own area with a water point nearby.
The 2026 rates, for two people and including VAT, vary by season: a tent pitch without electricity €16 to €22, with electricity €21 to €27, a motorhome pitch €18.50 to €24 and a caravan pitch €22 to €28.50. Each extra adult adds €4 to €6, a child aged 2 to 12 €3 to €4, and a dog €1.50 to €2.50 a day. High season in 2026 runs from 29 June to 6 September. Pitch check-in is from 12:00 and check-out is until 11:30.
Apartments with a wood-burning stove
The apartments are for two, three or four people, with a bathroom, equipped kitchen, air conditioning, heating, a wood-burning stove and a terrace over the reservoir; sheets and towels are included. In 2026 the two-person apartment costs €60 in low season, €70 in mid season and €90 in high season; the four-person one, €90 to €120. A €100 deposit is required and firewood is bought at reception for €5; the stoves are used from November to the last weekend of March. Check-in is at 14:00, check-out at 11:30. Stays of a week or more get a 20% discount.
With a dog, with children, in winter
It is a campsite that admits dogs and has an area for them. On pitches they pay the daily rate; in the apartments they are only allowed in some, up to three, at €8 per stay, so ask when you book. For children there is the swimming pool, accessible from the pitches and apartments, which opens from May to 15 October if the weather allows; the supermarket opens from Easter to 15 October. Outside those dates, arrive with your shopping done. Free wifi only reaches the reception area, and there is a pay washing machine and dryer.
The Caminito and the reservoir from your pitch
If you book a pitch or apartment at least three days ahead, the campsite arranges your Caminito del Rey tickets, useful on spring weekends, when they sell out. The kayak trip on the Conde reservoir departs from the campsite itself, and the Ardales Cave is a few kilometres away. For eating without cooking, the El Kiosko restaurant is on the same shore.
- **El Kiosko Cottages** (Country house): The El Kiosko cottages are six holiday lets that the family behind El Kiosko restaurant has next to their eatery, on the shore of the Conde de Guadalhorce reservoir, in Ardales. They are on the road to the north entrance to the Caminito del Rey, surrounded by countryside, with views of the reservoir and the surrounding mountains. It is simple accommodation, a house of your own rather than a hotel: you arrive, park in front and have a kitchen to yourself.
Two of six, one of four, two of two
According to its website, there are two six-person cottages, one four-person and two two-person. They are furnished and equipped with appliances, and parking is easy, right in front of the door. The website doesn't give the number of bedrooms or bathrooms in each, nor whether they have heating or air conditioning: if you are travelling in high summer or in winter, ask when you book. It doesn't publish prices either; it only says they are affordable.
On foot to the Caminito checkpoint
The advantage of sleeping here is the closeness to the north entrance. From the El Kiosko area to the access checkpoint it is about 35 minutes on foot along a 2.7 km path, and the organisers ask you to be at the access area half an hour before your slot. If your entry is first thing, sleeping here saves you the road from Málaga or Antequera at dawn.
When you finish the walk at El Chorro, the shuttle stops beside the restaurant, so you get back to the cottage without touching your car. Right next door, El Kiosko restaurant serves breakfast from 8:30 and cooks until midnight, according to its website, and the shop sells water and the basics for your rucksack.
What's nearby
A few steps away are the reservoir viewpoints and the Sillón del Rey. On the same shore, Parque Ardales campsite hires out kayaks to explore the reservoir, and the Ardales Cave, with a guided visit, is a few minutes away by car. For climbing or the via ferrata you need to go down to El Chorro, on the other side of the gorge.
Who they're for
They suit families and groups of friends doing the Caminito who prefer a house to a hotel, and anyone who wants to cook something and have dinner on the restaurant terrace without moving the car. If you are looking for a pool, a reception desk or hotel services, the La Garganta hotel, in El Chorro, has them.

## Car-free: Car-Free, by Train from Málaga
The Caminito is one of the few big days out in the province that you can do without a car. Renfe stops at El Chorro, at the end of the walk, about 45 minutes from Málaga. From the station you take the shuttle bus up north, walk the Caminito downhill and finish next to the train again. Confirm the Sunday timetable before booking your entry time.
Presupuesto orientativo: 45–100 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir without a car
- **La Garganta Hotel** (Hotel): La Garganta is the hotel of the El Chorro hamlet, in the municipality of Álora, at the very point where the Caminito del Rey ends and the Málaga commuter train stops. It occupies a building with a restaurant, café, panoramic pool and the reception of its adventure-tourism company, which runs the via ferrata and other outings in the gorge. Its address is 1 Avenida Caminito del Rey.
At the end of the Caminito and beside the train
The south exit of the Caminito is about 300 metres away and the El Chorro-Caminito del Rey halt, on the C-2 line from Málaga, about 100 metres. That makes it possible to do the trip without a car: you arrive by train, sleep, take the shuttle in the morning to the north entrance and, when you finish the walk, stroll down to the hotel. By car you get there along the Álora road to El Chorro or coming down from Ardales past the reservoirs. The hotel has parking for its guests.
Nine different rooms
The website lists nine types: double, double with terrace, superior double, superior double with jacuzzi, superior loft, duplex, junior suite, double suite and a room for four people with a terrace, the option for families. All have free wifi and a kettle for tea and coffee. There are rooms adapted for reduced mobility, subject to availability: let them know before booking. The website doesn't publish fixed prices; they appear in its search tool according to the date.
If you book on the website, breakfast is included, and guests get a discount on the hotel's activities, including the Caminito ones; you have to ask for it at reception. Check-in is from 14:00 and check-out until 12:00; late check-out is charged separately and depends on occupancy. Reception is open from 7:30 to 23:00.
Pool, table and activity
The outdoor pool, panoramic and with hydromassage, is open from 9:00 to 21:00. Downstairs, the La Garganta restaurant serves Málaga cooking from 12:00 to 22:30 without closing in the afternoon, and breakfast is served until 11:00. From the same reception departs the El Chorro via ferrata, which ends back at the hotel.
With a dog or with children
The hotel accepts pets: you need to tell them beforehand so they can explain the conditions, which the website doesn't detail. For families, the four-person room with terrace and the pool are the practical choices; teenagers have the via ferrata from age 12, with an adult.
- **Olive Branch El Chorro** (Hostel, desde 20 € / bed): Olive Branch is a rustic guesthouse with a garden at the foot of Las Encantadas, one of the climbing walls of El Chorro, about ten minutes' walk from the hamlet and its station. It has been open for more than eighteen years. It sits halfway between a guesthouse and a hostel: rooms with bathroom for couples, shared bunks for anyone travelling on a tight budget, and a kitchen that is the heart of the house.
Two hundred metres from the wall
The Las Encantadas rock is about 200 metres away, five minutes on foot. El Chorro has more than 2,000 climbing routes, and the house explains that you can climb almost all year: December to March is the peak season, spring and autumn are usually the most pleasant, and July and August are tough because of the heat. If you don't climb, from here you can walk down to the hamlet, where the train stops and the Caminito del Rey ends, and climbing in El Chorro and the via ferrata both start from the same area.
Double with bathroom or bunk
Rooms with bathroom cost €70 a night for two in winter and €80 in summer. Beds in a shared room cost between €20 and €24 per person. In both cases sheets, towels and satellite wifi are included; breakfast is optional and paid separately. There is also an apartment with its own kitchen, dining room and living room. The website doesn't publish check-in and check-out times or a minimum stay; ask when you book.
The kitchen, the wall and the pool
The shared kitchen is open at all hours, with fridges, hobs, utensils and a dining area; in the morning, from 8 to 10, it is shared with the breakfast team, and from 15 to 20 with the house chef. There is a laundry for guests, a pool for hot days, a common room with a pool table, books and games, a training wall and a yoga platform. The showers have gas-heated hot water.
The house organises yoga and Pilates retreats and activity weekends; on those dates it can be full of groups.
Without a car from Málaga
The train from Málaga takes about 45 minutes to El Chorro, according to the house, and you walk up from the station. To start the Caminito del Rey from the north, catch the shuttle in the hamlet. For eating out, La Garganta restaurant is next to the station.

## As a family: From Age 8, with a Plan for the Little Ones

The Caminito is a good family day out from age 8: the walkway is safe, impressive and takes three or four hours. Younger children are not allowed in, so if you are travelling with smaller ones, one adult stays with them at the reservoir, or you leave it for another year.

### What works best
The Caminito del Rey, from age 8 with ID or family book

Kayaking on the reservoir, two hours unguided, for all ages

Ardales Cave with torch and guide, from age 8: €5 up to age 12

Bobastro, a church carved into the rock and a short walk

### Where to sleep
Parque Ardales campsite, with apartments and a pool from May to October

El Kiosko cottages, sleeping 4 and 6

La Garganta Hotel, with a room for four and a pool

### Where to eat
El Kiosko, tapas and raciones beside the reservoir

La Garganta, with the kitchen open all afternoon

### Bear in mind
There are no toilets along the whole route: have them go before entering

In summer, take the first slot; the walkways are in the sun

No pushchairs or baby carriers: the minimum age is 8

### Qué hacer as a family
- The Caminito del Rey, from Ardales to El Chorro
- Kayaking on the Conde de Guadalhorce Reservoir
- The ruins of Bobastro and its rock-hewn church
- Cueva de Ardales, Palaeolithic paintings with a guide
- The Conde de Guadalhorce Dam and the Sillón del Rey

## With teenagers: Walkways 100 Metres Up and a Proper Ferrata

For a teenager, El Chorro has what they are after: the Caminito's suspension bridge with a grated floor, a K3 via ferrata with a guide and, for those who already climb, one of the best-known climbing areas in Europe.

### What works best
The Caminito del Rey and its suspension bridge, about 105 m above the river

El Chorro via ferrata, from age 12 with an adult

Kayaking on the reservoir, at their own pace for two hours

Climbing in El Chorro, for those who already have experience

### Where to sleep
Olive Branch El Chorro, a climbers' house with a pool and training wall

La Garganta Hotel, next to the ferrata and the station

### Where to eat
La Garganta when you finish the walk

### Bear in mind
On the ferrata, ages 12 to 17 only with an adult

The Ardales Cave is a two-hour group visit: some will find it too much

### Qué hacer with teenagers
- The Caminito del Rey, from Ardales to El Chorro
- El Chorro Via Ferrata with a Guide
- Kayaking on the Conde de Guadalhorce Reservoir
- Cueva de Ardales, Palaeolithic paintings with a guide
- Sport climbing at El Chorro

## With friends: Walkways, Via Ferratas and Rock at El Chorro

El Chorro brings together in one gorge what a group of friends comes looking for: a path hung over the void, a via ferrata, climbing and kayaking on the reservoir. Sleeping right there lets you do it all without cars.
For a group, the key is to order the days: the Caminito needs booking and is the activity that sells out most easily, so fix it first. The rest is shared out: a guided via ferrata one day, kayaking or climbing another. Staying in El Chorro or by the reservoir saves on cars and lets you walk to the Caminito entrance.

### What works best
The Caminito del Rey, from Ardales to El Chorro: 8 km and 3–4 hours, from age 8; tickets start at €10 and are booked on the official website

The guided El Chorro via ferrata: K3, with a zipline, a Tibetan bridge and a monkey bridge, from age 12 and €55

Sport climbing, with more than 2,000 limestone routes, for those who bring their own gear

Kayaking on the reservoir, unguided, two hours and from €16

The Ardales Cave, a two-hour guided visit to the Palaeolithic paintings, €15

### Where to sleep
The El Kiosko country houses: six little houses for 2, 4 or 6 people above the reservoir

Camping Parque Ardales, with apartments from €60, 1.5 km from the Caminito

The Hotel La Garganta, 300 m from the south exit, with a panoramic pool

Olive Branch, a climbers' house with beds from €20 and a shared kitchen

### Where to eat
El Kiosko, next to the north entrance, with tapas, raciones and stews

La Garganta, with a terrace over the gorge and grilled suckling kid

### Keep in mind
Book the Caminito in good time: entry is by reservation on the official website

Climbing and unguided kayaking require you to know what you are doing; if not, hire a guide

There is little accommodation in the area: settle the group before booking

### Qué hacer with friends
- The Caminito del Rey, from Ardales to El Chorro
- El Chorro Via Ferrata with a Guide
- Kayaking on the Conde de Guadalhorce Reservoir
- Cueva de Ardales, Palaeolithic paintings with a guide
- Sport climbing at El Chorro

## Consejos

### Buy at caminitodelrey.info
It is the only official website. Anywhere else, you pay for a resale or a package.

### Park in the north
The route runs from north to south, and the bus takes you back to your car.

### Bring cash for the shuttle
The driver does not accept cards.

### Check your email the day before
If they close for wind or rain, they let you know 24 hours ahead.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How much does the Caminito del Rey cost?
€10 for general admission and €18 for the official guided tour. On top of that, €2 for parking and €2.50 for the shuttle bus.

### Where do you buy tickets?
On the official website, caminitodelrey.info, or at the north entrance ticket office if any are left. The visitor centre does not sell them.

### Can children go?
From 8 years old, with their original ID card or family record book.

### Can you take a dog?
No. They are banned on the route, guide dogs included.

### Can you go from Málaga without a car?
Yes: a Renfe train to El Chorro, in about 45 minutes, and the shuttle bus to the start.

### How long does it take?
Three to four hours on the route, plus the walk from the car park and the shuttle back.

### Is it open on Mondays?
No, except on some public-holiday Mondays. It is open Tuesday to Sunday.