La Garganta Hotel
Why we like it: Hotel in the El Chorro hamlet, 300 m from the south exit of the Caminito and 100 m from the train, with a panoramic pool, restaurant and nine room types.
Duration1 night
From Málaga1 h by car or 45 min by train
Budget€110–190 pp
Best timeOctober – May
The plan
The plan, hour by hour
Designed for arriving early on Saturday and returning on Sunday afternoon. Before you leave, buy the Caminito ticket at caminitodelrey.info for Saturday at 10:00 and book the Cueva de Ardales on Giglón or the via ferrata with La Garganta for Sunday.
Saturday
- 19:00North car park
Park at the Visitor Reception Centre (€2) and walk along the Gaitanejo path to the checkpoint.
- 210:00The Caminito del Rey
The 8 km of walkways and the suspension bridge, north to south, in three or four hours.
- 314:00Lunch at La Garganta
At the exit, with a terrace over the gorge and a kitchen that doesn't close at midday.
- 416:30Kayak on the reservoir
Two hours unguided on the Conde de Guadalhorce reservoir, from €16, from Camping Parque Ardales.
- 519:00The dam and the Sillón del Rey
A sunset walk beside the water and dinner at El Kiosko.
Sunday
- 110:00Cueva de Ardales or via ferrata
The cave, with a guide and in groups of 15, at 10:00 from the Ardales Prehistory centre (€15). If you prefer adrenaline, the El Chorro K3 via ferrata with a La Garganta guide, from €55.
- 213:30Bobastro
The rock church of Omar ben Hafsún's fortress, with views of the reservoir. Free.
- 315:00Drive back
An hour to Málaga; an hour and three quarters to Córdoba or Granada via Antequera.
In a day the Caminito del Rey gives you the route and little else: an hour's drive, the approach, three or four hours of walkways and the shuttle. With a night in the area the plan changes. On Saturday you do the Caminito at your own pace and spend the afternoon at the reservoir; on Sunday you choose between hanging off a via ferrata, seeing Palaeolithic paintings in the Cueva de Ardales or climbing to Bobastro, the church carved into the rock.
Where to sleep?
| Accommodation | For whom | What it has |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel La Garganta | Couples or families who want to sleep at the exit | At El Chorro, beside the station; pool, restaurant and activities |
| Olive Branch El Chorro | Climbers, backpackers, without a car | Guesthouse with beds from €20 and a shared kitchen |
| Camping Parque Ardales | Families, motorhomes, with a dog | At the reservoir, 1.5 km from the start; apartments and a pool from May to October |
| Casas rurales de El Kiosko | Groups and families | Cottages for 2 to 6 on the road to the north entrance |
If you go with children or a dog
With children from age 8, the Caminito is the centrepiece of the weekend and the Cueva de Ardales still appeals to them (€5 for ages 8 to 12). With under-8s, the Caminito is not possible: that leaves the kayak, the dam and Bobastro, and sleeping at the campsite. With a dog, Camping Parque Ardales is dog friendly and La Garganta admits pets with notice; the Caminito and the cave do not admit them.
Map
The stops, in order
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Plan the trip
Caminito del Rey and El Chorro, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Caminito del Rey and El Chorro
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
The same break, your way
The plan stays the same. What changes is where you sleep, how you get there and how much you spend.
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.
50–110 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepEl Kiosko cottages, on the…
- Getting aroundBook parking with your ticket…
- Where to eatEl Kiosko, next to the…
- ServicesVisitor Reception Centre car park…
Where to sleep
- El Kiosko cottages, on the road to the north entrance
- Parque Ardales campsite, on the reservoir, 1.5 km from the start
- La Garganta Hotel, at the exit, with parking and a pool
Getting around
- Book parking with your ticket and arrive an hour early
- Shuttle back, €2.50 and cash if you didn't buy it online
- Bobastro, a few minutes from El Chorro along the visitor centre road
Where to eat
- El Kiosko, next to the north shuttle stop
- La Garganta, in El Chorro, with the kitchen open all afternoon
Services
- Visitor Reception Centre car park, €2 a day
- Shuttle bus from 7:40 to 20:00
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.
45–100 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to sleepLa Garganta Hotel, about 100…
- Getting aroundRenfe regional train to El…
- Where to eatLa Garganta, next to the…
- ServicesEl Chorro station
Where to sleep
- La Garganta Hotel, about 100 m from the station
- Olive Branch El Chorro, a 10-minute walk away, with beds from €20
Getting around
- Renfe regional train to El Chorro
- Shuttle bus from El Chorro to the Visitor Centre, €2.50, cash to the driver
- On foot to the via ferrata and the climbing sectors
Where to eat
- La Garganta, next to the station
Services
- El Chorro station
- Shuttle bus from 7:40 to 20:00
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights1
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're drivingwithout a car
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Olive Branch El Chorro
Why we like it: Climbers' guesthouse below the Las Encantadas sector, a 10-minute walk from El Chorro: doubles with bathroom from €70 and shared beds from €20.
From €20
View details
Parque Ardales Campsite
Why we like it: Campsite open all year on the shore of the Conde de Guadalhorce reservoir, 1.5 km from the Caminito: pitches from €16 and apartments from €60.
From €16
View details
El Kiosko Cottages
Why we like it: Six furnished cottages next to El Kiosko restaurant, on the reservoir and 2.7 km on foot from the north checkpoint of the Caminito, for 2, 4 or 6 people.
Services for this trip
Areas, for any way of travelling
| Area | Who it's for | Average night |
|---|---|---|
| North entrance (Ardales) | Visitor Reception Centre, reservoirs, El Kiosko and the start of the route | |
| El Chorro (Álora) | Exit of the Caminito, train station, La Garganta and the ferrata |
Where to eat
Where to eat in Caminito del Rey and El Chorro
La Garganta Restaurant
What to order: the leg of Málaga suckling kid or the kid in aloreña sauce, migas to share and grandma's cake
El Kiosko Restaurant
What to order: tapas and raciones to share, a dish-of-the-day stew and a homemade dessert; breakfasts too, before the walk.
Tips
Worth knowing first
Local tip
Take the 10:00 sitting on Saturday: you eat when you come out and have the afternoon left for the water.
We'd skip it
The Caminito at midday in July or August: the walkway is in the sun and there is no shade or water along the whole route.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take from Málaga to the Caminito del Rey?
An hour by car on the A-357, or about 45 minutes by train to El Chorro.
Is one night enough?
Yes, for the Caminito at leisure and one more activity. With two, add Antequera and El Torcal, about 45 minutes away.
Where to sleep near the Caminito?
At El Chorro, at the La Garganta hotel or Olive Branch; in the north, at Camping Parque Ardales or in the El Kiosko houses.
Do I need to book the Cueva de Ardales?
Yes, in advance on Giglón. It is open Tuesday to Sunday.