# Sunday on the Caminito del Rey: the walkways, the suspension bridge and lunch in El Chorro The first Caminito slot, 8 km of walkways and the suspension bridge, lunch with a view of the gorge in El Chorro and the afternoon at the reservoir. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/spain/andalusia/caminito-del-rey/itineraries/walkways-and-suspension-bridge-sunday · Revisado: 2026-11-12 ## El día - 08:00 · Salida: 1 h by car (from Málaga via the A-357 towards Ardales; park at the Visitor Reception Centre (€2)) - 09:00 · Visitor Reception Centre Car Park (Gaitanejo trail, 2.7 km, about 50 minutes to the checkpoint) - 45 min on foot - 10:00 · The Caminito del Rey, from Ardales to El Chorro (General admission €10; helmet at the checkpoint) - 5 min on foot - 13:30 · La Garganta Restaurant (Málaga cooking with a terrace over the gorge · €€) · La Garganta Restaurant, €€ - 2 min on foot - 15:30 · El Chorro – Visitor Centre Shuttle Bus (€2.50, in cash if you did not buy it online) - 15 min by car, 8,7 km - 16:00 · The Conde de Guadalhorce Dam and the Sillón del Rey (The dam and the Sillón del Rey, next to El Kiosko) - 17:00 · Vuelta (You reach Málaga around 18:00) The Caminito del Rey is walked in one direction and ends far from where it begins. This plan solves that: the car in the north, the route downhill in the morning, lunch in El Chorro, where it ends, and a shuttle back to the car. Buy your ticket beforehand at caminitodelrey.info, the only official website, and choose the 10:00 slot. ## The day, hour by hour 8:00 · Set off. From Málaga, an hour on the A-357 towards Ardales, following the Caminito signs. From Córdoba or Granada, a little under two hours on the A-45 or the A-92 and Antequera. Park at the Visitor Reception Centre, at the Atalayas pass: €2 a day. 9:00 · Approach. From the car park to the access control there are two paths: the Senda de Gaitanejo, 2.7 km and about 50 minutes, or the tunnel and track, 1.5 km and 20 to 25 minutes. You must be at the entrance 30 minutes before your time. 10:00 · The Caminito del Rey. They give you a helmet at the checkpoint and you start to descend: the Gaitanejo gorge, the Hoyo valley and the third canyon, with the suspension bridge of about 35 m more than a hundred metres above the river. It is 8 km and three to four hours. There are no toilets or bins along the way. 13:30 · Lunch at La Garganta. On the way out, in the El Chorro hamlet, you hand back the helmet and cross to La Garganta restaurant: suckling kid, gazpachuelo or Iberian secreto, with a terrace over the gorge. The kitchen does not close at midday, so it does not matter what time you finish. 15:30 · Shuttle. The bus takes you up in 15 to 20 minutes to the El Kiosko stop, next to the north car park. €2.50; the driver does not accept cards. 16:00 · Reservoirs. Before heading back, a walk to the Conde de Guadalhorce dam and the Sillón del Rey, with the green water among the pines. 17:00 · Head home. ## Where and what to eat La Garganta, in El Chorro, has a kitchen from 12:00 to 22:30 and a terrace over the gorge: Málaga suckling kid and grandmother's tart. If you prefer to eat in the north, when you collect the car, El Kiosko serves tapas, raciones and home-cooked stews beside the reservoir. ## With children and with a dog From age 8, with the ID card or the original family record book. Below that, one of the adults stays at the reservoir with the little ones: the two-hour kayak leaves from the Parque Ardales campsite. Dogs are not allowed on the Caminito; on the dam walk they can go on a lead. ## Cómo llegar ### By car From Málaga, an hour on the A-357. From Córdoba or Granada, a little under two hours via Antequera; from Seville, about two hours on the A-92 and Campillos. Park in the north, never in El Chorro if you are doing the route. ### Without a car Renfe regional train from Málaga to El Chorro, about 45 minutes. At the station you take the shuttle to the start, walk the route downhill and finish next to the train again. Check the Sunday timetable before choosing a slot. ## Consejos ### Choose the 10:00 slot It lets you eat when you come out without rushing. ### Bring cash For the shuttle, if you did not buy it with your ticket. ### No sticks or umbrellas They take them off you at the checkpoint. ## Un consejo más ### If it rains The organisers may close the route and give 24 hours' notice. If they close, change the date from your account and do the Cueva de Ardales, with a booking, or Bobastro. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How much does the day cost? Between €35 and €60 per person: a €10 ticket, €2 parking, a €2.50 shuttle and lunch. ### Is the Caminito open on Sundays? Yes, Tuesday to Sunday. It is closed on Mondays except for some public holidays. ### Where do I park? At the Visitor Reception Centre, in the north, for €2 a day. ### Can you do it without a car from Málaga? Yes, by train to El Chorro and a shuttle to the start.