What to do · Caminito del Rey and El Chorro
The Conde de Guadalhorce Dam and the Sillón del Rey
Information
- Price
- Free
- Duration
- 40 min
- Who it's for
- Everyone
- With a dog
- On a lead; dogs are not allowed on the Caminito
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.
Tips
- Use it as a waiting room If you arrive early for your Caminito time, the walk fills the time without taking you far.
- Sit in the chair It is the photo everyone takes, and with good reason.
As a familyWith a dog
