Is the Caminito del Rey worth doing? My honest review
One of the Caminito del Rey’s infamous bridges
One of southern Spain’s most popular walks, the Caminito del Rey is visited by over 300,000 people each year. But is it worth it? In this article, I share my first-hand experience and weigh up the pros and cons.
The short answer is that I would definitely recommend this walk. Having done it myself, I think the Caminito del Rey makes a great day trip from Málaga or Marbella (or even Seville) and is suitable for people with an average fitness level. The rugged mountain scenery is spectacular and offers a real contrast to the coastal region of Málaga province.
That said, not everyone raves about the Caminito del Rey, and I’ve covered some of the reasons why in more detail below, to help you decide whether this experience is for you.
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What makes the Caminito del Rey special?
Its location
The dramatic scenery and gravity-defying walkways of this path through the Gaitanes Gorge make it one of the best outdoor activities in Málaga province.
Suspended some 100m above the Guadalhorce river, its boardwalks cling to the vertical cliff faces and the final stretch includes a slightly terrifying (though perfectly safe) swing bridge.
As of June 2026, there’s now an even longer (optional) bridge towards the end of the walk, officially the longest suspension bridge in Spain.
It’s an area full of natural caverns and striking rock formations. As well as admiring the scenery, you can spot wildlife like deer and griffon vultures.
Its history
The path was first created in the early years of the 20th century as an access route for the workers of the El Chorro hydroelectric plant, and was such an impressive feat of engineering that King Alfonso XIII paid it a visit in 1921. After that, it became known as El Caminito del Rey (the little path of the king).
In later decades, it fell into disuse, but that didn’t stop adrenaline junkies from tackling the now-derelict trail, with sometimes tragic consequences - five people died walking the gorge in 1999 and 2000 alone. After this, the path was closed and extensively restored, eventually reopening to the public in its current form in 2015.
Spectacular scenery seen from the Caminito del Rey path
How to plan your visit to the Caminito del Rey
This is a low to medium difficulty walk of 8km (taking 2-3 hours), with no need to bring any equipment other than comfortable shoes. Safety helmets are compulsory and these are distributed at the start of the main section of the trail. There are no steep climbs, and the paths are well-maintained. There are some steps at the very end (though if you take the new bridge, you can skip some of these).
Access is tightly controlled, and I recommend booking tickets in advance, either directly through the official website (adults €10, €18 with a guide) or as part of a package tour that includes coach travel to and from the site. A range of these tours are available via Get Your Guide with pick-up points in Málaga, along the Costa del Sol and Seville.
The package tour option makes the logistics easier, since the trail is one-way - your coach drops you off near the northern access point, then waits for you at the southern access point where the trail ends. However, it’s also possible to drive and park in the visitor centre carpark, then get a shuttle bus to the trailhead and another shuttle bus back to the carpark after handing in your helmet at the southern end of the trail.
The third option is to take the train from Málaga to the train station El Chorro-Caminito del Rey, which is also at the southern end, and then get the shuttle to the trailhead. Be sure to check the train schedule in advance.
Other tips for visiting
Be sure to bring a decent supply of bottled water with you. There are no toilets along the main part of the route - the last toilet stop is at the visitor reception area where they hand out the safety helmets. See the video below for more on the experience of walking the Caminito del Rey.
Why you might not enjoy the Caminito del Rey
As well as walking the Caminito del Rey myself, I’ve spoken to a lot of friends and colleagues who’ve done the walk. Most people rave about it, but for those who don’t, these are the most common reasons why - and why it might not be for you.
If you are looking for a challenging hike
There’s no opportunity to go “off road” so to speak - the path is clearly marked and a large part of it is made up of pasarelas (wooden walkways). For safety reasons, everyone follows the same route in the same direction, and there are no steep climbs (just a few steps in places). This makes the route safe and comfortable for casual walkers, but for more hardcore hikers, it may feel a bit too “easy”.
If you want to avoid crowds
This is not a remote wilderness experience and you will be walking with or near other people. The capacity is carefully controlled (hence the need to book), but the popularity of the walk means it can get quite busy. If you prefer complete peace and solitude in the outdoors, this may not be the walk for you.
If you are scared of heights
While this is a low-to-medium difficulty hike, if you are scared of heights or have vertigo, it probably isn’t a good idea to do this walk. The pathways are suspended very high above the valley floor in places and the bridges are also very high (though the final, longest one is optional).
My overall verdict: an essential Málaga experience
As you’ll probably have gathered by now, I’m a fan of this walk and I’m looking forward to doing it again to see the new bridge.
I particularly like that it shows a different side of the Costa del Sol to the typical beaches and holiday resorts people might associate with this part of Spain. Málaga province is extremely geographically diverse, and the Caminito del Rey is a great way to see some of its most spectacular landscapes up close.
Here’s a short video I made about my Caminito del Rey experience:
Caminito del Rey FAQ
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The Caminito del Rey is located about 60 kilometres northwest of Málaga.
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Since the extensive 2015 refurbishment it is no longer considered a dangerous walk, in fact it feels very safe and you will also be given a safety helmet to wear throughout.
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In my opinion, yes - our guide shared a lot of information about the history of the area, how the original path was made and the local flora and fauna that I would never have known otherwise.
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Yes, but only those aged 8 years and above.
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March and April and October onwards are good months to do this walk, as during the summer it can get fiercely hot.
