Caminito del Rey, Málaga, Spain

The Caminito del Rey (“the King’s Little Path”) is one of the most exhilarating walks in Spain — a narrow walkway clinging to the sheer walls of the Gaitanes Gorge near El Chorro, about 50 kilometres inland from Málaga in Andalusia. Built in the early 20th century so that workers could move between two hydroelectric dams, and named after King Alfonso XIII, who walked it in 1921, the original concrete path decayed over the decades into a crumbling, railing-less ledge more than 100 metres above the river — earning a reputation as one of the most dangerous footpaths in the world. After a careful multi-million-euro restoration it reopened in 2015 with sturdy new timber walkways bolted to the cliffs, and it is now a safe but still spectacularly airy adventure open to ordinary visitors.

What to See

The experience is the walk itself: a one-way route of around eight kilometres in total, of which roughly three kilometres run along the hanging boardwalks pinned to the vertical rock, threading through the narrows of the gorge with the green Guadalhorce river far below. Highlights include the dramatic Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, where the walls close in to just a few metres apart; a glass-floored balcony that lets you look straight down the cliff; and a swaying suspension bridge slung across the ravine near the end. All visitors wear a helmet, and the path runs one-way from the northern entrance near Ardales to the exit at El Chorro. Beyond the thrill, the setting is beautiful — a landscape of turquoise reservoirs, limestone crags and Mediterranean scrub, rich in birdlife, with Bonelli’s eagles and griffon vultures soaring overhead.

How to Get There and Practical Information

The Caminito del Rey lies in the Guadalhorce valley near the village of El Chorro, in the province of Málaga, roughly an hour by car or train from the city of Málaga. It is most easily reached by driving to one of the car parks and shuttle stops near the northern (Ardales) entrance, though there are also trains from Málaga to El Chorro at the southern exit and a shuttle bus linking the two ends. Numbers are strictly limited and tickets must be booked online well in advance, as they sell out quickly; a basic self-guided ticket and a dearer guided option are available. The walk takes around three to four hours in total and involves some exposure to heights, so it is not suitable for those with severe vertigo or very young children; wear good shoes, bring water and sun protection, and note that the path may close in high winds or bad weather.