Walking along the Kings Path (Caminito del Rey)
Prologue:
In March 2015 the King's Path "Caminito del Rey" was reopened to the general public again.
The King's Path was build initially in 1901/05 as a supply route to help with the construction of the hydroelectric power plants of El Chorro.
The King Alfonso XIII walked the path through the gorge as he visited the area in 1921 at the inauguration of the Conde de Guadalhorce dam. After that it was known as the Kings Path, "Caminito del Rey".
It lays within the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes Nature Park in Malaga Province. This area is of outstanding beauty and a nature lover's paradise. It is a thrilling and very scenic walkway.
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| Read more: History of the Caminito del Rey |
Directions: There are two ways to get there.
1. North entrance Ardales 2.South entrance Alora
1. From Málaga head direction Campillos A-357 via Cartama and Pizarra. By Ardales you turn towards the reservoir Embalse de Guadalhorce Ma-444. This takes you roughly 1 hour. You can leave the car near the El Mirador Restaurant and from there it is a leisurely 20- 30 minutes walk on a service road to the entrance of the Gorge and the Caminito del Rey. Another route is from near the dam Conde de Guadalhorce and the King's chair by the restaurant El Kiosko. 2,7 km.
2. Or you turn from the Málaga - Campillos road A-357 towards Pizarra and Alora and then towards El Chorro train station
MA -447. This route is longer and windier.
From there it is about 20 minutes walk to the entrance.
The actual walk on the Caminito del Rey is 2,9 km on a well built, secure and well monitored pathway. Allow yourself 3-4 hours for the entire walk as the views are stunning and you want to stop to take in the atmosphere. From either end a bus will take you back to your starting point.
Note: You have to book the entrance in advance via internet.
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| Read more: caminitodelrey.info |
At the entrance office with your ticket and ID you will receive a helmet and some instructions.
We pass a Hydroelectric power station of Gaitanejo.
As we enter the gorge
we noticed the first signs of the original path on the rock face opposite.
We are certainly pleased that our track looks safe and sturdy.
An information board explaining you the way.
On 26th of March 2015 the Caminito del Rey was officially re-opened.
The canyon is around 3 km long and it's walls reach a dizzying height of
300 meters and narrowing to just 10 meters apart in some places.
You are soon aware of how small you really are.
It is totally amazing !!
Fascinating!!
Grandiose!!
Breathtaking!!
A really mind blowing experience.
At times you meet groups of people but generally you are by yourself.
There are only 50 people from either entrance allowed onto the path at one time.
The track leads you
up and down and around corners.
You find many
interesting nooks and
crannys for stunning pictures.
The path leads you through a tunnel over a covered water canal.
Suddenly you find yourself in the open
and you can see the Malaga - Cordoba railway line
on the opposite side of the gorge.
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| Read more: History of the Malaga - Cordoba railway line |
The Malaga - Cordoba line was first constructed in 1860 and compleated 1866.
High above in the sky
we spotted birds of prey circling.
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| Read more: Griffon vulure |
We were so lucky as we caught sight of
a Griffon vulture (Buitre leonado)
poised on a rock across from us.
An information board explaining to you the Fauna which can be found in this area.
An old bridge across the gorge comes into view.
But we carry on comfortably at the same pace.
The red arrow on the board indicates where you are.
From here you get an amazing view along the river valley.
The valley is magnificent and vast.
It looks very lush and virtually untouched.
We get a glimpse of a railway bridge through the trees.
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| Rock bell (Campanula mollis) |
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| Blue throatwort/Flor de la viuda (Trachelium caeruleum) |
We found an ideal spot to rest and have a snack.
A sluice gate.
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| Read more: Desfiladero de Gaitanes nature area |
Sierra de Huma massif reaches a height of 1195 meters.
We have reached halfway.
The hike takes you along and
through a water channel.
We are reaching the narrowest part of the gorge.
A last view back along the river valley.
We spotted an old farm house between the rocks and trees.
An old sluice gate.
We reach 2/3 of our way.
Looking down from a dizzying height.
Across the gorge again the railway line as it comes into view for a brief moment.
It seems like miniature train as it appears and then disappears again into the mountain.
A quite amazing engineering project.
and must've been a huge undertaking
now, as it was then
to build this path along the cliff.
A glass platform invites you for an additional thrill.
We are reaching the most dramatic part of the way.
Every now and than you get a good view of the old footpath.
The bridge coming up
represents the highlight of the Caminito del Rey
We are nearly at the end of the path.
Just breathtaking but not for people with vertigo.
Embalse Tajo de la Encantada
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| Puente Diputado Ignazio Mena |
The view from across the hanging bridge.
On the horizon you can almost see the coast.
The benches invites you to take a rest and enjoy the view along the river valley and the reservoir.
The track leads you over the last obstacle, the railway line.
Again we witness a train as it disapears into a tunnel.
It is just mind blowing when you look back and see the path along the cliff from where we have just come.
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| El Chorro |
With admiration and awe we look back to the gorge.
Back in civilisation and mobile phone connections again.
Also you have a chance to recharge your mobile phone.
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| Read more:Embalse Tajo de la Encantada |
We were pleased with our achievement as we handed back our helmets.
Near by you find a kiosk where you can get refreshments and you can wait for the bus to take you back to your starting point.
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