El Caminito del Rey, Andalucia, Spain

5Redkitewatcher64 5:00 PM Mar 4, 2022

Amazing walk with stunning views
This was the highlight of our trip , and something I had been looking forward to since planning our trip. I had pre-booked our trip online , but the website is a little confusing as to where to park . I found advice on a local tourism site instead.You have to arrive an hour before the start time of your walk as it is a 30 minute walk to the visitor centre and then you have a briefing and get your safety helmet. We parked by El Kiosko along the roadside but even on a morning in February it was very busy. There is a small car park before you arrive there but that was full and queue to get in.The path by the cafe was closed so we had to walk along the road to enter through the tunnel entrance which then takes you through a lovely woodland walk, The forecast had been cloudy with rain so we had dressed for that but it turned out to be a hot 21 degrees so lots of stripping off of layers. You meet at the visitor centre and are allowed in a few at a time as they check your ticket, You are issued with a hardhat and then divided into groups of Spanish or English speakers for your safety talk before your start your walk. Recommend using the toilets there as there are no others on route until the end, Almost immediately you are on the boardwalk attached to the side of the cliffs and walking through stunning scenery. There is no time limit so you can take as long as you like to do the walk so there there is plenty of time to admire the views, take images and even places you can stop to eat a snack.The scenery is stunning , huge cliffs, big drops to the bottom of the gorge and the sky was filled with griffon vultures , choughs and a displaying pair of peregrine falcons flying above us . I didn't find it scary and it felt very safe with well maintained paths and safety rails but definitely not for those with a fear of heights . Most of the walk you feel like you are on your own but at popular stops like the glass bottomed viewing platform and bridge there was a small queue as people were taking photos. It took us 3 hours in total , and we did the walk ourselves without a guide. You end up in El Chorro where there are toilets, cafes/snack bars and a hotel and this is where you get the coach back to the walk start. This costs 1.50 euros and you must pay in cash but be aware there is a big queue and the coach can be hot and stuffy on the 15 minute trip. The walk costs 10 euros to do and is well worth the ticket price and highly recommend , would go back and do it again like a shot

4missy cryssie 5:00 PM Sep 29, 2022

Definitely visit - but organise yourself
We loved El Caminito del Rey, and our guide (Clara) was entertaining and managed our group well. The walk was not too difficult (5km over 3.5 hours), and we had lots of breaks for water, photos and stories. It's definitely manageable for active kids, but would be difficult for anyone with mobility issues. We were lucky to have great weather (this would be less enjoyable in the rain or wind, or if it's too hot), and we're glad we wore hats and sunscreen, and took water. The only reason this isn't getting 5/5 is because some of the other logistics were not great. We had been given a meeting point, but hadn't been told it was a 15 min walk from the nearest parking (which was on the road, and was full when we arrived 30 mins before our meeting time). We would recommend parking in the large car park (the first one you come across), and pay to catch the bus to the tunnel to walk to the meeting point. As at September 2022, you needed 2 euro per person per trip, and had to wear a mask.