Spectacular Hiking in Andalusia: Caminito del Rey

El Caminito del Rey, also known as the King's Path, is over a century old. Originally, the path wasn't intended to be a tourist attraction. Around 1901, it was built to transport goods and personnel for the construction of power plants between the Chorro and Gaitanejo waterfalls. The route was officially opened in 1905 after four years of construction. In 1921, King Alfonso XIII of Spain used the path during the inauguration of the Conde del Guadalhorce dam, hence the name King's Path.

Deadly?

The thought that El Caminito was known as the most dangerous hiking trail in Europe until 2015 sends shivers down my spine. The path deteriorated so much in the twentieth century that it became extremely dangerous. This led thrill-seekers to view the route as an adventurous playground. It became even more exciting when the path was officially declared off-limits in 1992. Fines of €6000 per violation didn't deter sensation-seekers, though. A handful of people had accidents and didn't live to tell the tale. The path was closed until the province began to see its potential as a tourist attraction and decided to restore it. On some parts of the path, you can still see old crumbling sections of the King's Path. That completes my adventure entirely.

El Caminito del Rey in 2019

From Marbella, my friends and I drive our rented Ford Focus via Ronda to El Caminito del Rey. The road looks familiar to me, because I was here last year too. We arrive at the parking lot and park the car for a few euros. My backpack is full of water bottles, a hat, and my best travel buddy: my camera. Last year, we chose the 4.8-kilometer approach route because we didn't know there was a shorter way to the entrance of the path. This year, we opt for the short approach route of 1.5 kilometers. The tension rises as we walk along the water. After a little over twenty minutes, we arrive at the entrance, sweaty. Walking in 32 degrees with the sun beating down on your face is definitely harder than taking a stroll in the Netherlands with the dog. Next time, I definitely won't go at 4:30 p.m. Just to please myself!

The approach route offers a beautiful view of the gorge, but the sight from El Caminito del Rey almost blows you away. At the entrance, I'm given a helmet and information to stay on the paths. And there I go! After a few meters, you can hear me say "wow," because I've never seen anything so beautiful. In the gorge, brown rocks, green plants, and blue water create a beautiful color palette. When I look down, I think "omg" rather than "ooh," but that's just part of this adventure. After all, you don't walk a hundred-meter-high path through the most beautiful gorge in Andalusia every day.

The path alternates between wooden planks above water and unpaved sections of nature. Along the way, we pause on a bench - not for the first time - to gulp down half a liter of water. Because, yes, it's hot! As we continue walking, the informational signs don't catch my attention because I'm so overwhelmed by the view. So the glass floor comes as a complete surprise. Do I look down? NO! Do I have someone take a photo of me standing on the glass panel? DUH! And then I see the bridge of El Caminito del Rey that's been plastered all over Instagram millions of times.

Adrenaline rushes through my body. The wind rocks the footbridge back and forth. There I am, a hundred meters above ground, on the bridge that seems to be a beautiful conclusion to this path. Seems to be because it's not the end. To my surprise, we still have to walk a few kilometers to the bus that takes us back to the parking lot. Believe me, if you haven't calculated these kilometers, you'll experience these last minutes as exhausting. Fortunately, all the photos of the adventure quickly help you forget this, and the bridge remains the most memorable. Oh, how I love adventure!

Tips

• Make sure to bring plenty of food and liters of drinks because you can't buy anything along the way.
• Wear decent shoes that you can walk 7.7 kilometers (+ the approach route) in.
• Plan on 2.5 to 3 hours to be able to walk the entire path comfortably.
• Choose an early time to avoid the heat. The path is open in the summer from 10:00 to 17:00.
• Reserve your tickets online in advance.
• You don't need to reserve the bus at the end of the path, and it costs about €1.50 per person.
• Last but not least: don't forget to take your camera and hold onto it tightly. It would be heartbreaking if your camera fell down.

Want to experience more hiking adventures in Spain? Also read: On ancient footpaths to Santiago de Compostela!