Recommendations
1. El Caminito del Rey is a rehabilitated infrastructure to enjoy active tourism in a natural setting. Therefore, the risk factor is inherent as well as a certain degree of physical effort and skillfulness, an aspect that is assumed by tourists who come to follow the route. As a consecuence, the following items are recommended:
- Water (at least 1.5 litres per person, although there are vending machines at your disposal) or any other energy drink exclusively.
- Chocolate bars, energy bars, nuts or fruit, exclusively.
- SPF, especially during summer season.
- Season-appropriate clothing and especially hiking boots
2. Depending on the visit time, visitors must prepare for possible lunch breaks (sandwiches or ready made foods), as lunch cannot be eaten once the boardwalks are reached due to lack of appropriate spaces for it and stopping is not recommended to facilitate fluidity. Hence, lunch must be had before or after entering the boardwalks.
3. Visitors must take into account before accessing the equipment area that there are no bathrooms available along the route.
4. Given the route's duration and the existence of uneven sections, which are duly indicated at the beginning and end of each (route's profile) it is not recommended to visit El Caminito to anyone who does not have adequate physical preparation, one that has vertigo (boardwalks are narrow, at a great height and on the southern part of the trail one must walk across a hanging bridge), heart-related or breathing difficulties as well as for people who are undergoing treatment during their visit. Furthermore, access with non-emancipated minors will require a parent or legal guardian's responsibiity.
5. Because this activity is in a natural setting surrounded by mountains, small rock falls can happen. Hence, people must pay attention and always follow staff's instructions.
Finally a WARNING
The route of the Caminito del Rey is linear, not circular, so you must ensure your return to the starting point by your own methods. However, there is a shuttle bus service between the north access (Ardales) and the south (El Chorro, Álora) or vice versa that allows visitors to Caminito del Rey to travel to their starting point by the current MA-444 road. For more information on schedules and routes, check with the service concessionaire.
El "Caminito del Rey", ubicado en el Paraje Natural Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, se sitúa en el centro de la provincia de Málaga, a menos de 60 km de la capital, delimitado al norte por la Serranía de Ronda y los Llanos de Antequera y al sur por el valle del Guadalhorce y de la comarca histórica de Campo de Cámara.