Caminito del Rey

The Caminito del Rey is a passage built into the walls of the Gaitanes gorge, across the municipalities of Ardales, Álora and Antequera, in the province of Málaga, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. It is a pedestrian walkway of more than three kilometres (plus 4.8 kilometres of access paths), attached to the rock inside a canyon, with sections only about one metre wide, hanging up to 105 metres above the river, on walls that become vertical.

Over time, it deteriorated badly: almost the entire route had no railings, and some sections had collapsed, leaving only the support beam. All these factors contributed to a dark reputation after several hikers lost their lives trying to cross it. In 2014, work began to restore it. A new walkway was built, with wooden panels along its length. The restoration works were completed in the first quarter of 2015, and it reopened at the end of March that same year, generating great public excitement. Visits can be made by advance booking, and the Diputación Provincial de Málaga has set up a website for this purpose. Currently, a private company belonging to the town of Ardales, under an administrative concession, manages and charges for admission, and tickets must be purchased in advance.