El Caminito del Rey, Ardales, Málaga

The "Caminito del Rey" is an aerial path built on the walls of the Gaitanes' Gorge. It is a path attached to the gorge with a length of 3 kilometres that has long sections and a width of just 1 meter. It begins in the municipality of Ardales, crosses Antequera, and ends in El Chorro (Álora).

This path is hanging on the vertical walls of the gorge and at a height up to 100 meters above the river. This trail was built because the "Sociedad Hidroeléctrica del Chorro", owner of Salto del Gaitanejo and Salto del Chorro, needed access between both water falls to facilitate the passage of maintenance workers and the transportation of materials. 

The works began in 1901 and concluded in 1905. The path began next to the Renfe train tracks and ran through the Gaitanes Gorge, connecting and facilitating passage between both sides. To inaugurate this great work, King Alfonso XIII travelled in 1921 to the place at the Conde del Guadalhorce dam, crossing the previously built road. It was from this moment that people began to call that road "Caminito del Rey", a name that is maintained today.

One of the best-known parts of the Caminito is the walkway in the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes. This cantilever is perfectly visible from the railway line and everyone who sees it is amazed by its risky construction and the picturesque landscapes that can be glimpsed from there. From the road that connects Álora with El Chorro, and at the entrance to the Gorge, you can see a small and picturesque bridge that connects the walkway that runs along both walls. From the bridge, it follows the pedestrian path installed in the vertical rock that ends at the railway line from Córdoba to Málaga.

Source: https://www.caminitodelrey.info

Photos: Sara Fontana