How to get tickets for the Caminito del Rey when it’s sold out
The Caminito del Rey is a great hiking trail that leads through a breathtakingly beautiful gorge with several hundred meter high rock walls on both sides
It’s a great experience and worth a visit despite the many tourists, even if it’s difficult to get tickets, especially tickets without a guide, and it’s not easy to buy tickets on site at the entrance to the Caminito del Rey.
Michael Madsen shares how to get tickets for the Caminito del Rey
Tickets without a guide are sold out more than a month in advance. Then you just have to buy tickets with a guide to experience the Caminito del Rey – they’re also available at short notice. Buy tickets here.
The Caminito del Rey was restored in 2014 and is now open to the public again after being closed for 15 years.
The new Caminito del Rey is completely safe and nothing stands in the way of a hike. Not even fear of hights!
And it’s a great nature experience!
Local municipalities sell 70% of the tickets for the Caminito del Rey through agencies, as this creates more jobs for local young people
If you want to walk the Caminito del Rey during your stay in Andalusia, you have to book tickets in advance. See below how to get Caminito del Rey tickets.
You should do this as early as possible as tickets sell out quickly, especially those without a guided tour.
Buying your tickets from an agency will help you secure local jobs in an area with a youth unemployment rate of 40.6%
Caminito del Rey tickets cost up to 50 EUR per person.
The price depends on what is included, e.g. whether a shuttle bus, guide, parking, transfer or anything else is included.
Please note that the cheapest tickets are rarely available – usually the purchase of e.g. a guided tour, shuttle bus or similar is necessary to get Caminito del Rey tickets.
It is not advisable to try to buy tickets by the entrance as there are very few for sale. This should only be tried as a last resort.
There is also parking – and the shuttle bus back to the entrance of the Caminito del Rey costs 2.50 EUR per person (included in some Caminito del Rey tickets).
You can see the old Caminito del Rey below the new King´s Path
Unfortunately, tickets for the Caminito del Rey sell out quickly on the official website
However, there are 3 other ways to get tickets without a guide or tickets with a guide. We hope that you can get tickets using one of these methods.
Why does the official website sell out so quickly?Because only 30% of the tickets are offered for sale there. The local municipalities prefer that the tickets are sold through agencies, thus securing more local jobs. |
1) Book tickets through an agency
e.g. at GetYourGuide or Tiqets. This is a little more expensive, but then you are guaranteed to get tickets. Just like on the official website, tickets without a guided tour are sold out more than a month in advance – then you just have to buy tickets with a guide.
2) Buy unsold tickets
These are released 4 days in advance on both the official Caminito del Rey website and at the agencies. Or buy last minute tickets here
3) Buy tickets by the entrance
To do this, you have to be there between Tuesday and Friday, before 9 a.m. and plan on waiting for maybe an hour. We only recommend this option if there are no other options.
Get your Caminito del Rey tickets here & now:
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Tickets without a guide are sold out more than a month in advance
After that, you can get tickets without a guide here (when available).
Why are there so few tickets without a guide?Because the local communities that manage the Caminito del Rey want you to contribute to the local economy and create jobs by buying a ticket with a guide, parking and bus. Therefore, they offer very few tickets without a guide. Many young people find jobs as guides on the Caminito del Rey. So if you book a ticket with a guide, you are helping to reduce the high level of youth unemployment. |
How to get to the Caminito del Rey from other places
Caminito del Rey tickets from Malaga
Caminito del Rey tickets from the Costa del Sol
Caminito del Rey tickets from Marbella
Caminito del Rey tickets from Torrox, Nerja & Torre del Mar
The Caminito del Rey takes you through the El Chorro gorge
See also our article about how to get La Alhambra tickets when sold out here
Frequently asked questions about the Caminito del Rey
When was the King’s Little Path built?
The King’s Little Path was built to transport building materials to the construction of the old dam, which was completed in 1921.
King Alfonso XIII arrived by train and walked part of the path to the dam at the inauguration.
That is why it was later called the King’s Little Path – Caminito del Rey.
Why was it called the world’s most dangerous footpath?
At the end of the last century, the concrete on the King’s Little Path was so damaged in many places that it had become dangerous.
In 1997, two people died by falling – and it was then closed.
Until the new path was inaugurated in 2014, many climbers recorded breakneck videos on the old concrete path and what remained of the iron struts – and posted them on YouTube under the name “The World’s Most Dangerous Footpath”.
When was the new Caminito del Rey opened?
The new King’s Little Path – Caminito del Rey – is built of wood and suspended from steel. It opened in 2014.
It is built just above the old concrete path, so you can still see the remains of the old Caminito del Rey along the way.
Get Caminito del Rey tickets for the King’s Little Path
Unfortunately, it is not that easy to buy tickets for the King’s Little Path.
They are often sold out or there are only Caminito del Rey tickets with a guide.
There is a good reason for this:
The local municipalities run the King’s Little Path and they do not want to just sell Caminito del Rey tickets without also ensuring local jobs and an economic contribution to the local economy.
Why are there no Caminito del Rey tickets for sale?
On the official website, only about 30% of Caminito del Rey tickets are put up for sale.
The rest are sold through other sales channels, especially agencies.
Of the 30%, only a small proportion are sold as Caminito del Rey tickets without a guide.
The majority are tickets with a guide.
The reason is that they prefer not to sell Caminito del Rey tickets without a guide, because they make too little contribution to the local economy.
Are Caminito del Rey tickets really sold out?
No. Just because there are no more tickets on the official Caminito del Rey website does not mean that they are sold out.
70% of Caminito del Rey tickets are put up for sale through agencies, such as GetYourGuide and Tiqets.
Here it is usually possible to get Caminito del Rey tickets.
The price is a little higher, but then you are sure to get tickets.
And then you usually also get additional services included in the price, e.g. a guide, parking, guidance, shuttle bus or something else.
How do you get Caminito del Rey tickets?
In order not to be dependent on the official website, which is often sold out, we recommend ordering Caminito del Rey tickets from an agency.
At an agency, you are sure to get tickets without them being sold out.
And you usually get additional services included in the deal.
In addition, you contribute more to the local economy by ensuring work for the guides, parking attendants, bus drivers, etc.
See here which Caminito del Rey tickets are available.
Can you buy Caminito del Rey tickets at the entrance to the King’s Little Path?
A small proportion of Caminito del Rey tickets (approx. 50) are sold at the entrance in the morning.
This requires you to queue at the entrance as early as 8am to secure your tickets.
We do not recommend this solution.
It is only suitable for situations where there are no more tickets to buy either on the Caminito del Rey website or at the agencies.
The walk on the King’s Little Path itself
Is it crowded with tourists?
Many people come through the Caminito del Rey every day, except Mondays, when it is closed.
There are always quite a few people gathered at the entrance waiting to do the walk.
On the walk itself, the groups are spread out over the 4 km, so it is not that crowded at all and you can often walk alone without being bothered by other visitors.
How much time does it take to walk the King’s Little Path?
If you walk the walk without a guide, it can take anywhere from 45 minutes if you walk quickly to 3 hours if you take breaks along the way.
With a guided group, it usually takes 1 – 1½ hours.
Is it hard to walk the King’s Little Path Caminito del Rey?
No. It it a straight walk most of the way – and a little downhill, as there is a drop from start to finish.
However, there are some places where it is uphill – and a few places with stairs.
The King’s Little Path is 4 km long – and the total Caminito del Rey walk from parking to bus is 7 km.
Is it too hot in the middle of the day?
In the summer months it is very hot here – everywhere.
But fortunately there are many places with shade along the way – and part of the King’s Little Path passes through the forest.
You should bring water – and stay in the shade during the summer months – but you can do the walk even if it is very hot.
Is it safe to walk the King’s Little Path?
The new Caminito del Rey, which was inaugurated in 2014, was built safely – according to all regulations and checked regularly.
“The world’s most dangerous footpath” is a nickname for the old Caminito del Rey – and is no longer a relevant term.
Even if you should feel unwell along the way, there are fixed procedures for help and assistance, so that no one takes any risks on the walk.
What to bring?
A small bottle of water per person and good footwear.
Otherwise, nothing.
If the weather is expected to change, it is a good idea to bring an extra sweater or jacket.
Both water and extra clothes should be carried in a small backpack.
However, make sure not to bring too much – it must be carried the entire way.
Does a fear of heights prevent you from walking the walk?
The King’s Little Path Caminito del Rey is about a meter wide at its narrowest points.
In some places 1.5 meters wide.
You don’t have to walk along the railing and look down – you can choose to walk alongside the cliff.
So a fear of heights need not prevent you from walking the King’s Little Path.
Can you do the Caminito del Rey in the rain and wind?
If there is very strong wind, the King’s Little Path will be closed and you will be given the opportunity to rebook.
Otherwise, there are no problems doing the walk.
Remember to bring appropriate clothing for the weather.
When does the shuttle bus return?
The shuttle buses drive continuously back and forth, so you rarely have to wait much.
There are no fixed schedules – the bus drives when it is fairly full.
Access and parking:
Can you get to the King’s Little Path without a car?
There are trains to El Chorro, from where you can take the shuttle bus up to the entrance of the King’s Little Path.
Check the train schedules on e.g. Renfe.com
How to find the King’s Little Path?
Almost all rental cars are equipped with GPS systems.
“Caminito del Rey” can simply be entered into the GPS system.
Head for example for “Caminito del Rey centro de visitantes” or “Caminito del Rey acceso norte”.
Where can you park?
There is parking at the King’s Little Path visitor center (“centro de visitantes”).
From here you will have to take the shuttle bus twice; first to the entrance and then back to the visitor center.
Alternatively, you can park closer to the entrance.
This way you can walk to the entrance and only take one shuttle bus ride when you need to return to the entrance after the tour.
With Caminito del Rey tickets you walk the bridget of the King’s Little Path
Where can you eat?
There are restaurants both at the entrance and at the exit.
We can recommend La Garganta (at the exit) and El Mirador (at the entrance).
It is an advantage to book a table.
There are no restaurants at the Caminito del Rey visitor center.
Buy your Caminito del Rey tickets here.