How long, how hard, and how to get tickets to Spain's famous cliff walk.
The Caminito del Rey is a one-way walkway bolted to the sheer walls of the Gaitanes Gorge near Álora, about an hour north of Málaga. Once so dangerous it was nearly closed for good, it reopened in 2015 as a safe, boarded trail — but it still runs up to 100 metres above the river and is not for anyone uneasy with heights.
The full route is around 7.7 km and takes roughly 3–4 hours, walked in a single direction from the northern entrance to the southern one. You'll need sturdy shoes, water and a helmet (provided). Tickets are timed and limited, so the walk regularly sells out weeks ahead in spring and summer.
The simplest option is a guided tour that includes transfer from the coast and your timed entry, so you don't have to arrange the tricky shuttle between the two ends yourself. See the guided Caminito del Rey options below.