Frightening heights, a narrow valley with sheer rock walls, a small wooden path, … to some this might sound terrifying, to me it sounds challenging. And that’s the reason why I chose to travel to Spain once more and revisit Andalusia. Not only National Geographic and The Washington Post loved and wrote about it, but also Lonely Planet dedicated an article to the Caminito del Rey. Most of the titles look something like this: Caminito del Rey, Spain: one of the world’s scariest hikes to reopen Caminito Del Rey, World’s Most Dangerous Walkway, Set To Reopen Next Week World’s deadliest pathway reopens to the public El Caminito del Rey: World’s scariest pathway, to reopen But how is it really and is it still so dangerous? In the province of Malaga, near Ardales, the Caminito del Rey – the little path of the King – is famous for adrenaline rush and extreme heights. It was opened by King Alfonso VIII in 1921 and was considered the most dangerous hike – I mean look at this:

But it had to be closed due to security reasons in 2001 – adrenaline is fun as long as it is safe, right? This is the reason why the Spanish Government invested a lot of money in building a new experience: Only last year it was reopened and over 30,000 people signed up to visit the Caminito del Rey in the first few months – and I was one of them! Let me take you on a wonderful hike in the mountains of Andalusia, leave your daily routine and come along: Pack a small backpack, put on some hiking shoes (runners will do it too) and start a wonderful day in Ardales. I got a warm welcome by the guards as the checked my printed registration and ID. Helmets were handed to us and after a short safety introduction everyone went off to explore the path. Between 50 and 60 people are allowed in every 30 minutes, but no worries: this might seem a lot but the people spread fast and if you want to have it all to yourself stay behind and take it all in. The wooden path runs along the steep rocky walls of the valley.

Try not to look down as the wooden boards of the path allow a view down into the valley. As you walk enjoy the landscape, listen to the birds sing and stop thinking about anything else that usually occupies your mind. Consciously take step by step, touch the wall, stop for a few minutes and look around. What do you see? Towards the end of the Caminito del Rey a suspension bridge connects the valley. I wait for a bit so I can cross it alone – again, step by step. The wind slightly caresses it and I keep on walking. My fear of height has gotten so much better. I wouldn’t have been able to walk here a couple of years ago, but now, although I am still a little tense, it is more exhilarating than frightening. The old path was undoubtedly dangerous and was a death trap to some, but that has changed. The old path is not accessible anymore. The new Caminito del Rey has been built to ensure a save hike through the valley. It is really more like an extended walk than a real hike – which doesn’t make it any less interesting.

Rent a car and park either at the beginning or the end of the Caminito del Rey. On both sides are parking lots and a shuttle bus operates frequently – check timetable below. Trains from Malaga and Seville stop at the train station El Chorro (South of the Caminito del Rey) once a day.sony fs700 backpack Shuttle busses are available every 30 mins on the weekend to get you to the entrance or the end of the Caminito del Rey for 1.50€sony fs700 backpack 8.45, 9.30, 10.30, 11.30, 12.30, 13.00, 13.30, 14.00, 14.30, 15.00, 15.30, 16.30, 17.30backpack hablando sola Every 30 minutes starting 9.00, last bus 17.30buy bride takata backpack

9.10, 10.00, 11.00, 12.00, 13.00, 13.30, 14.00, 14.30, 15.00, 16.00, 17.00 Every 30 minutes starting 9.30, last bus 17.30 10am to 2pm: October 25th to March 26th 10am to 5pm: March 27th to October 24thClosed on Mondays !! Have you been to the region? peli s100 sport elite laptop backpackHow was your experience on the once most dangerous hiking path?govx backpack Note: Mil gracias to the Spanish Tourism Board and Costa del Sol for the lovely time in Andalusia. This post is also available in:Balancing precariously on a rusty steel beam, I slowly hike across the Caminito del Rey trying not to glance down at the treacherous river hundreds of feet below me. I’d traveled to this remote corner of Andalucia in the South of Spain to hike the Caminito del Rey. This path is famous around the world with rock climbers and adrenaline junkies due to its shocking state of disrepair.

Just looking up at the hazardous path full of holes and missing sections sent a shiver of fear down my spine. Barely clinging to the vertical canyon walls it’s attached to — ready to crumble at any moment. Known as Spain’s most dangerous path, or the most dangerous walkway in the world, the Caminito del Rey (The King’s Little Pathway) is over 100 years old and 100 meters (350 feet) high. The perilous concrete trail winds through steep limestone cliffs near the small village of El Chorro and into a hidden valley. Would I really go through with this risky journey? I was starting to have second thoughts… Walking the entire length of the 3 kilometer Caminito (sometimes called the Camino del Rey) has become an exclusive adventure sport for people crazy enough to attempt it. There are numerous sections where the concrete has collapsed, creating large open air gaps that are bridged by very narrow steel beams, themselves often rotting away. A via ferrata cable runs the length of the path though, allowing hikers to clip in with a harness.

You need to bring your own gear or rent one from a climbing shop. Or you can make your own Swiss Seat (like I did) with some webbing, climbing rope, and a few carabiners! However the integrity of the safety cable running the length of the path is unknown, as it’s not officially maintained by anyone. So you must rely on it at your own risk. Armed with my trusty Luna Sandals made for trail running, and a backpack loaded with gear, I spent 4 days hiking the walkway over 8 times. Filming video with my GoPro camera along the way. On the hike itself, wind whips through the narrow canyon, testing my nerves as I carefully place one foot in front of the other. Hoping my next step isn’t my last. I’m not the only one attempting to conquer my fears though, there are other adventurous hikers up here flirting with death. Sometimes we must pass each other, which can be complicated on a 1 meter wide path full of holes. In many places the entire path has completely fallen away, leaving just a three inch wide steel beam to balance on.

Other sections don’t even have beams — forcing you to cling to the face of the rock. The Caminito del Rey is made up of two different sections. They each traverse a narrow area of the Gaitanes Gorge, with a stunning hidden valley located between them. “The Valley of the Orange” is completely surrounded by mountains, with orange trees growing near the Guadalhorce river as it flows through the middle. There’s even an old ruined house at the bottom. Less hikers attempt (or know about) the second part of the walkway. Much of it has no safety line, save for a few very sketchy sections that require some rock climbing skills to pass. After about 3 hours I finished this wild adventure at the far end of the valley. Luckily in one piece. The walkway was completed in 1905 after 4 years of construction so workers could move materials back and forth between the two hydroelectric power plants at Chorro Falls and Gaitanejo Falls on either end of the canyon. A water canal also weaves its way through tunnels in the mountains.

The suspended catwalk allowed easy access to this canal for inspections and maintenance work, controlling the flow of water when necessary using a series of steel doors lowered into the canal with gears. Spanish King Alfonso XIII inaugurated the pathway in 1921, which is why it’s now called “The King’s Little Pathway”. The King himself walked the length of it to marvel at the beautiful & scenic landscape. There have been at least 5 deaths on the Caminito del Rey, the most recent few occurring in 2000, and many more accidents over the years. The path hasn’t been maintained since the 1920’s — rust eats away at many of the metal support beams. Large gaping holes in the concrete are common. Sometimes whole sections of the treacherous walkway are completely missing, after they’ve crashed down to the bottom of the canyon 100 meters (350 feet) below. If you’re afraid of heights, it’s the stuff of nightmares. Work just finished on a €3.12 million restoration program that transformed the entire walkway into a much safer route, opening up the path to more people and regular tourism.