To tour the province of Málaga is always a great idea, but to go to the Caminito del Rey Path is only good if you have no vertigo at all. You have been warned!
The name of the route doesn’t sound too epic, that’s true, and anyone could think that it is a peaceful walk between flower beds and colourful birds. But the birds that you will find here are eagles, vultures and hawks and the path it is actually a three kilometres walk along a narrow walkway hanging from almost vertical rock walls. There is a river, yes, but a hundred meters below your feet.
The gorge of the Gaitanes, carved by the Guadalhorce River, is the scenario in which this true challenge awaits for you. The path was built at the beginning of the twentieth century so that the workers of a hydroelectric company could cross from one side of the canyon to the other. But Alfonso XIII came here to inaugurate the reservoirs a few years later, and that is the reason why it ended with such misleading name.
Over time, the walkway deteriorated and going down the vertiginous stretch became more and more dangerous. So much so, that risk lovers soon came here to test themselves. But sure, one thing is being a goat, which would be very useful here, and another thing it’s being as crazy as a goat. The thing is that there have been several accidents in this “Caminito” some of them fatal until the Andalusian Regional Government decided to close all the entries and to impose large fines on the daredevils who would skip the ban.
But the reality is that this Caminito del Rey Path was so attractive and spectacular that it was decided to restore it to reopen in 2015, and in this way all those people who want to cure their hiccups forever, could do so without risking their lives. The current path is as safe as it is impressive the void beneath your feet, but if you are brave enough, you will be able to enjoy the spectacular setting which, of course, it is famous throughout the planet.
That fame has made it appear in films starring Frank Sinatra or Robert de Niro, and also to be included by the guide Lonely Planet among the places in the world that must be seen. Would you dare?
