Instructions – How to make your reservation for the Caminito del Rey

FREE ACCESS TO THE CAMINITO DEL REY HAS NOW CEASED .

THIS ARTICLE IS NOW REPLACED BY THE NEW BOOKING SYSTEM INSTRUCTIONS HERE…

Please click the above link to get updated instructions about tickets for the Caminito del Rey

Although the official website for booking a walk on the Caminito del Rey is in four languages (Spanish, English, German and French), the actual booking system is in Spanish. That said, the booking system is fairly easy to navigate. (though not without some annoying issues – See note at the bottom of these instructions.)

If there are no availabilities for the day you want then an alternative is to stay at the hotel Posada del Conde and the staff there can arrange a permit for you for any day apart from Monday.

  1. Go to www.caminitodelrey.info (This is the English language page.)
  2. At the top left click on “Book your visit”
  3. In the new page select the date that you would like the permit for. (use the buttons to navigate through the calendar) –  The red dates are days where there are no spaces left. Green dates have spaces available.
  4. Once the date is selected on the right hand side select which entry point you want. (Ardales is from the lake side and finishes at El Chorro and Alora is from El Chorro side and finishes at the lakes. From El Chorro the walk is more uphill and takes a bit longer, about 5 hours)
  5. Select the hour you want to enter the Camino del Rey
  6. Fill in the identification details in the form that appears (The ones marked with an asterisk are obligatory). Select from the drop down, passport or DNI. (some people are having trouble with this. I put my British passport number in the DNI box without a problem
  7. Say how many people that are going with you and fill out the details of those people. (You will need their passport details as well.
  8.  Tick the box to say you accept the rules – “Normas Reguladoras de Uso”
  9. Click on the “Reservar” and you are done… You will receive an email with all the details in a PDF document. Check your spam box if you don’t get an email)
  10. IMPORTANT – make sure you print the document and take it with you and also the passport/identification you used for you and any other people (You will be asked for this before you enter)

Note: Try to get all your info right the first time. Sometimes when the page refreshes and you have got something wrong, the information you previously put is lost and you have to start again.

TIP: You can walk back to the place you started from as long as you don’t pass the checkpoint at the other end. (I have walked from the Ardales side as far as the suspension bridge and then back again without problem and it took me 4 hours.)

There are also shuttle buses available – The shuttle buses start at 12:30pm  from each end of the Caminito del Rey and the last bus is at 20:30pm. The buses run every half hour during these times. The cost is under 2 Euros to get you back to the your start point

IMPORTANT! Remember that you have to be at the start point 30 minutes before your allotted time and from either end it takes around 30 minutes to get to the start point. Allow plenty of time to park your car and get to the start checkpoint to show your entry permit.

 

82 thoughts on “Instructions – How to make your reservation for the Caminito del Rey”

  1. Hi Clive!

    Otra pregunta para usted!
    In March 2015 you wrote, I quote:
    “You can walk back to the place you started from as long as you don’t pass the checkpoint at the other end. (I have walked from the Ardales side as far as the suspension bridge and then back again without problem and it took me 4 hours.)”

    Is this still valid in May 2016?
    Per Eggert

  2. The new booking site has four calendar options. The too 2 are last minute (ultima hora). Click on the right hand top calendar and you should see last minute options for the current and next two days. It is no longer necessary to take your passport. All starts are from Ardales end. So either park at El Chorro by the station and get the bus to the start, or park at the Mirador or down by El Kiosko at the Ardales end and then you are close to the start but need to get the bus back. Your on line tickets are Euros 11.50 per person including the bus trip. They are quite strict about numbers on the pathway so do get there in good time. It takes 15-20 minutes to walk from. The Mirador. The bus from El Chorro takes 20 minutes and is often a bit late leaving as so many people are boarding. The buses seem to be going on the hour at the moment. You are not supposed to use selfie sticks but unfortunately a lot of people do. It’s a narrow walkway and its a pain to constantly wait whilst selfie stardom takes over from the beauty of the environment.

  3. Hi,
    We’re going in June of El Caminito del Rey. El Chorro train to arrive. We want to know whether El Corro is starting to go on the route to the north or north / south? If you go to the north side when he comes to start the first bus after 10:50 El Chorro?
    thanks

    • Hi Zoltán,
      The start point is the other end from El Chorro at the reservoirs/kings chair/elkisko restaraunt side. It depends what time your permit is for if you can get a bus to the start point?

  4. Greetings,
    In June I will go to the Caminito del Rey. I would like to know the direction of El Chorro is also possible to go over or just north / south direction?

    thanks to Zoltan

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