El Chorro
In order to visit the Caminito del Rey you need to get to the area of the small village of El Chorro and Guadalhorce reservoirs located in Málaga province, Andalusia, Spain. Getting to El Chorro, reservoirs and Camino del Rey is pretty easy.
El Chorro is a few miles away from the larger town of Alora. REMEMBER THAT THE START POINT FOR THE CAMINITO DEL REY IS NOT IN EL CHORRO… EL CHORRO IS THE FINISHING POINT.
Check out types of travel to the Caminito del Rey and reserve your bus, train or taxi with OMIO…
GPS coordinates
Coordinates are 36°54’0″ N and 4°43’60” W in DMS (Degrees Minutes Seconds) or 36.9 and -4.73333 (in decimal degrees). Its UTM position is UF48 and its Joint Operation Graphics reference is NJ30-10.
How to get to the Caminito del Rey By Car
From Malaga take the A-357 towards and past Cartama and around 47 km (from Malaga) take the exit towards M-442/Ardales/MA-5403/El Chorro. (About an hour)
You can park at El Chorro and get a shuttle bus (every 30 minutes) to the start point which is the other side of the gorge by the kings chair/posada del Conde/Mirador and Kiosko restaurants… Or you can park by the restaurants, walk the caminito and get a shuttle bus back to your car…
The Map below explains the route towards El Chorro to take by car from Cádiz or Seville.
Parking at the Caminito del Rey
At the visitor centre:
https://maps.google.com/?q=36.91456538493755,-4.8071835875446105
You can also park your car at P1 North. at the starting point of the Caminito del Rey at 2 euros/day. (Shuttle bus required to get back to the start point.
https://maps.google.com/?q=36.928814,-4.801529
Or, at P2 South at the El Chorro side of the Caminito del rey (shuttle bus required to get to the start point) Free.
https://maps.google.com/?q=36.905602,-4.759938
How to get to the Caminito del Rey By Train
REMEMBER: Your destination (travelling to…) is the train station “El Chorro, Spain”
You can easily book a train ticket online from OMIO… and just fill in your departure station and make sure El Chorro is in the destination. Follow the instructions and print your e.tickets straight away.
On arrival at El Chorro train station you will need to get a shuttle bus (2,50 Euros per person) to the Caminito del Rey start point.
Click here to easily book a train ticket online from OMIO
How to get to the Caminito del Rey By Bus
Time tables keep changing it seems all the time and it’s impossible to get an updated timetable for buses to El Chorro. Also, the buses from Malaga, for example, go to the town of Alora, and then you have to wait and change for a bus to El Chorro. With that in mind and as the village of El Chorro sits on a railway station I am going to recommend the train and forget the bus. (see above for trains to El Chorro)
Guided Tours to the Caminito del Rey
Getting to the Caminito del Rey: Travel FAQ for El Chorro and the Guadalhorce Reservoirs
The Caminito del Rey is located in the province of Málaga, Andalusia, Spain. The route winds through the dramatic El Chorro Gorge, finishing near the village of El Chorro. However, the official starting point is on the opposite side, near the Guadalhorce reservoirs. Key landmarks close to the start include the King’s Chair, Posada del Conde, and the Kiosko and Mirador restaurants.
By Car: From Málaga, take the A-357. The drive takes about one hour. Parking is available at the northern entrance (P1, paid) or the southern exit near El Chorro (P2, free). A shuttle bus connects both ends of the route.
By Train: Take a train to El Chorro, Spain. Tickets are available via platforms like OMIO. From El Chorro station, a shuttle bus brings you to the trailhead.
By Bus: Public buses are possible but less reliable, requiring connections (e.g., Málaga to Álora, then to El Chorro). The train is typically more efficient.
Visitor Centre: Located near the reservoirs.
P1 North (Start Point): Costs €2/day. Coordinates: 36.928814, -4.801529.
P2 South (El Chorro Side): Free parking. Coordinates: 36.905602, -4.759938.
If you park at the start, take the shuttle back after the walk. If you park at El Chorro, take the shuttle before starting the walk.
The shuttle bus runs approximately every 30 minutes from 08:30 to 16:30.
Cost: €2.50 per person, paid in cash (exact change recommended).
Journey Time: About 15 minutes from El Chorro to the start point.
Access: Required whether arriving by car (P2) or train at El Chorro.
Arrive early and plan ahead. For example, if your train arrives in El Chorro at 09:37 and you catch the 10:00 shuttle, you’ll reach the trail start around 10:15. Factor in a 20-minute walk to the control point, where you must arrive 30 minutes before your slot. A booking for 11:30 or later is safest for a relaxed visit. The walk takes 2.5 to 5 hours depending on your pace.
There are no official luggage storage facilities at the Caminito del Rey. If you’re traveling between cities like Granada and Seville, plan to carry only essentials or arrange alternative storage beforehand.
Toilets are available just before the walkway begins, at the control checkpoint near the northern entrance. There are no toilets along the route itself.
I’ve been living in this lovely area of Western Andalucia for the last 20 years or so and dedicate most of my time to the running of English language tourist information websites for the towns of Cádiz, Ronda, Grazalema, the famous or infamous Caminito del Rey, and also Wildside Holidays, which promotes sustainable and eco-friendly businesses running wildlife and walking holidays in Spain. My articles contain affiliate links that will help you reserve a hotel, bus, train or activity in the area. You don’t pay more, but by using them you do support this website. Thankyou!
Hi Clive,
I can see you have helped many with your answers, so I hope my questions will not bother you 🙂
We are in Malaga for New Year’s holidays and planning to book tickets for Caminito for 30/12.
So..
1. Usualy it is open on winter days or we can expect that due to the weather it will be closed? (I can see booking is open)
2. I can’t find opening time on winter days, so I am not sure if we can plan to take traing from Malaga at 10:05, book tickets for Caminito for 12:00 (is it enough to reach it from train station?) and if we will have enough time for walking the path?
Hope you can help me so I can book tickets asap 🙂
Thanks!
Hi…. Obviously weather can be tricky to foresee…. Go ahead and book your tickets… if it does get really rainy and windy then your only option is to change the date of your entry in the event that the Caminito is closed on your selected day… They don’t give refunds….
Winter times aren’t published yet but I would think the last entry to the path would be 3 or 4 pm as it gets dark by 6pm ish….
I would book your ticket for 1pm ish to allow enough time to get you to the start of the walk (you have to take the shuttle bus from the train station and then walk 20 mins to the start point)
Thanks Clive for quick and usefule replay!
Hi Clive,
What are the chances to miss the connection if I take the train from Malaga to Bobadilla and then from Bobadilla to El Chorro?
This way according to renfe.com I will be in El Chorro at 9:32 AM.
Is there any other way to El Chorro from Bobadilla?
I am sure that you wont miss the connection if you have bought the ticket from Malaga to El Chorro…. Bobadilla is a very small train station…
do I have to buy two tickets( can I do that from the ticket machines?) or can I buy just one that covers both trains? Thanks!
HI… I would think that you buy the ticket from Malaga to El Chorro….
Hi Clive we are going by train from Malaga and have a slot of 13.00. How long does the walk take?
Will we get back to the station in time for our return to Malaga train is 18.02
It will take you around 5 hours from getting off the train, getting to the start point and walking back to the train station along the Caminito del rey…. I preseume your train gets into el chorro around 11ish (10:47 i think)?… Plenty of time for you to enjoy the day…
Hi! If we are coming by train to El Chorro at 10:47 when is the earliest time for us to book tickets for Caminito del Rey. I understand we have to take the shuttle bus and then walk 30 minutes and be at the entry 30 minutes before we should start our walk. Is the first shuttle bus leaving at 11:30 from El Chorro?
I would get your permit for 1pm, that should be enough time for you to get off the train and get the bus to the start point without rushing…
Hello,
Do you think if I took the train from Malaga and arrived at 10:47 to El Chorro I would be able to make the 12:00pm slot for Caminito?
It seems like the only other time slot available isn’t until 16:30.
Thanks!
Thats cutting it a bit fine really but you might make it… It depends how long you have to wait for a bus to get you from the train station to the drop off point (they run every half hour or so)… Then from the bus drop off you have a 15-20 walk to get to the start point….