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.
- Go to www.caminitodelrey.info (This is the English language page.)
- At the top left click on “Book your visit”
- 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.
- 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)
- Select the hour you want to enter the Camino del Rey
- 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
- 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.
- Tick the box to say you accept the rules – “Normas Reguladoras de Uso”
- 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)
- 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.
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!
Hello,
can anybody hook me up with a ticket or tell me how to get one through hotel eg.?
I would like to walk Caminito on any of days 20/07 – 25/07.
Thanks!
Hi Clive!
On your recommendation I have booked us in for two nights at la posada del Conde. Is there any way to make sure we can get tickets to the Camino as it’s this Friday/Saturday when we are staying and I’m afraid tickets will be selling like hot cakes!!!
Thanks in advance
Camila
Hi Camila, I am sure you will enjoy your stay and have a great time on the Caminito.
To arrange your permit just email the hotel via booking.com with your name and passport numbers of everybody going. Thats the best way as they will have your booking details….. Just to be on the safe side send a copy with the same info to the hotel email as well (reservas@hoteldelconde.com)
Clive
hi Clive. Thanks so much for writing back! I took your advice and wrote to them yesterday, but I have not heard back, unfortunately 🙁
We are on our way to Malaga and then Ardales now, so fingers crossed by the time we get there they still have permits. Or I’ll be quite sad!
Let me know how you get on! I am staying there on the 3rd of July and will be annoyed if they didnt get the permit for you as they have told me many times that they can do this without a problem….
Intrigued to find the “system” that has now evolved if you turn up on the day (it was suggested to me it might be worth trying in case people had not turned up)) . Despite online tickets all booked up, you are advised to go to a nearby restaurant & “eat” there, whereby you can get a ticket. Alternatively, contact a guiding company & they can do you the same day. So – what quota do the restaurant & guiders get?
Thanks for your comment Cazza. I Have written to the Malaga council to clarify this. I know that some local hotels and a couple of guiding companies can arrange permits but the restaurants is news to me. If this is correct then it makes a mockery of the online booking system. I’ll let you know when I get an answer. By the way, did you actually get a permit after eating at one of the local bars?
Here is the reply from Malaga council and the people in charge of the online booking system
So I replied with another question………….
Thank you for your reply,
Could you please tell me exactly how many permits the online system is available to give each day? I was under the impression that it was 500 people per day, is this correct? If this is so, and the maximum tickets have been taken, how can local businesses provide more permits over and above the 500 people allowed on the Caminito each day
And, this is the answer….
Something definitely smells fishy and it’s really hard to get clear and concise answers….
We are hoping to visit the Kings Path, and have been trying to book, the web site just throws yoiu out, is anyone else experiencing this problem. How to we get to book if the site is not working ?? Any help please from anyone. We are in Furengirola from 29th April till May 20th.
regards Carole and Ernie
Hi. I have already reserved and received confirmation email. But it make my confuse. Because the confirmation document only my name and passport no, but did not show my friend information. It is normal? How can I check the reservation detail. Actually, I try on website, but not successful. Would you give me some suggestion.
The email you got should have had two pdf documents. One for you and one for your friend… If you didnt get two permits then you didnt fill out the details for the second person maybe?… Go to the website again and get a permit for the same day and time for your friend…
Oooooo no
I reserved on the date at 6-may.
Actually, I did booking on end of March. Now booking is full. How can I do?