Booking the Caminito del Rey (how to buy a ticket)

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

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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

    The system is now open for October and we managed to make a reservation with any problems. We wanted to go from the Ardales end as we are in our mid 50’s and thought it would be easier. I understand that bookings for Oct are now only going from Ardales and you can only walk one way. My question please is do you have any idea how we can get from Alora to the start at the Ardales side when we have booked for the 10.00 start. We do not have a car – thanks

    • Hi, that sounds a bit difficult…. Bus timetables from Alora to El Chorro are here… http://www.alora.es/turismo/caminito/Transporte.pdf – But, even though you can get to El Chorro by 7:50 you still need to get from El Chorro to the kiosko/kings chair side…. Maybe book a taxi from Alora??? With the Caminito only open ffrom the Ardales side it does make things a bit complicated for people without their own transport…

  2. Hi Clive,
    I have just returned from Andalucia where I managed to hike El Caminito. The only real way to book your place is through one of the hotels in El Chorro or maybe some of the restaurants. They require at least 3 days to make the booking. Using the website just shows that everything is full 3 months in advance.
    As for the actual Caminito, it has been well made and i think they have the numbers more or less right. I didn’t feel it to overcrowded, though the large occasional group going through made for minor spurts of overtaking. They have left the old path in places and its great to compare what it must have been like to walk it prior to the upgrade. Having done THE world’s most dangerous hike in China on the slopes of Hua Shan, i can assure all hikers that El Caminito once deserved that accolade but know it’s a pleasant hike through a dramatic canyon. It would be nice to see more ‘climbers’ at work on some of the slabs near the suspension bridge.
    So despite the suspicious racket surrounding the booking, the unfinished parking and general messy amenities at El Chorro, I would recommend this hike.

  3. Dates for October November and December are now on the website. Only from the north end, and not weekends.
    Unfortunately it’s too late for me. I’ve already booked my flight home from a walking holiday.

  4. Hi Clive,
    Any idea if it is true that eating at Los cabellos will guarantee us tickets? We’re driving towards Barcelona and will make the stop if that is legitimate,
    Thanks,
    Lee

    • Well, legitimate or not, they are advertising this on their website…. http://www.restauranteloscaballos.com/gastroaventura/ … I for one do not agree with this but it is the way it is…. Right now the official system for reservations on the Caminito del Rey is closed for the months of October, November and December and we are almost halfway through September….. The only way to get a “free” permit is to stay in a local hotel or eat in a local restaurant….. A sad state of affairs really….

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