Hi there - we are doing the Caminito del Rey early January, and have booked a start time of 2pm (we wanted earlier but all sold out!) We will be driving from Granada and stopping to do the Caminito for the afternoon on the way to Ronda.
My questions re timing: 1. It says to arrive an hour before, so if our ticket is for 2pm, does that mean that's from the start of the main hike - so we get there around 1pm? 2. Different websites say the whole thing takes 2 -3 hours, and also say 3-4 hours. Is 3-4 hours including parking, waiting around, getting helmets etc and then getting back to the car, or just the hike? We're on the guided tour option. 3. Would it be reasonable to say we'll be able to head off to Ronda by around 5.30pm? It's an hour drive and we want to get there before dark and sunset is around 6.45. Thanks!
Posted by
USA
704 posts
I want to thank you for asking about this. I'll be there in mid January and plan to do this hike. Unfortunately for me, I put off ordering my ticket because life has been busy, but your post prompted me and made me realize all the general admission tickets are gone. I ended up securing a small group tour from Malaga through Airbnb experiences, which was much more expensive than going on my own, but at least I'm assured there will be no more than 8 people in our group and I don't have to worry about figuring out transportation.
Anyway, from what I've read, there's a shuttle from the parking lot to the actual entrance that is 30-45 minutes. That's probably why you should arrive at the destination an hour earlier than your ticket time. As for the time to actually walk the trail, I wonder if it varies so much based on crowd size since it doesn't look like you can pass, so if a large group in front of you wants to linger, you have to linger as well.
Posted by
Massachusetts, USA
453 posts
Hi Cazz, Since you are on the guided tour I would plan on the full 3 hours for the hike itself since you don't know how quickly or slowly your tour mates will walk. We did this tour with transportation from Malaga and the entire day was 5 1/2 to 6 hours including the drive which was a little over an hour each way, so I think you should be able to be back on the road by 5:30. Caminito del Rey was one of the highlights of our trip.
Posted by
OP
Melbourne Australia
19 posts
Thanks Joann - that makes sense.
KRS - I held off booking tickets as I thought it wouldn't be busy in winter, and then wound up not getting the times I wanted. For some reason the day we want is almost booked out, but the days on either side have plenty of tickets. We will be driving, and my husband doesn't do well with heights so will drop off my daughter and me, and drive around the area and then pick us up. So am hoping he can drop us at the entrance and pick us up at the exit.
Posted by
6 posts
Hi!
You should be fine and finished to set off for Ronda by 5:30pm but you'll be in dusk by the time you get there. Re getting there on time the "one hour before" is from the actual start point which is a 10-15 minute walk from the Kiosko bar/kings chair area. So you really need to be parked up by 12:30 ish (especially if you are up on the car park by the visitor centre.) There is some parking information here: https://www.caminodelrey.es/getting-to-el-chorro-the-reservoirs-and-the-camino-del-rey/
Have a great trip!
Posted by
OP
Melbourne Australia
19 posts
Clive - thanks so much for that info - great link with just the info I need.
So it looks like we would be able to be dropped at the entrance near the restaurants (P1 North) and then be picked up at the end without having to take the shuttle bus at all. My husband will have the car so that's an option for us, and maybe that will cut off some time waiting for the shuttle bus etc.