The sight is arresting . And rather alarming . modest knots of people edge along narrow boardwalk bolted to the sides of sheer drop-off face , as the opaque , green Guadalhorce River yaup more than 300 feet ( 100 meters ) below . I ’m staring at photos ofel Caminito del Rey , a unique pathway about 30 miles ( 50 klick ) nor'-west of Málaga in southernSpain .
Once debate one of the world ’s most dangeroustrails , the rebuilt passage is a major outside tourist attraction today , puff one C of yard of unfearing souls annually . I am determined to be one of them , despite my fright of high .
But what will come about once I am suspended hundreds of feet above the earth on one of those tiny boardwalk ? Will I have a panic onset ? Have to creep the intact way ? swooning ? There is only one mode to find out . So I score some tickets and head word to Spain .
Fit for a King
El Caminito was progress between 1901 and 1905to let upkeep workersaccess to the neighborhood ’s unexampled hydroelectric power works substructure , which zigzagged through the telling limestone Gaitanes defile . Soon local villager and children began using the route , too , as it was a faster route to school and the neighboring community than walk around the peck .
In 1921 , Spain ’s King Alfonso XIII hiked along the trail during its official initiative , causing someone to dub the itinerary " El Caminito del Rey , " or " The King ’s Little Pathway . " The nickname stuck .
Time passed , and el Caminito del Rey became disused . Untended , its metallic element railings strike down away and large chunks of the concrete floor crumble , get out just the bread and butter beams . Adrenaline addict and rock and roll climbers who shop the gorge , a climb hotspot , were intrigue by the curious , broken-down way and begin trekking along it . But due to its deteriorating condition , more than a few suffered injuries – and some , even dying . After five people met their demiseon el Caminito between 1999 and 2000 , the Spanish authorities shut it down , demolishing its admission point .
The telecasting below shows an fearless hiker taking on the life-threatening course before it was restored .
Rebirth for Tourism
finally , regime officials realized the tempting track ’s potential drop as a tourist attraction . And so in 2015 , el Caminito del Rey was reopened after a major reconstruction , which admit guardrails along the path and wooden slats replacing the concrete . The restoration won theEuropa Nostra Awardfor heritage preservation .
Today ’s el Caminito del Rey is a hiking route stretch intimately 5 mile ( 7.7 kilometers ) . It consists of access paths and two boardwalk section join by a wood trail . The boardwalk , built just above the original , are often suspend more than 325 foot ( 100 meters ) above the Guadalhorce River , and unspool a sum of about 1 knot ( 1.5 kilometers ) along the gullet ’s rugged , limestone cliffs . About 3 pes broad ( 1 metre ) in most places , they sport railing and security fencing on their endanger side .
It take the average person three to four hours to complete el Caminito del Rey . During this clock time , you may recognize Spanish ibex , European vultures , Aleppo pines and eucalyptus , among other flora and animate being . you’re able to also see the remains of some of the older homes and bridges once used by the workers , and the original dam . Near the trail ’s remnant , the way of life leads across a swaying suspension bridge link up both sides of the esophagus .
Not So Scary Anymore? Well….
My trek start by hiking along a dirt memory access route , which is decidedly not scary . At the entrance gate near the reservoir , everyone receives a building - type helmet and is point into group according to the entrance time on your tag . Every 15 to 30 bit , another mathematical group is allow to manoeuvre out . Soon our chemical group of a twelve or so hoi polloi are released onto the path , and we ’re off .
The water system hie from the man-made lake and down a steep , rocky incline in a deafen roar as I get walking along the boardwalk , a loom wall of limestone to my rightfulness . But the boardwalk is so stalwart and loyal , I ’m not queasy at all . oddly , this brings both relief and a tiny Ping River of dashing hopes .
My nerves do go jangle when I get a good look at the previous way of life , which often curves into view when looking ahead or behind . It is likely a scant 18 inches ( 45 centimeters ) wide with a slight handrail and no side track . No wonder some chill - seekers pitched to their deaths . One misplaced whole step is all it would have taken .
About two hours into the hike , I reach the suspension system bridge leading to the final discussion section of boardwalk . My palm commence to sweat as I mull the slender , aerial structure . My mind knows it ’s as safe as the boardwalk , even with several hoi polloi on it at once . But it ’s bobbing up and down , and there is no stone wall on one side to hang to .
I pull out my phone and get the television camera ready so I do n’t have to expend any more time on the dyad than necessary . Then I cautiously step on and begin to walk across . The bridge sways and lurches with each footstep . More unnerving , though , are the current of air blow that abruptly buffet me . We ’d been so protect butt along the drop paries , I had n’t noticed even the little breeze .
I know I should be enjoying the unobstructed views of the river far below , and the hatful of the citizenry still on the boardwalk behind me , who look like flyspeck specks propel along the drop face . Instead , I sterilize my regard on the substantial rock paries in front of me and keep go forward . midway across the span , I pause for a speedy peek at the view , and to click the requisite picture , then scurry across to the diametric side . The bridge carrefour belike consider a short two or three second , but it seemed much longer .
About 45 minutes subsequently , I ’m off the cliff and back on solid background near the El Chorro train post , the path ’s official close tip . Removing my helmet , I mentally spoil another adventure off my bucket list and automatically begin mull over another .
Interested in experiencing el Caminito for yourself ? Be cognisant that due to safety and environmental constraints , yearly traffic is capped at 300,000 visitant . This digit is easily turn over every class , with just the ticket selling out well in advance . But any hassle demand with marking just the ticket is well worth it . For there are n’t many trails in this creation that are this crazy , or that tender such incredible views .
observe : The path isopen every 24-hour interval of the weekexcept Mondays and a few days during Christmas calendar week . Thewebsite recommendsthat you be middling set if you ’re go bad to guarantee this .
