North or south
Caminito del Rey north or south access: only one of them is a start
Search results are full of “north access tickets” and people book them assuming there is a southern equivalent. There is not, in the way they think. The route runs one direction only, and understanding which end is which solves most of the confusion in this niche.
Quick answer
The Caminito del Rey is walked north to south. The northern access near Ardales is where you start; El Chorro in the south is where you finish. A shuttle bus runs between them. There is no southern start and no way to walk the route in reverse, which is why every listing quotes a northern entry time.
The two ends, at a glance
- Northern access
- Near Ardalesthe start, and where the ticket is checked
- Southern exit
- El Chorrothe finish, and where the train station is
- Direction
- North to south onlyno reverse walking, at all
- Distance between them by road
- Several kilometresaround the outside of the gorge
- The shuttle
- Runs between the twoon a timetable, a couple of euros
- Car park
- At the northern accessand it fills at weekends
- Train station
- At El Chorrothe southern end
- If you arrive at the south
- Shuttle north firstthen walk back towards your car
- Entry time on the ticket
- Refers to the northalways
- Cancellation
- Free on all eighteenbooked through GetYourGuide
Why the confusion exists
Two access points, one direction
North is the entrance. South is the exit. There is no other arrangement.
The gorge has two ends and both are reachable by road, so both get called “access points”. But only the northern one is an entrance. The walkway is one-directional for safety — it is a metre wide with no passing places, and two-way traffic on it would be unworkable.
So the northern access near Ardales is where every ticket admits you, where the entry time on your ticket applies, and where the helmets are issued. El Chorro in the south is an exit and a bus stop.
The reason this matters practically: the two are several kilometres apart by road, around the outside of the gorge, and the walk is 7.7 kilometres one way. If you park at the north and walk south, your car is a long way behind you at the end of the day.
The three ways to arrange the day
And the one that is cleverer than it looks
Park at the south and shuttle north. You finish at your own car.
Park north, walk south, shuttle back. The standard. Leave the car at the northern access, walk the route, and take the shuttle bus from El Chorro back to your car. Check the timetable before you set off; the buses are not frequent.
Take a day tour. The coach drops you at the north, collects you at the south, and the whole problem disappears. Thirteen of the eighteen listings here do this.
Park south, shuttle north, walk back to the car. This is the clever one and almost nobody does it. Leave the car at El Chorro, take the shuttle up to the northern access, walk the route south, and finish at your own car. No bus at the end of a long day, and no timetable to worry about when you are tired. It works particularly well if you came by train, because the station is at the southern end.
Every trip, current fare
Every listing, and how each handles the two ends
The column that matters is the return from the southern exit. Day tours handle it; most entry tickets do not.
| Tour | Length | Price | Return from the exit | Cost per hour | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caminito del Rey: Entry Ticket and Guided TourEntry and a guide, the lowest price here | 2 h | $32 | Not included | $16.00 | 4.6 · 10,325 |
| Caminito del Rey: Guided Tour and Entry TicketThe most-reviewed listing in this niche | 2 h | $33 | Not included | $16.50 | 4.6 · 15,431 |
| Caminito del Rey: Guided Visit with AdmissionA three-hour guided visit | 3 h | $34 | Not included | $11.33 | 4.6 · 921 |
| Caminito del Rey: Entry Ticket & Guided TourEntry and a guide, taken slower | 3 h | $35 | Not included | $11.67 | 4.6 · 904 |
| Caminito del Rey: Tickets, Guided Tour, Shuttle & WaterEntry with the shuttle back included | 4–7 h | $43 | Included | $7.82 | 4.7 · 9,107 |
| From Málaga: Caminito del Rey Guided Day TripThe cheapest full day from Málaga | 6.5–7 h | $64 | Included | $9.48 | 4.8 · 1,057 |
| Caminito del Rey Guided Tour & Welcome Pack from MálagaThe best-rated day tour here, 18,658 reviews | 6.5–7 h | $69 | Included | $10.22 | 4.9 · 18,658 |
| Caminito del Rey Guided Day Trip from Málaga & White VillageThe walk plus a white village | 7 h | $71 | Included | $10.14 | 4.8 · 100 |
| From Málaga: Caminito del Rey Day Trip & Guided TourA full day with everything included | 7.5 h | $72 | Included | $9.60 | 4.8 · 5,824 |
| From Málaga & Costa del Sol: Caminito del Rey Guided TourA full day from Málaga, our top pick | 6–8 h | $75 | Included | $10.71 | 4.8 · 9,605 |
| From Malaga: Caminito del Rey all includedTransport, entry, guide and helmet | 7.5 h | $80 | Included | $10.67 | 4.8 · 3,908 |
| From Málaga: Caminito del Rey Full-Day TourA seven-hour day at a slower pace | 7 h | $86 | Included | $12.29 | 4.8 · 1,585 |
| From Costa del Sol: Caminito del Rey Day TripPickup along the Costa del Sol | 6–9 h | $93 | Included | $12.40 | 4.5 · 901 |
| From Málaga: Caminito del Rey Small-Group Tour with PicnicA small group with a picnic | 6 h | $97 | Included | $16.17 | 4.9 · 200 |
| From Seville: Caminito del Rey Hike Day TripTen hours out of Seville | 10 h | $108 | Included | $10.80 | 4.5 · 1,533 |
| Caminito del Rey from Málaga, small group up to 7 peopleA capped group of seven | 7 h | $139 | Included | $19.86 | 4.7 · 25 |
| From Malaga: Caminito del Rey Guided Tour with TicketsA guided day with everything bundled | 7 h | $164 | Included | $23.43 | 4.7 · 32 |
| From Seville: Caminito del Rey Guided Day TripA guided day from Seville, dearest here | 7 h | $191 | Included | $27.29 | 4.8 · 35 |
If you come by train from Málaga you arrive at the southern end — which makes the shuttle-north-first plan the obvious one.
Getting there→Common questions
North or south access, answered
Where does the Caminito del Rey start?
At the northern access near Ardales. The entry time printed on your ticket refers to that gate, and helmets are issued there.
Can you walk the Caminito del Rey from south to north?
No. The walkway is one-directional for safety — it is about a metre wide with no passing places.
What are north access tickets?
Simply the standard ticket. All entry is at the northern access; the phrase appears in listings because both ends of the gorge are reachable by road.
How do I get back to my car?
By shuttle bus from El Chorro to the northern access. It runs on a timetable and costs a couple of euros, and some tickets include it.
Can I park at the southern end instead?
Yes, and it is the better plan: leave the car at El Chorro, take the shuttle north, and walk back to your own car. No bus at the end of the day.
How far apart are the two ends?
Several kilometres by road around the outside of the gorge, and 7.7 kilometres on foot through it.
Go deeper
More on walking the Caminito del Rey
Caminito del Rey tickets
Eighteen listings priced per person, from $32 to $191, and what each includes.
From MalagaThe Caminito del Rey from Malaga
Sixty kilometres, thirteen day tours, and why the coach is worth it.
The walkThe Caminito del Rey walk itself
Kilometre by kilometre, north to south, and what each part is like.
VerdictThe best Caminito del Rey tour
Eighteen listings ranked for one decision, with a straight answer.
Last minuteLast-minute tickets
What to do when the official site is sold out, and what will not work.
Guide or notWith or without a guide
Both exist. What the guide adds, and what the ticket type changes.
