Getting to Caminito del Rey: four ways to reach the King’s Path

Caminito del Rey sits right in the middle of Málaga province – yet not directly next to any single town. Getting there is the question that trips up many hikers before they’ve even set foot on the first walkway. The problem: the route is linear, a one-way trail running from north to south. Anyone driving to the northern entrance has to get back to the car at the end of the day. Anyone arriving by train at the southern exit needs a shuttle to reach the start. Anyone staying in Antequera without a car has yet another option.

Four routes lead there: driving, train with a shuttle bus, taxi from Antequera, and a booked coach transfer through a tour operator. Each option has its own advantages – and its own drawback. Your own car is the most flexible but creates the biggest logistical problem. The train is the most spectacular option, but can be packed on the wrong days. Taxis and coach transfers cost more, but solve the return-journey problem completely.

Which way of getting there suits which travel situation, how long does each route take, what does the shuttle cost, and how does the train from Málaga work – the key answers on getting there for the 2026 season.

By car: the fastest way from Málaga and Antequera

The main routes and journey times

Driving yourself is the most flexible way to get there. From Málaga it’s 50 minutes to the northern entrance near Ardales, and from Antequera just 40 minutes. Anyone staying overnight in either town can be first at the start in the morning. The roads are surfaced the whole way, and the final kilometres from Ardales run along winding but well-maintained country roads.

The catch: Caminito del Rey is a linear route. Anyone who drives to the northern entrance comes out at the southern exit near El Chorro – around 13 kilometres as the crow flies from the car. This is where the shuttle bus comes in (see the train section), which hikers can use even without a train ticket. It runs back and forth between El Chorro and Ardales, costs approx. €1.55-2, and is the easiest way back to the car.

Driving to the northern entrance at Ardales

Two car parks are available at the northern entrance. P1 sits right at the approach to the entrance, is free, and tends to fill up early at weekends. P2 is by the El Mirador restaurant, around a kilometre away, and charges a small daily fee. Both car parks are regularly busy from 9am onwards – anyone who has booked the early 8:30am slot should arrive in good time.

An alternative is to park directly at the southern exit in El Chorro and take the shuttle to the northern entrance. There’s a larger car park by the station there, and at the end of the walk the car is right at the finishing point. This option saves the return journey and is particularly handy if the day out is meant to end with dinner in El Chorro.

By train: via El Chorro – the most spectacular option

RENFE to El Chorro and the shuttle bus

Travelling by train is the most spectacular option if you have the time. The RENFE line between Málaga and Sevilla/Córdoba has its own station right at the southern exit: “El Chorro – Caminito del Rey”. Several trains a day run from Málaga María Zambrano, with a journey time of around 40 minutes. El Chorro can also be reached from Córdoba and Sevilla, although usually with a change at Bobadilla.

Travelling by train to El Chorro – Caminito del Rey

From El Chorro station, the shuttle bus crosses over to the northern entrance near Ardales. The journey takes around 20 minutes, costs €1.55-2, and is booked together with the Caminito ticket on caminitodelrey.info. The shuttle runs in line with the Caminito entry times, so the logistics are coordinated. Important: you don’t need the return shuttle – anyone who starts in Ardales and arrives in El Chorro is already right at the station for the journey back to Málaga.

Coach, taxi and guided coach transfer from Antequera or Málaga

Travelling without a car

There’s no direct scheduled bus service to Caminito del Rey. The nearest bus connections terminate in Ardales or Álora, but both are around 8-10 kilometres from the respective Caminito entrance – not a sensible option without a connecting shuttle. Anyone travelling without their own car has three alternatives: train (see above), taxi, or a coach transfer as a complete package.

A taxi from Antequera costs around a flat €40 for the outward trip to the northern entrance. Booking a return trip with waiting time for the whole day works out at €80-100. It’s arranged through the Antequera tourist information office (Plaza de San Sebastián 7). This is an acceptable option for groups of up to four people, but it gets expensive for solo travellers.

Getting there without a car: options compared

A booked coach transfer is the most comfortable but most expensive option. Providers such as GetYourGuide combine the entry ticket, coach transfer and a guide in one package. Departure is usually in the morning from a central point in Málaga, Marbella or Antequera. The coach takes the group to the northern entrance and is waiting again at the southern exit – solving the linearity problem entirely. Anyone travelling from Málaga or the Costa del Sol who doesn’t want to organise their own logistics will find this the most comfortable option.

A detailed route page covering the whole Caminito region, with maps, booking links and detailed tips for every section, can be found on the sister website Go Caminito del Rey – aimed especially at anyone planning the Caminito not just as a day trip but as the main goal of their journey.

Frequently asked questions about getting to Caminito del Rey