De geschiedenis van El Camino del Rey

De Camino del Rey werd gebruikt voor transportwerkzaamheden door arbeiders om bouwmateriaal te vervoeren tussen de twee installatieterreinen. Werkzaamheden aan de installaties vingen aan in 1901 en werden afgerond in 1905, die met veel fanfare werden ingehuldigd. De krachtstroominstallatie El Chorro ving aan met stroomproductie in datzelfde jaar, maar ondanks de technologische en industriële vooruitgang die het teweeg bracht, was de brug boven de engte op spectaculaire hoogte tussen de twee rotswanden in hangend een grotere blikvanger dan de installaties zelf.

De naam Los Balcones, de balkons, werd gegeven aan deze brug die op 100 meter boven de grond hangt. Hij werd ontworpen door Rafael Benjumea en zijn team experts, waaronder zich veel zeelieden bevonden die gewend waren aan het klimmen van touwen en het werken boven een grote leegte. Het pad is opgetrokken uit zand en cement en is op sommige plekken vastgeklonken aan de rots met metalen beugels. Een wel zeer eenvoudige stalen railing werd geplaatst als handsteun langs dit pad zonder al te veel opsmuk… Het pad kreeg de naam Camino del Rey toen de installaties in mei 1921 werden ingehuldigd door koning Alfonso XIII. De koning bewandelde het pad zelf ook vanaf het bekken El Chorro (voorheen Conde de Guadalhorce genaamd). Naar verluid was hij zo onder de indruk van het werk dat hij ter ere van Benjumea en zijn team een plakkaat liet plaatsen waarop aan de viering op deze memorabele inauguratiedag wordt herinnerd. Via een mooie route vanaf Bed & Breakfast Casa Don Carlos rij je via Ardales langs het stuwmeer naar El Chorro naar el Camino del Rey wat ook te combineren is met het natuur- en wandelgebied El Torcal.

Veiligheidsvoorwaarden (Engels)

1) Entrance tickets to the path El Caminito del Rey will be available after its booking, and will be free for six months after the official opening.

2) Tickets shall be obtained on telematic platform of the path’s website, www.caminitodelrey.com, after the forms on it have been filled in and the conditions accepted. You will be issued with the ticket only after having accepted the conditions. On that occasion, you will be given an access code that can be read by telematic equipment.

3) The ticket with your name, as well as your ID, passport or corresponding identification number (in the case of minors a responsible adult’s name is also to be written on it), date, time and the access point (from Álora or Ardales when the road is used for two-way traffic) needs to be presented when entering El Caminito del Rey.

4) Visitors and minors with responsible adults need to have their ticket and ID, passport or corresponding identification at all times in case they need to show it to the personnel at some point of the path. The ticket has to be handed at the exit as well.

5) Person in possession of ticket will have civil liability insurance that will cover any accident along the trail except those provoked by failure to comply with established regulations or those that are visitor’s fault.

6) Visitors who have previously booked their tickets need to arrive at the access points at least half an hour earlier than written on the booking receipt so groups could be formed.

7) Visitors with tickets shall go directly to the trail through the corresponding entrance placed in the Municipalities of Álora or Ardales. These will be indicated by signs. It will only be possible to access the path at the authorized places, while the entrance at any other spot, especially along the railway, is absolutely forbidden. The County Council and the corresponding organization in charge of the spot will be absolved from any responsibility in the case of that kind of actions.

8) Visitors are obliged to put on correctly the safety equipment they will be provided with at the entrance.

9) Everybody should walk on the right side of the trail, above all, along the boardwalks. When two people get across each other, there is to be careful when walking next to the rail that protects from falling down the gorge in order to avoid hazard.

10) Those who would like to go climbing will have free entrance to the path. For that purpose, they need to show their civil liability insurance at the access points, and to register and accept the regulations and conditions of the nature reserve in the case of this activity.

11) Climbing is allowed only on the walls that have been approved for that purpose by the responsible environmental consultancy. Nevertheless, in the gorge, only the part of the rock under the boardwalks will be in use. Any competitive climbing without previous authorization from the body responsible for the environment is forbidden. Moreover, climbers have to respect other regulations, obligations and prohibitions from this document, except those regarding rucksacks.

It is banned to jump over the rails in order to access the climbing areas, or to anchor on the boardwalks.

12) Visitors, climbers and other people who come to El Caminito del Rey Path, and the nature reserve Desfiladero de los Gaitanes have to obey these norms as well as those established by the responsible environmental consultancy.

Other rules

Finally , the following rules shall also be considered:

1. At the access points and during the visit, the rules are to be followed by everyone, as well as the indications given by the staff from the Control and Information Section and from the security guards. Please, take necessary measures to prevent falling down and keep the area clean.

2. People and vehicles can only move in the areas which are authorized and indicated for that purpose. Therefore, you have to respect the banning and information signs.

3. Those who do not respect the above rules can be expelled from the area by the responsible personnel or authorities.

4. The corresponding organization has the authority to close, limit or temporarily suspend visits, even during the opening hours and days, for safety’s matters, and in order to preserve the place, or because of refurbishment works, weather or some circumstances beyond anybody’s control. There are no rights of compensation for the people affected by these changes.

5. Nonetheless, regulations, rules or suggestions given by the employees who manage the trail, environmental agents, or state security officers are compulsory.

6. All the information related to this active tourism infrastructure, as well as changes, alterations, or incidents that happen when accessing the area will be provided at the website of the path.