One of the must-see attractions in Malaga and the Costa del Sol, El Caminito del Rey, opened its doors in 2015 after being closed for 15 years. Besides living the experience first hand, now it is also possible to do a virtual visit of El Caminito. Are you ready to jump the queue?
History of El Caminito del Rey
The history of El Caminito goes back to 1901, when the walkway was built as a path for workers of the nearby hydroelectric power plants. For nearly two decades, it was used to supervise and inspect the channel and to transport materials. The beauty of its surrounding landscape was known in the area and it was not uncommon to find visitors that wished to admire the views.
It was in 1921, when King Alfonso XIII visited the area to inaugurate the Guadalhorce-Guadalteba reservoirs, he walked the path, giving it the name we know now, as the King's Little Path.
For several decades, the local population used the path to get to the shops, school and as a shortcut for their daily errands. But the passing of the time, the lack of maintenance and weather conditions deteriorated the path, making it impassable and dangerous.
El Caminito, after a UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination
In 2014, the local, regional and national governments promoted a long-awaited initiative to upgrade El Caminito and equip it with all modern means to make an international attraction out of it. Nowadays, it has become a touristic hub for active tourism in Andalusia and has received over 1,5 million visitors in its first five years, including several incentive groups from Meridional Events (that thoroughly enjoyed their visit!). At the moment, El Caminito del Rey is postulating to be included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
This proposal is based on seven attractions, all located within a 20-km radius: Nature reserve of the Gaitanes Gorge; the Count of Guadalhorce and the Gaitanejo dams; the walkway over the hydroelectric plant; El Chorro train station and the bridges over the Gaitanes Gorge; the Paleolithic cave of Ardales; Las Aguilillas necropolis and the Bobastro Mozarab cave chapel.
The Paleolithic cave of Ardales is home to one of the three most ancient artistic representations in the world. Dating more than 66,000 years, it is attributed to the Neanderthals. Inside the cave, over a thousand paintings can be found, as well as human remains that are approximately 5,000 years old. Additionally, the Mozarab chapel of Bobastro is unique in its kind and it's part of the Spanish Heritage List.
Incentive travel in El Caminito del Rey
El Caminito is located less than an hour from Malaga city centre. It is a fantastic departure point to discover local jewels like the Dolmens of Antequera, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Another option is the gorgeous town of Ronda, known for its impressive Puente Nuevo and gorge - as well as being a great option for MICE events inland Andalusia. Also, El Caminito is included in the Great Malaga Path, an unmissable 660 km trail that will take you around the province of Malaga, where you will discover its fauna and flora at its best.
Experiencing El Caminito is an ideal option for groups seeking to do an open-air activity before carrying on with their scheduled business meetings, or as a grand finale to some busy working days in Malaga, Marbella, Ronda or even Granada. Let us know what your needs are and we will happily organise your schedule so you will not miss a visit to El Caminito.
Team building in El Caminito del Rey
The surrounding area is as a great option for a team building in El Caminito del Rey. It can be combined with other activities in nature, such as hiking, kayaking, paragliding, climbing, pedalo and even bird watching.
There are dozens of paths and hiking trails around the Guadalhorce-Guadalteba reservoirs, making the area very appealing for hikers and members of hiking clubs. The paths do offer spectacular views of the mountains, canyons and the Guadalhorce river. The area around El Caminito del Rey is also the best in Andalusia for climbing, with over 1,300 routes available. It is perfect for sport climbing, thanks to the wide range of grades and the concentration of multi-pitch routes. In Meridional Events we will be happy to organise any kind of sport route to help you discover our fantastic outdoors.
Also, special interest groups will find the area around El Caminito very interesting for many topics of their interest, such as nature, architecture, history or gastronomy.
Special interest groups in El Caminito del Rey
History and architecture aficionados will also find everything they are looking for. The area, as we have mentioned before, is home to the Paleolithic cave of Ardales.
The paintings found on the cave, made by the Neanderthals, are more than 66,000 years, being one of the three most ancient artistic representations in the world. Inside the cave, human remains dating 5,000 years were found.
There are three castles in the vicinities, Castillo de la Estrella in Teba, Castillo de la Peña and Castillo de Turón, both in Ardales. Built under Roman, Arab and Medieval rule, they are good excuse to explore the nearby towns of Teba and Ardales.
The town of Teba is a favourite amongst the Scottish population thanks to the Douglas Days of Teba. In 1330, Sir James Douglas was in charge of escorting the casket containing Robert the Bruce (or Robert I of Scotland) and taking it to Jerusalem. While in Teba, and helping King Alfonso XI of Castile in a battle against the Moorish Kingdom of Granada, Douglas was killed along with his company. The remains of Douglas, as well as Robert the Bruce's heart, returned to Scotland, buried in Melrose Abbey. Every August, for three days, the whole town rememorates the battle, recreating a medieval market and hosting concerts by Celtic and local bands, welcoming hundreds of Scottish who come to Teba to enjoy this picturesque festival.
As you can see, there are countless options when it comes to making the most of your visit to the El Caminito del Rey area. We will be delighted to help you organise an unforgettable stay in the South of Spain, regardless if you are here for business or bleisure. Get in touch and see how can we help you.
Meridional Events is your DMC for all corporate and MICE events in Andalusia and the South of Spain. Andalusia has everything you need for an adventure trip and for combining sports and nature. We are experts in organising corporate events, incentives, golf breaks and team building activities in Malaga, Seville, Marbella, Granada and the Costa del Sol.
Do not hesitate to contact us for further information.
The team at Meridional Events
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