The Caminito del Rey was only restored and reopened less than a year ago, and 300,000 pairs of feet have traversed it already. This area, which is an national and international benchmark for active tourism and nature tourism, has been an unforgettable experience for over 300,000 people.
Start planning your own Caminito del Rey trip
Any time is good: a weekend, a bank holiday weekend or perhaps you need a longer break. Regardless, we suggest you stop off in Álora, one of the towns the Caminito del Rey crosses, where there is so much for you to see and experience.
Located north of the Guadalhorce Valley on a small hill, Álora is a land of vegetables, fruit and citrus with impressive natural surroundings dominated by the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes gorge (shared with Ardales and Antequera), and the Sierra de Humas and Sierra de Aguas mountain ranges. The town centre's streets of Arab origin lead to the Arab castle - the town's icon, now used as a cemetery.
A good way of exploring Álora, its artistic heritage and its history is to start off by visiting the Rafael Lería Municipal Museum, which is located in the School of Christ - a building attached to the Encarnación Parish on Plaza Baja de la Despedía. A few kilometres outside the city, we come to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Flowers where we're treated to unique scenery.
Accommodation options for a trip to Álora
A highly recommended place is La Garganta Rural Tourist Complex, which is a hotel situated in stunning natural surroundings: El Chorro, the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes Gorge Natural Area From the gorge you can either just gaze at the natural surroundings, or partake in activities such as hiking, climbing, fishing, bird watching and many more - all of which will make your stay complete and unforgettable. Other accommodation options in the area are Cortijo Valverde, a paradise where you can relax in the heart of nature; Casa Domingo, which combines apartments, studios and rooms, and then there's Casa del Loto, rural accommodation with all the amenities of a spa.
But a visit to the Guadalhorce Valley wouldn't be complete without a break to taste Álora's local cuisine, which is made with local produce. Amongst the town’s most popular dishes, it's worth highlighting its Perote Soup, a dish normally served with seasonal fruits and vegetables (grapes, prickly pears, cucumbers, olives, oranges and raw onions). The town has even dedicated a whole day to the dish - the first Saturday in October.
The La Garganta complex offers traditional cuisine with updated recipes, as does the Hacienda Los Conejitos Guesthouse. It's also well worth paying the neighbouring town of Carratraca a visit, where the restaurant Casa Pepa is legendary - a modest place that can even boast the King amongst its customers.
