Caminito del Rey to be run by Malaga's provincial Government

Marbella's latest tourist attraction, the 3 km long hiking trail Caminito del Rey that spans the El Chorro gorge, will be managed by Malaga's provincial government. The long neglected and now almost fully restored walking route will be one of the most thrilling attractions in Andalusia. Originally constructed in 1901 to facilitate workers of a local hydroelectric power plant to cross this dramatic gorge, the restored trail will be open to the general public at Easter time.

A new Feather in Andalusia's Tourism Cap

Caminito del Rey was partially closed for more than ten years. Travel guide experts "Lonely Planet" have already included the now renovated walkway into their "best thrills" category for 2015, which will ensure fantastic media coverage for the hiking trail in particular and the Malaga Province in general.

Tourists expectations have changed considerably, since King Alfonso XIII inaugurated the walkway in 1921, when the dam Conde del Guadalhorce became operational. After the King had braved the thrilling walkway, locals dubbed the hiking route Caminito del Rey, "the King's little pathway". Today's thrill seekers will expect the route to be maintained and regularly inspected.

A Hiking Trail Adrenalin Junkies will adore

The walking route is literally affixed to the sheer rock face looming over the dizzying chasm of the El Chorro gorge. A portion of the route was already opened to the public last September, but Malaga's provincial government is confident the remainder of the hiking trail will be fully restored by Easter 2015.

Spanning just one metre in width, Caminito del Ray clings to the steep walls of the gorge at 100 metres above the riverbed below. Fashioned from concrete slabs running over steel rails that are supported by stanchions that were affixed to the rock face at a precarious 45 degree angle, the walkway used to have a few handrails and little else to put hikers' mind at rest. Now a safety-wire has been added that spans the entire length of the hiking trail.

Malaga Province Tourist Attraction of National Importance

Although Álora Council will continue to hold the deeds to the trail, Malaga's provincial government will be responsible for maintaining and inspecting the route regularly. The decision to hand over the reigns was unanimous, because the Council recognised that Caminito del Rey is of national importance to Spain's tourism industry.

Far greater marketing resources will therefore be available to promote Andalusia's latest visitor attraction than would have been found had Álora Council remained responsible for the trail's upkeep and management.

It took more than two million euros to restore the 110-year-old trail, but the hiking holiday industry is worth a great deal of money to the province and has seen rapid growth over the last five years.

For thrill-seeking residents of Marbella the Semana Santa holiday can't come too soon. Held between 29th March and 5th April, the weekend falling into this period has been named as the official inauguration date for the restored trail. After that the hiking route will be accessible to the general public between Tuesdays and Sundays.

In the first year visitors will be granted free admission, but every adrenaline junkie keen to test their head for heights at El Chorro must first reserve a place online on a soon-to-be-made-available website, for which Malaga Province's provincial government will also be responsible.