Caminito del Rey: a path hanging over a gorge
The Caminito del Rey is a narrow path fixed to the rock of a gorge near Málaga, up to 105 meters above a river.
Before you read
In the province of Málaga, in Andalusia, a narrow path runs along the rock of a gorge, high above a river. This text tells who used it first, how it got its name, and why it was closed for years.
Key words: roca · desfiladero · rey · entrada
A2 · Spanish from Spain: Un camino colgado sobre el río
A path hanging over the river
Tap a word. Hold and slide to select a phrase.
En la provincia de Málaga, en Andalucía, hay un camino muy especial. Está pegado a la roca de un desfiladero, hasta 105 metros por encima del río. En algunas partes mide solo un metro de ancho.
Show English
In the province of Málaga, in Andalusia, there is a very special path. It is attached to the rock of a gorge, up to 105 meters above the river. In some parts it is only one meter wide.
El camino se construyó entre 1901 y 1905. No era para turistas: lo usaban los trabajadores de una empresa de electricidad. En 1921, el rey Alfonso XIII fue a la zona para inaugurar unos embalses y visitó el camino. Desde entonces se llama «Caminito del Rey».
Show English
The path was built between 1901 and 1905. It wasn’t for tourists: workers from an electricity company used it. In 1921, King Alfonso XIII came to the area to open some reservoirs and visited the path. Since then it has been called «Caminito del Rey» (the King’s Little Path).
Con los años, el camino se estropeó. Perdió casi toda la barandilla y se cayeron partes enteras. Aun así, muchos excursionistas iban a recorrerlo. Después de dos accidentes en los que murieron cuatro personas, en 2001 lo cerraron.
Show English
Over the years, the path fell apart. It lost almost all of its railing, and whole sections fell down. Even so, many hikers went to walk it. After two accidents in which four people died, it was closed in 2001.
En 2014 empezaron las obras. Se hizo un camino nuevo de madera, y en marzo de 2015 se abrió otra vez. Ahora se puede visitar, pero hay que comprar la entrada antes. Si vais, reservad con tiempo.
Show English
Work began in 2014. A new wooden path was built, and in March 2015 it opened again. Now you can visit it, but you have to buy your ticket in advance. If you go, book early.
Source: Spanish Wikipedia, “Caminito del Rey” (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts only, our own wording). How we make our texts.
Published: · Text and voice prepared with AI and checked automatically.
Words from the text 15
- pegado
- attached, stuck
- roca
- rock
- desfiladero
- gorge
- ancho
- wide; «un metro de ancho» — one meter wide
- trabajadores
- workers
- embalses
- reservoirs
- rey
- king
- estropeó
- fell apart; «se estropeó» — it broke down
- barandilla
- railing
- excursionistas
- hikers
- obras
- construction work
- madera
- wood
- entrada
- ticket
- vais
- you all go (vosotros, Spain)
- reservad
- book (said to «vosotros», Spain)
Check yourself
Who used the path when it was first built?
- Tourists from Málaga
- Workers from an electricity company
- The king and his family
Show the answer
Answer: Workers from an electricity company
The text says «lo usaban los trabajadores de una empresa de electricidad» (workers from an electricity company used it).
Why is it called «Caminito del Rey»?
- A king visited it in 1921
- A king built it in 1901
- It leads to a royal palace
Show the answer
Answer: A king visited it in 1921
The text says «En 1921, el rey Alfonso XIII fue a la zona para inaugurar unos embalses y visitó el camino» (in 1921, King Alfonso XIII went to the area to open some reservoirs and visited the path), and the name comes from that visit.
What do you need to do before you visit today?
- Climb the old path first
- Ask the workers for a key
- Buy a ticket in advance
Show the answer
Answer: Buy a ticket in advance
The text says «hay que comprar la entrada antes» (you have to buy a ticket in advance).
Practice the words
Think of the meaning, then turn the card.
- pegadoattached, stuck
Está pegado a la roca de un desfiladero, hasta 105 metros por encima del río.
It is attached to the rock of a gorge, up to 105 meters above the river. - rocarock
Está pegado a la roca de un desfiladero, hasta 105 metros por encima del río.
It is attached to the rock of a gorge, up to 105 meters above the river. - desfiladerogorge
Está pegado a la roca de un desfiladero, hasta 105 metros por encima del río.
It is attached to the rock of a gorge, up to 105 meters above the river. - anchowide; «un metro de ancho» — one meter wide
En algunas partes mide solo un metro de ancho.
In some parts it is only one meter wide. - trabajadoresworkers
No era para turistas: lo usaban los trabajadores de una empresa de electricidad.
It wasn’t for tourists: workers from an electricity company used it. - reyking
En 1921, el rey Alfonso XIII fue a la zona para inaugurar unos embalses y visitó el camino.
In 1921, King Alfonso XIII came to the area to open some reservoirs and visited the path. - embalsesreservoirs
En 1921, el rey Alfonso XIII fue a la zona para inaugurar unos embalses y visitó el camino.
In 1921, King Alfonso XIII came to the area to open some reservoirs and visited the path. - estropeófell apart; «se estropeó» — it broke down
Con los años, el camino se estropeó.
Over the years, the path fell apart. - barandillarailing
Perdió casi toda la barandilla y se cayeron partes enteras.
It lost almost all of its railing, and whole sections fell down. - excursionistashikers
Aun así, muchos excursionistas iban a recorrerlo.
Even so, many hikers went to walk it.
