Desfiladero de los Gaitanes

The Desfiladero de los Gaitanes is a limestone gorge carved by the Guadalhorce river over millions of years in the mountains of Málaga province, forming vertical walls up to 400 metres high and a minimum width of barely 10 metres in the narrowest sections. The gorge is around 4.8 kilometres long and runs between the Chorro, Guadalhorce and Guadalteba reservoirs, which regulate the river before it reaches the Antequera plain. The rock is primarily Jurassic limestone in grey and ochre tones that shift according to the time of day; at midday, when sunlight enters directly through the gorge's narrow slot, it bounces off the walls and creates extreme contrasts between shadow and light at the canyon floor.

The Caminito del Rey is the main route through the area and one of the most visited trails in Andalusia. Built between 1901 and 1905 to give the workers of the Sociedad Hidroeléctrica del Chorro access during dam construction, its most celebrated section follows a metal walkway bolted directly into the cliff face, 80 to 100 metres above the river. The full route covers 7.7 kilometres (2.9 km walkway plus earthen trail sections) with 105 metres of accumulated elevation gain and an average duration of 3 hours. It closes Monday to Wednesday (except public holidays) and requires advance booking on the official website; the daily capacity is 600 people and the flow is strictly one-directional (north to south, from Ardales to El Chorro). The visit does not require technical mountain equipment, but sturdy footwear and a manageable head for heights are necessary.

The area around the gorge offers more than the walkway. The Vía Ferrata de los Gaitanes, rated D/ED on several sectors, follows the same limestone walls for those seeking more direct contact with the rock. Sport climbing on walls such as El Polvorín and the Frontal del Chorro has attracted climbers from across Europe for decades, with bouldering sectors, multi-pitch routes and sport routes up to 7b+ on the Jurassic limestone. The Chorro reservoir has a small gravel beach with marked swimming buoys in summer and serves as a launch point for kayaks and SUP boards.

The small settlement of El Chorro — a few dozen permanent residents — supports several establishments catering to climbers and hikers: bars, rural accommodation and climbing schools with certified guides. Access to the southern entrance of the Caminito del Rey is from El Chorro station (Málaga-Córdoba Renfe line), making it possible to arrive without a car from Málaga city in around 45 minutes by train.