Death-defying work taking place at the Caminito.
Credit: Ayuntamiento de Alora.
Those with heads for heights and a sense of daring who are readying up for an adrenaline-filled adventure along Spain’s iconic Caminito del Rey will have to wait a bit longer for the grand reveal of the country’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge.
Rumours among construction crews say on the 110-metre marvel has hit a predictable delay, pushing its inauguration from late 2025 to Spring 2026. Despite the delay, the bridge promises to raise the level on the already breathtaking Caminito del Rey walkway to new heights, literally, dangling 50 metres above the rugged Gaitanes Gorge.
The Caminito del Rey, often dubbed in English the “King’s Pathway,” has drawn over 3 million visitors like a magnet since its daring 2015 reopening, injecting €400 million into the local economy and sustaining more than 685 jobs in surrounding Andalusian towns like Alora, Ardales, and Antequera. This new suspension bridge, a €1.25 million self-funded project sourced entirely from ticket sales, is set to become a crown jewel in the trail’s future, making both the 120th anniversary of its original 1905 construction and the 10th anniversary of its modern revival.
A daring design: Engineering meets adrenaline
Engineered for both jaw-dropping spectacle and safety, the bridge will stretch an impressive 110 metres across a dramatic span parallel to the historic iron railway bridge and El Chorro tunnel exit, surpassing all existing pedestrian suspension footbridges in Spain. Suspended at a vertigo-inducing 50 metres above the rocky chasm, it features a gentle 7.5 per cent downward slope to ease the descent, a wooden deck reinforced by a metal frame, and sleek steel cable handrails that harmonise with the existing pathway’s aesthetic.
“We’ve poured meticulous effort into every detail, from the 4,500 kg of sustainable main steel cables to the 1,450 metres of braided steel for unparalleled stability,” said Francisco Salado, president of the Diputación de Malaga, during the project’s ceremonial launch on March 28.
A comprehensive safety study by experts from the University of Granada ensured the slope’s integrity, incorporating features like improved evacuation paths, helipads, and the trail’s signature “cardio-insured” defibrillators.
Why the delay? Weather and precision prevail
While initial plans aimed for a November 2025 unveiling to sync with anniversary festivities, unpredictable autumn weather in the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes gorge, coupled with the need for rigorous final inspections, has put the timeline back to Spring 2026. Many had already commented on the initial schedule being too ambitious.
Timing and special visitors
The postponement will make the opening coincide with the public release of El Espíritu del Caminito, a new documentary by Andalucia Digital Multimedia and Canal Sur, planned for 2026. The film will chronicle the pathway’s storied past, from its royal origins under King Alfonso XIII to its rebirth as a global adventure magnet. On the subject of royalty, the King and Queen have already said they will attend the opening of the new bridge.