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The old Caminito del Rey
The Caminito del Rey today
The best know climbing area in Andalusia probably is El Chorro, located about
40 km northwest of Malaga. It's about a 1:45 hour drive from Casa Estrellita. That's also where the famous Caminito del Rey is located - definitely a spectacular day trip for those of you who like a challenge and are not afraid of height.
What is available closer to Casa Estrellita are mountaineering hikes, especially around La Maroma, the highest mountain of the Parque Natural de Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama, just across the lake. You can access the area from Alcaucin, Canillas de Aceituno or the southern rim (e.g. Sedella). This area makes for good and challenging hikes.
What is also available nearby are "Vias Ferratas" - prepared climbing trails with steep ladders, ropes. bolts and rails permanently fixed in the rock face. You can find them near Comares (just a 45 minute drive away) or further north at Villanueva de Trabuco and Villanueva del Rosario. El Torcal near Antequera is also wellknown to climbers.
The Caminito del Rey is a walkway, pinned along the steep walls of a narrow gorge. It was built to provide workers at the hydroelectric power plants at Chorro Falls and Gaitanejo Falls with a means to cross between them, to provide for transport of materials, and to facilitate inspection and maintenance of the channel. Construction began in 1901 and was finished in 1905. The original path was constructed of concrete and rested on steel rails supported by stanchions set at around 45 degrees into the rock face. It deteriorated over the years and there were numerous sections where part or all of the concrete top had collapsed. By then it was known as the "world's most dangerous walkway" following five deaths in 1999 and 2000. In 2015 a new path, built on top of the old one, opened. It's commercially run, and ticket numbers are limited to a maximum of 1100 per day. So book in advance if you wish to go there.
For more information and hike suggestions check out the links below:
Wikiloc - Hikes from Canillas de Aceituno
Wikiloc - Via Farrata at Comares
Wikiloc - Via Ferrata at Villanueva de Trabuco/Villanueva del Rosario
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