Caminito del Rey, Spain: one of the world’s scariest hikes to reopen

The Caminito del Rey, one of the world scariest hikes, is reopening to the public early next year. It is currently illegal to walk along the dangerously dilapidated path, which skirts the Guadalhorce river gorge near El Chorro in southern Spain – although that hasn’t stopped daredevil climbers.

Here is the lowdown on the hike in numbers:

109 years ago the trail was completed by workers at nearby hydroelectric plants.

5 people died in the gorge in 1999 and 2000, resulting in the walkway’s closure.

€6,000 is the maximum fine for trespassers.

4 kilometres of the path are being restored, including the infamous cliffside section through the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, which has huge drops to the river below.

€2.2m was the original budget for restoration, agreed in 2011 by the Málaga city council and Andalucía’s regional government – though costs are now estimated to be more than €5m.

500 tonnes of new metal parts will replace those that have fallen in the ravine or rusted away; concrete paths will be replaced with wooden panels; handrails will be added; and there are plans for a skywalk section.

70% of the restoration work has been completed, with the hike due to reopen in January or February next year.

€0 is the cost of walking the trail for the first three months after it reopens, after which there will be a charge and visitor numbers will be limited.