DistantNews
Support us
Spain's longest suspension bridge opens at Caminito del Rey
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Energy & Infrastructure

Spain's longest suspension bridge opens at Caminito del Rey

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency New plan
  • Spain's Caminito del Rey in Málaga has unveiled its new 110-meter-long suspension bridge, the longest of its kind in the country.
  • The new bridge, along with 300 meters of additional path, enhances the visitor experience and offers an alternative route.
  • The Caminito del Rey attracts around 330,000 visitors annually, generating significant economic impact for the region.

The Caminito del Rey, a renowned walkway set within the dramatic Desfiladero de los Gaitanes natural park in Málaga, southern Spain, has inaugurated a new 110-meter suspension bridge. This new feature is now recognized as the longest bridge of its kind in Spain, adding another layer of spectacular appeal to the already famous route.

Constructed along the gorge walls, the new footbridge stands at a maximum height of 50 meters. It features steel cable railings and mesh, weighing approximately seventeen tons. This impressive structure was built in an area once considered one of the world's most dangerous before its extensive rehabilitation. The addition of 300 meters of new pathway alongside the bridge provides visitors with an enhanced experience and offers a new alternative end to the circuit, saving them nearly a kilometer of descent over steep terrain.

The new infrastructure is installed just before reaching the area located over the train's iron bridge and the El Chorro tunnel, and it has represented 'a technical challenge' in which helicopters have had to work.

— Juanma MorenoPresident of the autonomous community of Andalusia, describing the technical challenges of installing the new bridge.

The new infrastructure is strategically located just before the section over the existing train bridge and the El Chorro tunnel. Its installation presented significant technical challenges, requiring the use of helicopters, according to Juanma Moreno, the president of the autonomous community of Andalusia. He highlighted that the Caminito del Rey, which has welcomed 3.2 million visitors since its reopening in 2015, strengthens the "Andalusia" brand with a unique trail meticulously designed for the safety of active tourism.

This natural destination draws approximately 330,000 visitors each year, contributing an estimated 64 million euros annually to the local economy. The popularity of the Caminito del Rey has also led to a quadrupling of accommodation establishments in the surrounding area. International tourists, primarily from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, are frequent visitors, but the attraction now draws people from all over the world.

It is designed 'down to the millimeter' to guarantee the safety of active tourism.

— Juanma MorenoPresident of the autonomous community of Andalusia, emphasizing the safety and meticulous planning of the new trail.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog