Astride the border between the municipalities of Álora and Ardales lies one of the most stunning landscapes in the province of Málaga: Desfiladero de los Gaitanes (Los Gaitanes Gorge), a startling and spectacular caprice of nature formed over thousands of years by the waters of the River Guadalhorce as it opened a passage between formidable palisades.

This rugged Natural Area covers a little more than 2,000 hectares and is the site of one of the most imposing geographic features in all of Andalusia and one of the best known in all of Spain: Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, also known as Garganta del Chorro, where the course of the River Guadalhorce is confined between astonishingly vertical limestone walls. The gorge, properly speaking, measures about three kilometres in length and in some stretches reaches a height of 400 metres. Considering that at times the distance between the two walls is only about ten metres, the spectacle provided by this combination of stone and water is simply overwhelming.

Both the flora and fauna of this place have adapted perfectly to a vertical environment that is practically unique in Spain. Aleppo pines, evergreen oaks and eucalyptus are the most plentiful botanical species in this territory, while animal species are distributed according to the different elevations of terrain. The summits are thus the domain of the royal eagle and the griffon vulture while falcons, kestrels and goshawks live in the middle levels of the gorge and blackbirds and martinsº1 occupy the lower part along the river channel.

In the early twentieth century a risky passageway was built to facilitate the transportation of materials between the El Chorro and El Gaitanejo waterfalls, which at the time belonged to the El Chorro Hydroelectric Society that was taken over some time ago by another firm. It soon came to be called the Caminito del Rey (King’s Little Road) in memory of the visit by Alfonso XIII to the area in 1921 to inaugurate Conde de Guadalhorce Dam, although the aforementioned feat of engineering had been in operation since 1905. At the present time traffic on this engineering marvel is dangerous due to its disused condition, making it advisable to visit without going onto it. There is already a project underway, however, to restore this remarkable route that will soon allow the enjoyment of this unique landscape, whose grandeur is already partially visible before one arrives at the imposing rocky gorge.

Desfiladero de los Gaitanes is without any question a favourite spot for rock climbing and other extreme sports. The gorge’s almost perfectly vertical walls are a challenge to anyone who enjoys intense outdoor excitement. Those who know the terrain advise the utmost precaution before undertaking any sporting activity in this area due to the danger involved.

Desfiladero de los Gaitanes is accessible by the roads that lead to Álora and Ardales, among other routes. From the city of Málaga, take Highway A-357 and continue on A-343. You will first pass by Pizarra and arrive at Álora six kilometres farther along.
If you choose to go to Ardales, leave Málaga on Highway A-357 (in the direction of Cártama, the first village you will pass through). You do not have to take any turning as this highway leads straight to Ardales. In both localities there are prominent signs pointing the way to El Chorro-Desfiladero de los Gaitanes.