Complejo Turístico La Garganta Review: Is It Worth Staying Here When visiting Caminito del Rey?

Planning a visit to Caminito del Rey involves more than simply booking your tickets. One of the biggest decisions is whether to stay locally the night before or drive from Malaga on the day.

We faced exactly that dilemma after booking an 8:40am Caminito del Rey entry slot. Friends recommended Complejo Turístico La Garganta, a small rural hotel in El Chorro that sits directly beside the Caminito del Rey shuttle bus stop. Rather than getting up early and driving from Malaga, we decided to stay overnight with our 9-year-old son Joshua and my parents.

This review focuses on the question most people are really asking when they search for La Garganta: Is staying overnight the easiest way to visit Caminito del Rey?

I'll cover the rooms, restaurant, pool, location, parking, shuttle bus logistics and whether staying overnight genuinely improves the experience.

Quick Answer: Is Complejo Turístico La Garganta Worth Staying At?

Yes, particularly if you're visiting Caminito del Rey and have an early time slot.

The rooms are practical rather than luxurious, but that's not really why people stay here. The real selling point is that the hotel makes the logistics of visiting Caminito del Rey incredibly simple. You can leave your car in the hotel's free car park, walk less than 30 seconds to the shuttle bus stop and return directly to the hotel after completing the route.

The views are fantastic, the restaurant is good, the rooms are comfortable and the location couldn't be more convenient for an early morning start.

If you're searching for:

• Where to stay before Caminito del Rey

• Do you need to stay overnight for Caminito del Rey?

• How does the Caminito del Rey shuttle bus work?

• Is La Garganta worth the money?

This review answers all of those questions. Skip location and shuttle bus information and jump to room, restaurant and hotel review.

Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Location

We chose Complejo Turístico La Garganta primarily because of its location in El Chorro, but it quickly became more than just a convenient place to sleep. Surrounded by some of the most dramatic scenery in Andalucia, it felt like part of the Caminito del Rey experience rather than simply a hotel nearby.

Is El Chorro a Good Base for Caminito del Rey?

Yes, if your priority is Caminito del Rey and the surrounding countryside.

El Chorro is a small rural settlement rather than a busy holiday town. It has the railway station, a handful of accommodation and dining options, and easy access to the gorge, lakes and outdoor activities.

There are limited shops and services compared with Malaga, Ardales or Ronda, so I would bring any essential snacks, breakfast items or drinks rather than assuming there will be a large supermarket nearby.

The quiet setting was not a disadvantage for our one-night stay. We had the hotel restaurant for dinner and the few supplies we needed for breakfast in our room.

If you want nightlife, shopping or a wide choice of restaurants, El Chorro may feel too limited. If you want scenery, peace and straightforward access to Caminito del Rey, it is an excellent base.

How Close Is La Garganta to Caminito del Rey?

Complejo Turístico La Garganta is in El Chorro, close to the southern end of Caminito del Rey. The hotel is also approximately 50 yards from El Chorro-Caminito del Rey railway station, making it a practical option for visitors arriving by train.

One of the biggest advantages of staying at Complejo Turístico La Garganta is that the Caminito del Rey shuttle bus stop is essentially outside the hotel. The shuttle or driving directly takes between 15 to 20 minutes.

How the Caminito del Rey Shuttle Bus Works From La Garganta

Before visiting, I'll admit I found the logistics confusing.

Caminito del Rey isn't a circular walk. Most visitors start near the northern access point and finish close to El Chorro. This means transport becomes one of the biggest planning considerations.

By staying at La Garganta, our process was incredibly simple:

1. Leave the car in the hotel's free car park.

2. Walk less than a minute to the shuttle stop.

3. Catch the shuttle bus to the northern access point.

4. Complete Caminito del Rey.

5. Finish the walk and stroll back to the hotel.

Compared to navigating the official car parks, worrying about return transport and working out exactly where to leave the car, this felt extremely straightforward.

This convenience alone was probably worth the cost of staying overnight.

For everything we learnt about booking, logistics and planning the main attraction, see Can Children Visit Caminito del Rey? Age Limits, What to Expect & Essential Family Tips.

Is It Better Than Using the Official Caminito del Rey Car Parks?

In my opinion, yes.

Before visiting, I assumed parking at Caminito del Rey would be straightforward. What I didn't realise is that even if you use the official parking areas, you still need to factor the shuttle bus into your plans because the route doesn't finish where it starts.

When we drove past the official parking area before 9am it was relatively quiet. By around 11am, it looked almost full.

At only a €2.50 for the shuttle bus, it's not expensive. However, staying at La Garganta removed almost all of the parking and transport logistics. We parked once, left the car for the duration of our stay and never had to think about it again.

For families, particularly those travelling with children or grandparents, I found this significantly easier than relying on the official parking arrangements.

Hotel location from the bus stop

Caminito del Rey shuttle bus

Do You Need to Stay Overnight for Caminito del Rey?

No. Caminito del Rey can be visited as a day trip from Malaga.

The drive from Malaga generally takes around an hour to 90 minutes, depending on traffic, your accommodation and the access or parking point you are using. Organised day tours are also available for visitors who would rather not manage the transport themselves.

Whether staying overnight is worthwhile depends largely on your entry time.

For our 8:40am booking, staying at La Garganta meant we avoided an extremely early departure, reduced the risk of traffic delays and did not need to worry about the official parking areas filling up.

Staying at La Garganta was one of the reasons our Caminito del Rey visit felt so relaxed. If you're weighing up whether to stay locally or drive from Malaga, it's worth checking availability early, particularly during busy spring and autumn months when the most convenient rooms can book up quickly.

If we had booked a later morning or afternoon entry, we may have driven from Malaga instead. For one of the first entries of the day, I would stay locally again.

If you prefer not to drive or stay overnight, you can explore Caminito del Rey day tours from Malaga here. Check whether transport, admission and guiding are included before choosing a tour.

Is One Night Enough?

For most visitors, yes. If your main reason for coming is Caminito del Rey, one night is plenty.

We arrived during the afternoon, checked into the hotel at 2pm, relaxed by the pool, enjoyed dinner, completed Caminito del Rey the following morning and then continued our trip afterwards.

The only reason I'd stay longer would be if you specifically wanted to explore more of El Chorro and the surrounding area.

Nearby attractions include:

• Caminito del Rey

• Ardales

• The El Chorro lakes

• Hiking routes

• Kayaking

• Cycling

• Rock climbing and via ferrata routes

Activities and Excursion Bookings

The hotel specialises in local outdoor activities and Caminito del Rey visits, hiking, climbing, cycling, kayaking and via ferrata experiences.

We had already arranged everything independently before arriving. When I looked at the hotel website, several activities were unavailable for our dates, so I would not rely on arranging a must-do experience after check-in.

Many of the more adventurous activities were also aimed at older teenagers and adults, which made them unsuitable for Joshua and our mixed-generation group.

Caminito del Rey boardwalks and gorge

Views across Caminito del Rey

First Impressions of Complejo Turístico La Garganta

Arrival was easy and we had no problem finding a parking space.

Check-in was friendly but took slightly longer than expected. It took around ten minutes while reception recorded our details and passport information. One thoughtful touch was that our room key came with a small Caminito del Rey map, which immediately made the hotel feel connected to the reason most visitors were staying.

The exterior had far more character than a typical hotel. We liked the greenery, rustic local décor and features reflecting the property’s history as a converted mill. La Garganta describes the accommodation as sitting in the landscape beside the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes, with the original complex developed from a former flour mill.

The views were the real standout. They were lovely from the pool and restaurant terrace, but the outlook from my parents’ balcony was particularly impressive.

Our Rooms

What We Booked

We booked two different room types, which highlighted how much the layout and outlook can vary.

Our family stayed in triple room 101, while my parents had double room 122. La Garganta has a relatively small number of rooms and describes its accommodation as individual, with categories including doubles, family rooms, suites, superior rooms and duplex options.

Our room was beside the pool and restaurant. It had three single beds but no balcony. Because the windows looked out towards the pool or restaurant area, we kept them closed most of the time, which made the room feel a little dark.

My parents’ room was very different. It had a large balcony and an incredible view across the surrounding mountains and water. Other ground-floor rooms appeared to have attractive little terraces rather than elevated views.

If we returned, I would pay much closer attention to the exact room category and outdoor space.

Space and Sleeping Arrangements

Our triple room had three proper single beds, which worked well for our family of three. It felt much more practical than having an unsuitable sofa bed squeezed into a standard double room.

The beds were what I would describe as functional rather than luxurious, but they were perfectly adequate for one night. They were dressed with sheets rather than duvets, which is not my preference. Fortunately, blankets were available in the wardrobe because the air conditioning made the room quite cool overnight.

The room offered plenty of practical storage, including wardrobes, a luggage rack and a safe. There was also a small fridge, kettle and Nespresso machine. Those facilities proved particularly valuable because the breakfast service began too late for our shuttle.

Our bathroom had a bath and a small selection of toiletries, while my parents’ room had a shower. As the hotel says, every room seems to be slightly different.

Wi-Fi was open, reliable and easy to use. The air conditioning was quiet and effective.

Was the Room Quiet?

This was one of the biggest surprises.

Although our room was extremely close to the restaurant, we could not hear any restaurant noise once we were inside. We had expected voices, chairs or evening music to carry through, but the room remained impressively quiet.

The soundproofing must have been very effective, and we all slept without disruption.

Would the Rooms Work for Families?

Yes.

Our triple room offered enough space and three proper beds, while the fridge and drink-making facilities added useful flexibility. Extra beds can reportedly be added to selected rooms for an additional charge, and cots are available on request depending on the room category.

For a one-night family stay before Caminito del Rey, the room had everything we needed.

For a longer visit, I would choose a room with a balcony or terrace. My parents’ room felt much more special because of its outdoor area and view.

If La Garganta is on your shortlist, you can explore its room categories and availability here. I would read the individual room descriptions carefully rather than assuming every category has the same view or layout.

Pool and Hotel Facilities

The Panoramic Pool

La Garganta has a small outdoor panoramic pool with a hydromassage area and views towards the surrounding landscape. The hotel pool opening hours were 9am until 9pm.

The pool was not large, but it was perfect for cooling down after arriving. Joshua enjoyed splashing around, and there were plenty of sun loungers for the size of the area.

Pool towels were available from reception, which saved us using our room towels.

The water was not heated and initially felt chilly, although we adjusted quickly. There was no lifeguard, so children need close supervision. Inflatables were not allowed, but that felt reasonable given the pool’s compact size.

The pool also had a small bubble section. It was not heated like a traditional Jacuzzi, and the jets only seemed to run for around 30 seconds before the button needed pressing again. It was a nice extra, although repeatedly restarting it became slightly frustrating.

We would not choose La Garganta purely for the pool, but it made the hotel much more enjoyable for a family arriving the afternoon before an active day.

Swimming pool seating area

View over the swimming pool from room 122

Food and Restaurant

Breakfast

Breakfast was not included in our booking but could be added for approximately €13 per person.

The published breakfast service runs from 7:30am until 11am. That would work for guests with later Caminito del Rey entry times, but it was not early enough for our 7:40am shuttle.

We therefore prepared a light breakfast in the room using food we had brought with us. The fridge, kettle and coffee machine made this straightforward.

This was our main practical criticism of the hotel. Given its location and the number of guests visiting Caminito del Rey, I would have expected either an earlier start or a readily available takeaway breakfast.

Dinner at La Garganta

We reserved a table at the hotel restaurant for dinner.

The menu was not available online when I checked, which I found slightly annoying because I like to understand the options before choosing a restaurant. Fortunately, the menu offered a good mixture of local dishes and familiar choices.

My dad ordered goat, my mum chose cod, Mark had Iberian pork, I ordered steak and Joshua selected tacos followed by ice cream. I had expected him to choose pasta with tomato sauce, but he surprised us.

There was no separate children’s menu, although the main menu included suitable options such as pasta, tacos, familiar sides and fries. We chose the local potatoes instead.

The food quality was good and prices felt reasonable for the location. During our stay, starters were approximately €6 to €10, main courses ranged from around €14 to €35 and desserts cost about €5.

The terrace was the highlight. We ate outside with wonderful views across the surrounding landscape, which gave the dinner a far more memorable atmosphere than eating inside.

The advertised cocktail choice was slightly disappointing. There were only around three mixed drinks, such as an Aperol Spritz, rather than the wider cocktail menu I had expected. I opted for a glass of cava instead.

Would We Eat Here Again?

Yes.

The views, atmosphere, food and convenience made the restaurant an easy choice. After checking in, none of us wanted to get back in the car to find dinner elsewhere.

The only downside was the slow service. We arrived at 6pm when the restaurant was quiet and took a relaxed approach to drinks and starters, but we regularly needed to call staff over to order the next course. Empty glasses were not cleared throughout the meal either.

The restaurant never became more than around half full, so the service should have been more attentive. However, it did not spoil the evening, and we would still make the same decision again.

Taco's with a view

La Garganta Restaurant

Final Verdict: Would We Stay at La Garganta Again?

Yes.

For an overnight stay before Caminito del Rey, Complejo Turístico La Garganta was an excellent choice. The rooms were practical rather than luxurious, but they were spacious, quiet and equipped with everything we needed.

The free parking and shuttle bus stop directly outside made the Caminito del Rey logistics exceptionally easy. Instead of beginning the day with a long drive and uncertain parking, we could have a simple breakfast in our room, walk to the bus and finish the route beside the hotel.

The pool, restaurant and impressive views also meant the stay felt like part of the trip rather than simply a logistical necessity.

For us, Complejo Turístico La Garganta wasn't just somewhere to sleep before Caminito del Rey. Its location, views and convenience became part of the experience itself. If you're wondering whether staying locally is worthwhile, we'd happily choose it again rather than making the journey from Malaga on the morning of the walk.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Does the Caminito del Rey Shuttle Bus Work From La Garganta?

We left our car in the hotel car park, walked less than a minute to the bus stop and took the shuttle towards the northern access for 2.5 euros. After completing the one-way Caminito del Rey route, we finished near El Chorro and walked back towards the hotel.

Does Complejo Turístico La Garganta Have Free Parking?

Yes. We found plenty of free parking at the hotel and left the car there while we completed Caminito del Rey.

Is La Garganta Suitable for Families?

Yes. Our triple room gave our family three proper beds, and the hotel also has an outdoor pool, free parking and a restaurant with several dishes suitable for children. It worked particularly well for a short stay with our 9-year-old.

Is La Garganta the Best Place to Stay Before Caminito del Rey?

For convenience, it is one of the strongest options. The shuttle stop is outside, parking is free and the walk finishes nearby. That removes much of the parking and return-transport planning associated with Caminito del Rey.

Is El Chorro a Good Base for Caminito del Rey?

Yes. El Chorro is quiet, scenic and exceptionally convenient for transport. However, it has limited shops, restaurants and nightlife compared with a larger town, so it is best suited to a short activity-focused stay.

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About Plan Family Escapes

We’re a UK-based family sharing real, experience-led travel guides based on trips we’ve taken with our school-age son Joshua across destinations like Lapland, Turkey and India.

Everything we share is based on what we’ve personally experienced — with honest advice on what actually works when travelling with kids, focusing on making family travel easier, more comfortable and genuinely enjoyable.