The second phase of the Tajo Gorge Path adds 500 metres to the route and allows descent from the base of the New Bridge to the Arab Baths. The City Council expects a 20% increase in visitor numbers.
The President of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno, inaugurated this Tuesday the second phase of the Tajo Gorge Path in Ronda, a 500-metre walkway that completes the route through the gorge. According to Diario Sur, the project starts from the base of the New Bridge and delves into the gorge towards the other historic bridges, concluding in the vicinity of the old hermitage of San Miguel and the Arab Baths.
The new section adds to the first phase, which opened in April 2024, allowing descent from the Plaza del Campillo to the foot of the New Bridge. With the extension, the route now reaches nearly a kilometre and offers a more complete view of the Tajo, both from the high areas and from the bottom of the gorge. The work has been carried out by Sando, a company that also participated in the Caminito del Rey, and was designed by architect Luis Machuca.
During the event, Moreno described the route as "a new way of living" and "a new way to admire this jewel" of Ronda and Andalucía. The president highlighted that the city combines "a natural monument and another historical-artistic one that together form one of the great wonders of Andalucía".
"When Andalucía shines, it also seduces," declared the president, who added: "We want to seduce all those visitors with kindness".
Moreno emphasised that the infrastructure allows for the discovery of "an unknown Ronda, a different Ronda, a wonderful Ronda", by combining the city's historical heritage with its natural surroundings. He also described the project as "an experience of integration and not of rupture", referring to the low-height design of the structure.
The mayor of Ronda, Mari Paz Fernández (PP), defended that the project turns the Tajo into a reference tourist resource for all of Andalucía. "It is a monument branded Ronda, but let us not forget that it is a monument branded Andalucía," she stated during her speech.
Fernández pointed out that the first phase received over 160,000 visits during its first year and that, in the two years since its opening, the Tajo Gorge Path has surpassed 400,000 visits, according to municipal data. The City Council expects that the new section will increase visitor numbers by around 20%.
The aim of the City Council is to attract higher quality tourism, extend the stay of those arriving in the city, and generate more economic activity and employment. The mayor assured that the route will allow visitors not only to view the New Bridge from the viewpoints but also to immerse themselves in the natural surroundings. She also suggested that the new itinerary will help distribute tourist flows towards areas such as Padre Jesús, El Arrabal, and the streets near the new exit.
The mayor estimated that over 1.5 million euros have been invested in the overall project and noted that the project has generated around 20 direct and indirect jobs. The second phase was awarded to Sando in 2024 for 1,087,426 euros, according to information previously released by the City Council.
The president of the Málaga Provincial Council, Francisco Salado (PP), claimed the collaboration between the three administrations involved in the project. "This is a clear example of collaboration between administrations: Junta de Andalucía, Provincial Council, and City Council," he stated. Salado highlighted that Ronda already has significant heritage, cultural, gastronomic, and oenological attractions, but he considered it necessary to continue incorporating new experiences to compete in the tourism market. In his view, the Tajo Gorge Path can encourage visitors to return and extend their stay, and he argued that investment in Ronda benefits the entire Serranía by generating new visitor flows to the municipalities in the region.
Moreno recalled that Ronda receives around two million visitors, while the province of Málaga exceeds ten million and Andalucía reaches 38 million, according to figures cited during the event. The president argued that the Tajo Gorge Path will expand the city's offerings and capture part of those tourist flows.
The itinerary concludes in the vicinity of the old hermitage of San Miguel and the Arab Baths, where a building has been set up as a visitor reception centre and auxiliary tourism office for Ronda.
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