Canyoning in Madeira
Come canyoning in Madeira all year round!
What is Canyoning?
When you go canyoning you can find yourself abseiling (rappelling) through canyons, down waterfalls, walking over narrow, winding gorges, jumping down and across, wading and swimming through clear natural pools and crossing waterfalls using ropes and mountaineering equipments. So it’s a lot of fun!
Canyoning in Madeira
Madeira’s subtropical climate and a landscape carved out by volcanoes in centuries past make it a top destination for canyoning. The scenery is stunning and canyoning is an exhilarating way to discover normally inaccessible parts of the island.
As canyoning is an adventure sport it is important to go with a knowledgeable guide and to use the correct equipment. Our specialist guides are all experienced and qualified and will provide all the necessary equipment and instruction and will tailor the canyoning trips to the needs of the group. Each trip starts with a briefing so you know what to expect. Canyoning is available all year round- weather and water conditions permitting.
Who Can Go Canyoning?
Anyone can go canyoning as long as they’re adventurous, can swim and enjoy getting wet and dirty! No previous canyoning experience is required. You should bring your swim suit or trunks, non-slip sports shoes you don’t mind getting wet, a towel and change of clothes – we also rent special canyoning shoes, which are the best option to ensure safety!
Some of our canyoning trips
There are several possible canyoning routes and the exact route will be chosen by the guides depending on the water conditions at the time of your trip. The rivers are in the protected Laurisilva forest- an area of great natural beauty so it makes for a really memorable trip. Here are some examples of the trips we offer regularly. Please contact us for more information about canyoning in Madeira or to choose the right trip for you.
Ribeira de Cales
Ribeira das Cales start in “Chão da Lagoa” in the Ecological Park of Funchal at approximately 1500 meters high. Along to the route we found 5 rappels.
Price per person: 65,00€
Canyoning boots:10,00€
Duration: approximately 2 hours
Difficulty: Level 1 – very easy
Highest Rappel: approximately 12 meters high
Minimum: 2 people.
Ribeiro Frio
Ribeiro Frio is one of the most beautiful places to do Canyoning in Madeira. It is a canyon that consists on 8 rappels along the way.
Price per person: 65,00€
Canyoning boots:10,00€
Duration: approximately 2 hours
Difficulty: Level 1 – very easy
Highest Rappel: approximately 18 meter high
Days: Wednesday and Sunday (only available between November until April)
Minimum: 2 people.
Ribeira do Lajeado
Starting on the plateau of Paul da Serra, this canyon is marked by its large lagoons where you can perform several jumps. When accessing to the canyon you will still have the opportunity to walk along the pretty “Levada do Alecrim”.
Price per person: 85,00€
Canyoning boots:10,00€
Duration: approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes
Difficulty: Level 2 – easy
Highest Rappel: approximately 25 meters
Days: Thursday
Minimum: 2 people.
Ribeira Funda
The Ribeira Funda is an excellent canyon for people looking for the first contacts with large waterfalls. Besides the spectacular waterfall with 60 meters high, this route also has some amazing jumps.
Price per person: on request
Duration: approximately 2 hours 30min
Difficulty: Level 3 – moderate
Highest Rappel: approximately 60 meters high
Days: on request
Minimum: 4 people.
Ribeira da Hortela
The Ribeira da Hortelã is one of the most emblematic canyons of Madeira, being one of the canyons required for true lovers of this activity.
Price per person: on request
Duration: approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes
Difficulty: Level 4 – Very difficult
Highest Rappel: approximately 55 meters high
Days: on request
Minimum: 4 people.
Ribeira do Vimeiro
The Ribeira do Vimieiro is a very vertical canyon with beautiful and large waterfalls. Unlike most of the canyons in Madeira, this consists on several and successive waterfalls that make us descend about 300 meters gap in only 500 meters long.
Price per person: on request
Duration: approximately 3 hours.
Difficulty: Level 4 – Very difficult
Highest Rappel: approximately 60 meters high
Days: on request
Minimum: 4 people.
These canyoning trips are available all year round weather and water conditions permitting, usually on Wednesdays and Sundays but we can sometimes do other days too. They last for approximately 3h30, and can be booked with a minimum of 2 to 4 people in the group. This includes: a specialist guide, use of wetsuit, eight point harnesses and carabineers, an energy bar, a license to canyon in the forest, insurance and pick up from the hotels in the Funchal area in minibuses.