Next we present our trip to the island of Madeira, where we had the pleasure of enjoying a lush environment and its ravines with great verticals that made us a test .
Do you want to do a canyoning trip a Madeira?
Don't know which ravines to include in your stay? Don't worry!
In this post we share with you several proposals for Barrancos and Levadas so that you can have several examples and replicate them or adapt them to your tastes and needs.
If you prefer too we can guide and organize r your trip to this Canyoning paradise.
Just sit back and enjoy this wonderful island.
Located 500 km away from the African coast (almost at the same latitude as Casablanca) and 1000 km from the European continent, the archipelago of Madeira, of volcanic origin, is made up of two main islands: Madeira Island (740.7 km²) and Porto Santo Island (42.5 km²). , and two sets of uninhabited islands: the Desertas Islands, three small islands located 25 km southeast of the island of Madeira and the Selvagens Islands, two islands and sixteen islets located 250 km south of Madeira, which constitutenatural reserves.
Madeira is a Portuguese region that, due to its condition as an archipelago far from the continent, has a certain autonomy, similar to that of the Spanish Autonomous Communities. The main city is Funchal, the capital of the island of Madeira, which is located south of it. It was the first city that the Portuguese founded outside the continent and extends along the slopes of the immense mountain that is the entire island to the sea, where the historical center is located.
Canyoneering paradise is waiting for you.
DAY 7: RETURN HOME
THE TEAM
''Men wanted for dangerous journey. Low salary, biting cold, long months in complete darkness, constant danger, and little chance of returning alive. Honor and recognition in case of success.
Not a few of you will have seen or heard about the advertisement in the British newspaper The Times that Shackleton supposedly published and that I reproduce on these lines.
In our case we only had to put a WhatsApp in the group of guides that said...
''There is no...... to go in November to go canyoning to Madeira''.
Said and done, nothing like such a forceful phrase to convince these intrepid outlaws ...three guides, a photographer and a drone pilot to start shaping this adventure.
DAY 1: WE DEDICATE THE FIRST DAY TO... FLYING
There are not always direct flights from Spain, except for a company in a specific season and during specific dates.
A curious fact is that airplane pilots Those who fly to Madeira require a special permit for this
since the Madeira international airport has a runway considered one of the most complicated in the world for landing landing for the small size of its track and also for the force of the wind when the ship flies over the runway.
For this reason we had to make stopover in Lisbon (you can also stopover in Porto). It is important to take into account the invoiced weight, to give you an idea, we were carrying about 85 kg of material< span style="color: #404040;"> for 5 people including personal equipment, three ropes (one 70m, one 60m, one 40m) plus two 30m Randonnees.
It is very important to check the measurements and weights of your company to avoid billing scares.
To get around the island we opted for the car, renting two cars to be able to do combination in access, which is almost mandatory in some of the ravines.
For accommodation our choice was an apartment in the Punta do Sol area.
DAY 2: RIBIERA PEDRA BRANCA
Three, Two, one.... Action!!
We start the day early at 7:00 a.m. We prepare all the backpacks and sandwiches after the ravine.
Distance: 1.5 km
Difficulty level: v3 a2 II
Duration: 2 h 30 min
Elevation difference: 350 m
Maximum rappelling: 55 meters
Rappels: 10
Our original idea was to make two descents, the Ribiera Branca and the Ribiera Funda (we left this one for the last day). The Barranco is perfectly equipped, we start with two rappels from natural anchors (trees). The second rappel is very spectacular but without a doubt the end of the descent with the sea in the background makes it very special.
But we were not able to do both on the same day, in November it gets dark very early, added to the fact that since it was our first day it took a long time to prepare all the logistics (we arrived at almost 11:00 at the head) we decided to do a just ravine and leave the Ribiera Funda for the last day and go to
walk to the levada do Moinho and levada Nova, a little running doesn't hurt anyone ;).
DAY 3: RIBEIRO COLD
We're already rolling... today we woke up super motivated and at the same time, but everything is now flowing better, we moved to the central area of the island to make this beautiful descent.
Distance: 1.5 km
Difficulty level: v4a3III
Duration: 3 h 30 min
Elevation difference: 250 m
Maximum rappelling: 55 meters
Rappels: 13
This descent has a spectacular start!! Its first rappel-handrail to the hanging head of 50m leaves no one indifferent, integrated into one of the natural areas and most exuberant on the northern coast of Madeira, canyoning in Ribeiro Frio is a unique and unforgettable adventure. Given the characteristics of this place, canyoning can be adapted to all types of participants, from the most experienced to those who are new to this universe.
This Descent lives up to its name and we find crystal clear and very cold waters, we recommend bringing warm clothing for the first hours of the descent (kayak jacket).
In the afternoon we went for a walk along Pico Arieiro (1818m) - third highest point on the island - below Pico Ruivo (1861m) and Pico das Torres (1851m) panoramic views and a sunset_11100000-0000 -0000-0000-000000000111_impressive.perfect
DAY 4: LEVADA DO CALDERAIO VERDE
Day of active rest... the guide does not only live from Canyoning ..today we plan to walk through one of the most impressive levadas on the island but... what is our surprise! It was closed due to a landslide (November 9, 2023).
We have no choice but to improvise and we head to the Levada do Rey and then we visit a traditional mill to see that all that water from the Levadas had a meaning. We finished with the San Jorge trek (partial) We went to eat in Caniçal at the Paladares da Terra restaurant (we recommend you go to eat early , since the dish of the day is only €8 and se acaba quickly), we visited the bridge ofSan Lorenço from the top of the Mirador Calhau da_ 11100000-0000 -0000-0000-000000000111_Furna do BodeyTo finish off the day by returning to Punta de Sol we We stopped in the Capital Funchal Turisteo del Bueno.
DAY 5: LOWER SEIXAL
Let's go for one of the highlights of the week, the Inferior Seixal, without a combination of cars, its very vertical approach was one of the hardest on a physical level, its < strong>1,108 steps and 300m of elevation gain put us to the test, but we reduced the approach time by half an hour (we are super strong). This descent begins with several low-height rappels in a relatively open area. Quickly the ravine tends to close and give way to one of the most aesthetic areas of the entire route, with magnificent colors and plays of light that surprised us overwhelmingly.
Distance: 1.2 km
Difficulty level: V4 A2 III
Duration: 3 h 30 min
Elevation difference: 300 m
Maximum rappelling: 38 meters
Rappels: 15
To finish off the day we decided to go visit the Angelo waterfall, we watched the sunset on a terrace in Punta do Sol and to regain strength we had a Barbecue.< /p>
DAY 6: RIBIERA FUNDA
We had to wait the first day but... we weren't going to let it go undone. Our last ravine on the island.
Located in the remote town of Ribeira Funda, in the parish of Seixal. This descent is one of the most repeated and well-known on the island of Madeira. Very comfortable combination of cars and not mandatory, although it is a short route, it is full of surprising places, where nature remains practically intact.
Distance: 600m
Difficulty level: V4 A3 II
Duration: 2 h 30 min
Elevation difference: 210 m
Maximum rappelling: 60 meters
Rappels: 10
After passing through a series of rappels, the highest of which reaches a height of 60 meters, we were rewarded with an unforgettable landscape environment. And the descent of the Ribeira Funda has the particularity of ending next to the sea, offering an unparalleled view over the brilliant Atlantic.
DAY 7: RETURN HOME
All good things come to an end, but it is not goodbye but a... see you soon.
We have many descents left to discover, magical corners that are still hidden on this wonderful island and waiting to be discovered.
A real pleasure to be able to enjoy this small great paradise for cayoning lovers.
Are you signing up next year?