Canyoning

Canyoning is a mountain activity that has been developed from the necessity to surpass natural obstacles in canyons and rivers. Many of the used techniques nowadays had been created by the explorer Edouard Alfred Martel, considered the father of canyoning. The first competitions of this sport took place in the end of the 70’s and, since then, this practice has gained even more adepts.

This activity is looked for by adepts of adventure that associate canyoning to other mountain activities and by people that look for an alternative for the daily stress and an intimate contact with the nature.

In Madeira, this activity’s practitioners are mostly practicing some other mountain sports as the Climbing, the Orientation and the Trekking. Some mountain club sports provide courses of initiation and equipment for this activity allowing that any person can practise it.

The island of Madeira has several water courses ready for the practice of this sport as for example Ribeiro Frio and Ribeira das Cales. The inexperienced persons will be able to contact qualified guides to try this activity.

Canyoning Ribeira Funda