Madeira Canyoning: Waterfalls, Rappels & Jumps for Beginners

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.97 (149 reviews) 99% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationLikely to sell out

1/13

Duration4h 30m

GroupUp to 20

LanguagesEN · DE +3

PickupAt your hotel

Navigate six waterfalls and rappel down a 15-meter drop in the Funchal Ecological Park

Canyoning Level 1 in Ribeira das Cales, Madeira is a beginner-friendly adventure where you navigate six waterfalls, make three optional jumps and rappel 15 meters through an 850-meter route near Pico do Areeiro. The entire activity takes about three and a half hours and includes full gear, a live guide in multiple languages, GoPro video and photos, water and snacks, plus hotel pickup. Children from age 7 are welcome.

The Experience

The route starts near Pico do Areeiro, one of the highest peaks in the Madeira archipelago at 1,818 meters, within the Funchal Ecological Park. You'll move through a series of natural pools and rappels—the tallest being 12 meters—before reaching the 15-meter abseil that closes out the day. The entire descent covers 120 meters over roughly three and a half hours, which means the pace stays manageable even if you've never done this before. Six distinct waterfalls break up the route, each with its own landscape and challenge, so the day doesn't feel repetitive.

What makes this different from a guided hike is that you're doing the climbing and rappelling yourself, not watching someone else do it. You get a full body suit, helmet, harness, gloves and boots—everything fitted before you start—plus a live guide who speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, French or another language depending on your group. The guide handles the technical setup and safety checks, but you're the one making the jumps and working the rope. Three jumps are optional, so you can skip them if you want to stay conservative, but most people take at least one or two once they see how the water pools below.

Pickup is included from most Madeira hotels, and the operator provides GoPro video and photos of the day so you have proof of what you actually did. Water and snacks come along, and the whole thing wraps before late afternoon. The 850-meter route is classified as easy, which is why it works for beginners, but easy doesn't mean boring—the waterfalls and the rappel keep the adrenaline steady.

What’s included

Full body suit, helmet, harness, gloves and boots.
GoPro video and photos of the day.
water and snacks.
live guide in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French or another language.
hotel pickup from most locations.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Discovery Island Madeira

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to jump and rappel through waterfalls with a guide managing safety and route decisions—you focus on the movement, not the planning.