Canyoning Madeira
Wow! That about sums up a canyoning trip to Madeira. This is quite the place if you're an advanced canyoneer. Big rappels through waterfalls (read 60-90m!), steep volcanic terrain, a lush green subtropical climate, and several canyons that end in the Atlantic Ocean. This is a place where the movie Jurassic Park could have been filmed. Absolutely incredible!
What is Madeira?
Madeira is an autonomous region of Portugal, comprising four islands in the north Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa. It's situated about 950km southwest of Lisbon and about 500km north of the Canary Islands. The main island of Madeira is where the canyoning of interest is located. Madeira is a popular European summer beach destination. Hiking is also popular on the island.
Technical but brilliant
The canyons in Madeira require a certain level of proficiency to safely descend. There aren't many beginner level canyons here. You'd be prudent to have plenty of practice and experience at your home area and have several trips to more advanced canyoning areas before embarking on a canyoning trip to Madeira. But once you do reach a certain level of proficiency, skill ability, and mental control, Madeira is an absolute must on your canyoning wish list. The canyons are simply spectacular. One canyon after another, they just keep coming and they keep surprising you. For those that like long rappels you've chosen wisely to come to Madeira, you won't be disappointed.
The technicality of the canyons is also something to understand. Many times you'll have to set up your own recuperable handlines to reach the anchors. These are essential because otherwise you'll have a very difficult time pulling and recovering your ropes, especially if you're in the flow of water. Don't underestimate the power of falling water, especially from 60m!
Advanced and essential
As mentioned above, if you're at a stage of your canyoning career where you're looking for the next step, and you have all your skills dialed in, then a trip to Madeira is an obvious next step. Join Bigtime Aventura for guided canyoning trips to Madeira and the Pyrenees.