Part of our complete guide: Activities and tours on Madeira
The levels
Operators use one consistent scale. Take it seriously — it is honest.
Level 1 — beginner (from about €70, 4 h). Small abseils, low jumps, natural water slides. No experience, no special fitness. You do need to swim. The most booked beginner tour has over 1,600 reviews at 5.0.
Level 2 — intermediate (from about €58, 4 h). Higher abseils (up to roughly 25 m), longer sections, more walking on the approach. Enough fitness for half a day wet. Most popular area: Curral das Freiras, the Nuns’ Valley.
Level 3 — demanding (from about €140, 4 h). A 60-metre abseil in Ribeira Funda at Seixal. For people who have done this before.
Plus coasteering (from about €70, 5 h): the same idea along the coast — climbing, jumping, snorkelling instead of a ravine.
What the price includes
At practically every operator: wetsuit, helmet, harness, shoes, belaying by certified guides, photos. Usually pickup in Funchal or Caniço too. You bring swimwear, a towel and something to eat afterwards.
Small groups are not a comfort question here. In canyoning, group size directly sets how long you wait at each abseil — eight people means the tour flows, sixteen means a lot of standing around wet and cold.
What to watch for
- Water temperature. The streams come out of the mountain forest and are cold even in August. The wetsuit is not an accessory.
- After heavy rain tours are cancelled or moved to another ravine. That is a good sign, not a bad one.
- Minimum age is 10 to 14 depending on the operator.
- Glasses: bring a retainer strap or lose them.
- Do not book canyoning for your last day — if weather cancels it, there is no second slot.
Book it or do it yourself?
Book, no argument. Canyoning without kit, belaying and local knowledge is not a cheaper holiday, it is a rescue callout. Along with boat trips it is the second category on this island with no sensible self-guided version.
👉 See all canyoning tours on GetYourGuide (Affiliate link)
Next: Mountain hiking tours · Buggy and quad tours · Diving
