There are 16 canyoning trips in Madeira, from guides on Viator and other providers. We went through all of them and picked the 5 most reliable ones. We chose by reviews and by what each trip actually includes. Each has 4.5 stars or more from at least 30 reviews. Here they are. Private tours and other formats are below.
Prices, times and reviews as of . We last went through the list on . How we choose.
Canyoning in Madeira: which one to choose
You can try canyoning here without any experience. A guide takes you down a stream with waterfalls to abseil. The beginner trips take about 3 to 6 hours. Starting prices range from €65 to €80 per adult.
CancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before
Group limit is the most people the operator takes on one departure. Times are the usual timetable. Check your date when you book.
All 5 trips have the same rule: free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
The trips
What to know before you book each one
01
The park trip with two guides
Canyoning in Madeira Island- Level 1
4.99/5 from 1,158 reviews, combined Viator and Tripadvisor
Two certified guides lead this level 1 route in Funchal Ecological Park. It includes four abseils up to 12 metres. Boots and photos are included with pickup in Funchal or Caniço.
It suits first-timers aged 10 to 65 who can book with someone else. Look elsewhere for a solo booking.
The trade-off.You must be 1.33 to 2 metres tall. You must weigh 30 to 110 kg.
From price
€65 per adult
Duration
5 hours
Listed group limit The most people the operator takes on one departure. Your trip may have fewer.?
up to 12 people
Listed guide languages
Portuguese, English, Spanish
Listed departure times
09:00
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Pickup
Hotel pickup or meet at the start point
Lowest price the operator lists. Your date may cost more.
Times are local. Check your date and the guide language when you book.
Before you book
Book for two to ten people.
Travellers must be aged 10 to 65. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
You must be 1.33 to 2 metres tall.
You must weigh 30 to 110 kg.
Give your shoe size when booking.
Give this one a miss if you're pregnant, or if you have a back or spine injury or a heart condition.
Book through Viator, a Tripadvisor company. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Details as of .
02
The group from the CR7 Museum
Level 1 - Canyoning For All - Beginner | Funchal
4.99/5 from 198 reviews, combined Viator and Tripadvisor
You descend seven waterfalls with a group of up to 8 people on this level 1 trip. Pickup is at the CR7 Museum in Funchal. Boots and photos are included.
I'd look here for a first canyoning trip with pickup in central Funchal.
The trade-off.Travellers must be aged 10 to 99. Snacks cost extra.
From price
€70 per adult
Duration
3 hours
Listed group limit The most people the operator takes on one departure. Your trip may have fewer.?
up to 8 people
Listed guide languages
Portuguese, English
Listed departure times
09:30
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Pickup
Hotel pickup or meet at the start point
Lowest price the operator lists. Your date may cost more.
Times are local. Check your date and the guide language when you book.
Before you book
Travellers must be aged 10 to 99.
Meet at the CR7 Museum for pickup. Check your pickup time for the 09:30 departure.
Bad weather or too few bookings can cancel the trip.
Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.
Give this one a miss if you're pregnant, or if you have a back or spine injury or a heart condition.
Book through Viator, a Tripadvisor company. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Details as of .
03
The trip for non-swimmers
Canyoning in Madeira: Ideal for Beginners and Families
4.95/5 from 266 reviews, combined Viator and Tripadvisor
This level 1 day takes you to Ribeira das Cales. At least two guides lead the activity. Pickup from central Funchal and Caniço is included.
I'd consider it for a first try even if you can't swim. You need moderate fitness. Look elsewhere if you feel uneasy in the water. Travellers must be aged 8 to 60.
The trade-off.Plan for 6 hours including transport. Canyoning boots cost extra.
From price
€70 per adult
Duration
6 hours
Listed group limit The most people the operator takes on one departure. Your trip may have fewer.?
up to 15 people
Listed guide languages
Portuguese, English, Spanish
Listed departure times
08:30 (Wed, Fri, Sun)
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Pickup
Hotel pickup included
Lowest price the operator lists. Your date may cost more.
Times are local. Check your date and the guide language when you book.
Before you book
Ages 8 to 60 can book. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Ask about equipment fit for your child.
You need moderate fitness. This trip isn't suitable with severe health problems or limited mobility.
You must weigh no more than 115 kg. Anyone close to this limit must be taller than 1.85 metres.
Be at reception 10 minutes before your pickup time. Check for any change the day before.
The trip can go ahead in rain when it is safe.
Give this one a miss if you're pregnant, or if you have a back or spine injury or a heart condition.
Book through Viator, a Tripadvisor company. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Details as of .
Private charters and other formats
These are priced per boat or work differently, so they don't go in the ranked list.
Level 2 at Ribeiro do Cidrão
Canyoning Experience Level II Moderate
5.00/5 from 79 reviews, combined Viator and Tripadvisor
A level 2 trip at Ribeiro do Cidrão with boots and GoPro photos included for up to 20 people. You need some canyoning experience or a completed level 1 trip.
Check first. You need moderate fitness. Travellers must be aged 7 to 60. Each booking needs someone aged 18 or over. Children must be at least 1.20 metres tall. Pickup costs €10 extra per person in Ponta do Sol or Calheta. The charge also applies in Santana and São Vicente. It applies in Porto Moniz too. Bad weather or too few bookings can cancel the trip. Give this one a miss if you're pregnant, or if you have a back or spine injury or a heart condition.
From price
€90 per adult
Duration
5 hours 30 minutes
Listed group limit
up to 20 people
Listed guide languages
German, Portuguese, English, French, Spanish
Listed departure times
09:00
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Pickup
Hotel pickup or meet at the start point
Before you book
Some canyoning experience or a completed level 1 trip is required. You need moderate fitness.
Ages 7 to 60 can book. Each booking needs someone aged 18 or over.
Children must be at least 1.20 metres tall.
Pickup in Ponta do Sol or Calheta costs €10 extra per person. The same charge applies in Santana and São Vicente. It also applies in Porto Moniz.
Bad weather or too few bookings can cancel the trip.
Give this one a miss if you're pregnant, or if you have a back or spine injury or a heart condition.
Book through Viator, a Tripadvisor company. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Details as of .
The intermediate trip
Madeira Canyoning Intermediate
4.99/5 from 166 reviews, combined Viator and Tripadvisor
An intermediate canyoning trip with transport and boots included for up to 10 people. You'll need moderate fitness for the waterfall descents and pool jumps.
Check first. Booking ages are given as 1 to 65, while the conditions rule out under-10s and over-55s. Ask before you book. Give this one a miss if you have a back or spine injury or a heart condition.
From price
€90 per adult
Duration
4 hours
Listed group limit
up to 10 people
Listed guide languages
English
Listed departure times
09:00, 09:30, 10:00
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Pickup
Hotel pickup included
Before you book
You need moderate fitness.
Ask which age limits apply before booking. They differ for children under 10 and adults over 55.
Don't book if you weigh more than 120 kg.
Send a reference point for your pickup.
Bad weather can cancel the trip.
Give this one a miss if you have a back or spine injury or a heart condition.
I'd look at the Ecological Park trip for a first try with a friend. It has two certified guides. You don't need canyoning experience. Each booking needs at least two people. The level 2 trip at Ribeiro do Cidrão is for people with some canyoning experience.
How much does canyoning cost?
The beginner trips start from €65 to €80 per adult. The level 2 trip starts at €90 per adult. Canyoning boots cost €5 per person to hire on the Ribeira das Cales day. Pickup in Calheta costs an extra €10 per person on the trip with GoPro photos.
How long should I allow?
Allow 3 to 6 hours for a beginner trip. The Ecological Park trip spends about 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes in the canyon. Pickup and return bring that to 5 hours to 5 hours 30 minutes. The CR7 Museum trip takes about 3 hours. Plan for 6 hours including transport on the Ribeira das Cales day.
Do I need a car?
No. The Ecological Park trip includes pickup in Funchal or Caniço. You can also drive to its meeting point in the car park by Barracão Bar. The CR7 Museum trip has pickup at the museum in central Funchal. Choose the meeting point that works for where you're staying.
What equipment is included?
Safety kit is included. On the Ecological Park trip you get a wetsuit and helmet. A harness and boots are included too. Photos come with the trip. Give your shoe size when booking. You can hire canyoning boots on the Ribeira das Cales day for €5 per person. Pay in cash at the end of the activity.
What if I'm nervous about water or jumping?
The Ribeira das Cales day accepts non-swimmers. You must feel comfortable around and in water. The trip with jump alternatives has other ways past the jumps. Its abseils can reach 14 metres. Both trips require moderate fitness. Neither needs previous canyoning experience.
Can children join?
Yes. The level 1 trip with GoPro photos takes ages 7 to 60. Children must be at least 1.20 metres tall. Each booking needs someone aged 18 or over. The Ecological Park trip takes ages 10 to 65. Its height range is 1.33 to 2 metres. Its weight range is 30 to 110 kg. Children go with an adult.
How fit do I need to be?
The Ribeira das Cales day and the trip with jump alternatives need moderate fitness. All five beginner trips ask you to give it a miss if you're pregnant or have a back or spine injury. The Ribeira das Cales day also isn't for anyone with limited mobility, a serious health problem or a heart condition. Its weight limit is 115 kg. Anyone close to that limit must be taller than 1.85 metres.
Will the trip go ahead in rain?
Rain does not automatically cancel the Ribeira das Cales day. It can go ahead if the activity is safe. Bad weather can cancel any of these trips. Too few bookings can also cancel the CR7 Museum trip. You get a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before departure.
When do the trips run?
The CR7 Museum trip runs daily with a 09:30 start. The Ribeira das Cales day starts at 08:30 on Wednesdays and Fridays. You can also book it on Sundays. For that trip you need to be ready at reception 10 minutes before your pickup time.
How this selection was made
How we compared
We started from the 16 canyoning trips in Madeira that guides and other providers sell on Viator. We read every one of them.
First the bar: 4.5 stars or more from at least 30 reviews, Viator and Tripadvisor counted together. 8 of the 16 fell short of that and stayed out. We also look at the Viator reviews on their own. A trip rated below 4.5 by five or more Viator travellers stays out, whatever the combined score says.
Then the fit. Does the trip do what this page promises? Do its details agree with each other? When the same boat is sold under two names, we show it once. One more trip passed the review bar but stayed out for those reasons.
The order comes from this score. It uses the exact rating. Ties go to the trip with more reviews.
(rating × reviews + 4.6 × 50) ÷ (reviews + 50)
The score is about reviews, nothing else. It does not say how good your day will be. We have no review texts and we have not taken every trip. The line under each name says when we would pick it. Commission never changes the order.
Edited by Roman Antonov. I love Madeira and keep going back. Every detail on this page comes from the operators' own listings on Viator, read line by line and compared.
Prices, times, conditions and review counts come from the operators' listings on Viator, as of 13 September 2026. We last went through this list on 13 September 2026.
Bookings go through Viator. If you book through a link here, we earn a commission. It costs you nothing extra. How we earn.
