Canyon in Madeira
Ribeira do Cidrão
Beginner · v2a3 I
Rappels: 8 · Max waterfall: 15 m · Min rope: 15 m
A very cute little canyon with beautiful views of the high peaks around Curral das Freiras, and the island's busiest commercial canyon: on a summer day there can be around 60 people in it (27 July 2022), so independent groups should start late (around 12:00) to avoid queues. It has a well-known toboggan/slide at R8 and a good mix of short rappels, a steel-cable handrail and some walking. It is also a canyon that flash-floods: with only moderate rain the water can rise dramatically within 8 minutes (September 2025).
Current status
As of September 2025Equipment fine (OK in September 2024 at low flow); the main point to remember is how fast the water rises in rain.
Season and flow
Conditions span everything from dry pools in July 2022 to very high in January 2021 and big water on 19 January 2022 and 31 March 2024: still doable with the new anchors on the "dry" line but not for beginners. Low summer water (August 2022, September 2024) is fine for novices; October to November after rain is typically ideal.
Anchors and re-equipment
The July 2021 re-equipping covered: R1 handrail doubled on the left, a downclimb bolt added, new anchors on both banks for high water; R2 new rappels on both banks (right needs a handrail); R3 new gear beside the old uncertified one; R4 replaced; R5 original kept plus new gear a few metres right; R6 handrail replaced; R7 replaced; R8 new anchor on the left bank. Since then: the chain on the penultimate rappel was stolen (July 2022, tree usable) and replaced with a glue-in chain on 27 July 2022; the zinc link on the R6 deviation was swapped for inox; the steel-cable handrail was worn with sharp strands (October 2022, March 2023, one bolt on the first rappel was also weak); the nuts on the two rings at the slide were loose (June 2023); all anchors were perfect in October 2023 and OK through 2024 to 2025.
Hazards
Riverbed changes and hazards. Big landslide at the foot of R4 (January 2021, rope-snag risk). Storm Óscar (June 2023) brought new landslides on the approach (one serious, ~50 m before the metal bridge), removed two hangers before R1, blocked the R4 exit (climbable), shifted the watercourse before R5, deepened the R6 pool, dropped trees between R6 and R7, greatly changed the R8 slide pool (checked safe, boulder now mid-pool), and created a new slide after R8 requiring the rope downclimb on the tree. In November 2023 a boulder was moved so the last slide runs correctly again, but stones remain in the landing. Expect curious goats and wasps near the bridge.
Access and exit
The approach path was overgrown with thorns and suffered a landslide (November 2021, cleared in February 2022); a brand-new, excellent access was built by March 2024. The classic group exit along the mountain path was destroyed by a huge landslide in November 2023: continue in the riverbed to the bridge, or take the path 250 m before the bridge on the RIGHT side. Without a shuttle the walk up from the exit bridge takes 25 to 50 min; allow about 2h40 car to car. A new bouldering sector sits two minutes from the bridge.
Official notes
R1 and R2 can be bypassed on the right. At R2 the old anchor still exists on the right bank (careful in strong flow). At R3 the old anchor is 1 m higher, easier to use but made of non-certified material. R7 can be bypassed on the right; R8 on the left.
Anchors, flow and access change with every storm and every winter. Treat the current status as a snapshot and check the latest conditions before any descent.
Technical data
Official technical sheet
Detailed data, history and technical notes are maintained by Clube Aventura da Madeira on the Canyons da Madeira website.
Nearby and similar canyons
Other sections of the same stream, canyons in the same area, and canyons of a similar grade.