Canyon in Madeira
Ribeiro Frio (Ponta do Sol)
Beginner · v2a2 III
Rappels: 8 · Max waterfall: 20 m · Min rope: 20 m
Not a well-loved canyon. Water runs along the whole route, but the surrounding vegetation is mostly invasive and dumps "vegetal rubbish" into the bed, making it an ugly canyon. It is long and rather uninteresting, with a long and in places very exposed approach walk and even longer walking inside the canyon; the final rappel puts a smile on your face, not only for its beauty but because the canyon is ending. Verdict: **not recommended**.
Current status
As of December 2023Medium flow, single-point exploration anchors and a long exposed approach; not recommended.
Season and flow
Running but not strong in June 2017, flowing throughout in March 2019, medium in December 2023.
Anchors and re-equipment
Rappel sequence. Downclimb; R1 (D 3 m), hidden by vegetation and easily missed; downclimb; R2 7 m (D); downclimb-jump; downclimbs; R3 8 m (D); old levada and laurel zone; R4 10 m (D, tree); R5 3 m (E); toboggan 4 m; R6 6 m (E, tree); long march; R7 12 m (D); R8 10 m (C). All anchors up to R6 are single-point exploration anchors, and R4 (E+ 10 m) hangs from a smallish tree beside a rotten trunk with cord and maillon. (Older descriptions count only seven rappels because they miss the true R1.) In June 2017 a new anchor was installed on the final waterfall, allowing a rappel over the water.
Access and exit
From the steep cobbled road take the first dirt track on the left to reach the Levada do Techo: the first track, then an agricultural path parallel to the old levada; the walk takes a little over 35 min, with some rockfall on the way, and enters the canyon just before the mother levada through a small landslide. Exit river left, then follow the levada leftwards to point #2.
Official notes
Normal flow poses no problems for the descent, but on rainy days this stream can carry a high flow. The equipment on all waterfalls consists of single points.
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.