Difficulty: v4a2III
Highest rappel: 50 meter
Number of rappels: 10
Needed cars: 1
Approach: 25 minutes
In the canyon: 2 hours
Return: 15 Minuten
Overall time: 4 hours
Altitude parking: 50 meter
Altitude entry: 210 meter
Difference in height: 190 meter
Length: 250 meter
Casa Vento in Madeira has created a description including
topo for many canyons and would like to share this knowledge. The canyon in
question is the Ribeira da Pedra Branca in Porto Moniz.
The description is based on our own descents and should be reliable except for unforeseeable
changes.
In order to find good conditions, you should not descent the Pedra Branca canyon after
storms. Unfortunately, there are always landslides in Madeira, which can change a canyon and also
destroy or bury anchor points. The Ribeira da Pedra Branca canyon has a relaxed approach and a
short way back. The first two abseils measure 30 and 50 meters respectively. You should therefore
only go canyoning in this canyon if you have abseiling experience.
The approach route can be overgrown in some places, so garden scissors and leather gloves are helpful.
You will find the complete GPS data in the download versions.
You are also welcome to book me, Michael, as a canyoning guide.
We provide the following service:
Guiding of almost all canyons in Madeira
Trilingual Canyon Guide
Foto and video service
Hire of all necessary equipment
Transfer service to the canyons
Accommodation in rooms and apartments
Welcome to Casa Vento in Ribeira Brava!
Share page with other canyonists:
Here is the important information for this gorge:
As with any canyon, you will need the usual equipment for the Ribeira da Pedra Branca gorge:
Wetsuit, two-piece, 5mm with hood
Neoprene socks
Mountain sports helmet
Canyoning harness with double lanyard
Abseeiling device
Sufficient number of carabiners
Rescue equipment such as ascenders
Canyoning shoes
Canyoning backpack
Waterproof screw barrel
At least 2 x 55 meter of rope
55 meter emergency rope
First aid kit
Spare abseiling device
Emergency bolting kit
Swimsuit and towel
Food and drink
Garden scissors, leather gloves
Drive out of Sao Vicente in the direction of Seixal on the VE 2. You will drive through several
tunnels, the last of which is the 1236 meter long Tunnel de Seixal. 400 meters after the tunnel,
turn left upwards.
Coming from Porto Moniz, drive through the Tunnel da Faja Contreiras towards Seixal. Shortly
after the tunnel, there is another short tunnel section of 30 meters. 150 meters further on,
turn right uphill.
Follow this road straight ahead for a good 70 meters to the end. You can park here.
GPS data of the parking lot:
32.xxxxxx
-17.xxxxxx
Start to the right of the small spring on the narrow path, the concrete road next to it is
private property and does not lead to the canyon! After a few minutes, turn right through
a dry stream bed full of boulders. Now follow the path, which is barely recognizable in places,
for another fifteen minutes. In some places, the vegetation tries to reclaim the path.
You finally enter a forest and reach a large tree with an unmissable rope ring.
GPS data of the tree:
32,xxxxxx
-17,xxxxxx
The rope ring serves as an abseil station. The total height to the bottom of the gorge is a
good 30 meters. Beware of falling rocks below the abseiling point. After abseiling, you have
enough space to change into the wetsuit.
GPS data of the entrance tree:
32,xxxxxx
-17,xxxxxx
Next up is the 50-meter waterfall.
Access to the highest and first waterfall is via a rope railing that is often already permanently installed. A few short drops follow, then the canyon narrows very nicely and abseil point follows abseil point. Be careful, at the point where the canyon bends to the right, the bolt for the next abseiling point is very unfavorably positioned (high). The canyon widens again and after a 10 meter abseil follows the final waterfall of a good 30 meters. Here the rope rubs on quite rough rock. There are anchor points at the bottom for a Rappel Guide. The total descending time for the Pedra Branca is about two hours..
Leave the concrete basin on the left and follow the old road to the right with the sea on
your left. You will come to VE 2, which you follow in the same direction. You will pass
through a small tunnel about 30 meters long. After another 150 meters, turn right up the
road to get to your car.
GPS data of the basin:
32,xxxxxx
-17,xxxxxx
