Difficulty: v4a3III
Highest rappel: 50 meter
Number of rappels: 11
Needed cars: 1
Approach: 10 minutes
In the canyon: 2½ hours
Return: 30 Minuten
Overall time: 4 hours
Altitude parking: 170 meter
Altitude entry: 245 meter
Difference in height: 225 meter
Length: 800 meter
After several ascents of the Ribeira Funda canyon between Porto Moniz
and Seixal in Madeira, Michael from Casa Vento
has also created a description including a topo for this canyoning tour.
We are publishing it here.
After the heavy rainfall in Jauar 2021, the Funda Canyon is very clean and tidy, most of the trees
have disappeared and the rock is currently very grippy.
The rain catchment area is quite large and the rock faces in the upper reaches are very steep.
Avoid going when the weather forecast is unclear or even during or shortly after rainfall. As the
highest waterfall is fifty meters high and the abseil is quite exposed, the gorge should only be
entered by canyonists with a good head for heights.
The water level can easily be checked during the approach.
You will find the complete GPS data in the download versions.
Michael is at your disposal as a canyoningguide for this tour.
We provide the following service:
Guiding the canyons in Madeira
Trilingual guiding (German, English, French
Photo and video service
Rental of canyoning and climbing equipment
Transfers to the canyons
Catering at Casa Vento
Accommodation in Ribeira Brava
Welcome to Casa Vento in Ribeira Brava!
Share this page with other canyonists:
Here is the important information for your descent:
We recommend the following equipment for the Ribeira Funda canyon:
Wetsuit, 5mm with hood, two-piece
Neoprene socks
Mountain sports helmet
Canyoning harness with two lanyards
Abseiling eight
Sufficient number of carabiners
Rescue equipment: knife, rope ascender etc.
Canyoning shoes
Canyoning backpack
Waterproof box
At least 2 x 20 and 2 x 55 meters of rope
55 meter emergency rope
First aid kit
Spare eight
Bolting kit
Swimsuit and towel
Snack and drink
Drive from Sao Vicente in the direction of Seixal on the VE 2. You drive through several tunnels,
after the 1236 meter long tunnel named Seixal follows the short tunnel Faja da Perreira. Before
the next tunnel, turn right onto the old ER 101 towards Ribeira Funda.
Coming from Porto Moniz, drive through the Faja Contreiras tunnel towards Seixal. Shortly after
the tunnel, you can turn towards the other direction in a parking lot on the left side of the road.
Then take the old ER 101 on your right.
Follow this road for a few hundred meters. You will pass a rescue tunnel shortly before the end,
then drive up the steep tunnel. Follow the road to its end.
Between the two tunnels you have a view into the canyon from the bridge. This is an opportunity to
check the waterlevel.
If the old ER 101 is closed, you can leave the tunnel Faja Contreiras via the rescue tunnel.
Coming from Seixal, it is located a good 700 meters after the entrance on the right-hand side.
There is an emergency stop on the opposite side. Please note that it is officially forbidden
to drive through!
GPS data of the parking lot:
32.xxxxxx
-17.xxxxxx
At the end of the parking bay, a concrete path begins in front of the first house. This is the
access. Follow it slightly uphill and then towards the south. The path leads through plantations
and past dilapidated buildings. After a few minutes you will reach the river bed. Depending on
the time of year, it may be dry, but don't worry, a powerful spring at the high abseil feeds the canyon.
There is enough space on the rocks to get dressed.
GPS data of the entrance:
32,xxxxxx
-17,xxxxxx
After two short abseils, a first dry abseil of ten meters follows.
Then the high waterfall awaits, leading you deep down into a dark gorge. The feeder rappel to this
abseil point is a good twenty meters long. The two bolts are far back on the right-hand side on a ledge.
There is a second abseil point on the large tree at the top left, the access can be secured with a
rope railing. If the group is larger, participants who have abseiled here should stay a few meters
away from the waterfall. There is a risk of falling rocks from the canyonists above.
Various small drop-offs are either downclimbed, abseiled or even jumped. You cross under the road bridge and pass an old, destroyed concrete dam. With a great view of the Atlantic Ocean, you master an exciting final waterfall of 20 meters. Here you cross the main stream. If the water level is high, you will be given a good shower. If necessary, you can set up a Rappel Guide.
GPS data of the exit:
32,xxxxxx
-17,xxxxxx
Climb onto the old bridge on the left bank, the return path leads to the right along the old ER 101,
which is very overgrown in some parts. At the end you have to climb over a small wall, you are
now at the two tunnels you know from the access drive. The group can wait here while the driver
goes to fetch the car. The ascent takes a good ten minutes.
