Ribeira de João Delgado (B)

In August 2013 the anchors on the Levada do Norte had been stolen and an improvised anchor was found on the railing (caution); some anchors were in poor condition and the worst were replaced. Many rappels are better equipped than the published guidebook's sketch suggests, since a re-equipping took place after the book was published. In July 2023 more equipment was installed and the sketch updated, but some points are still not doubled and on some trees the rope passes directly around the trunk. Bring a bolting kit, pitons and rope ends for anchors that may be damaged.

Hazards / exit. On the exit along the Vereda do João Delgado a medium-sized landslide has taken part of the path, leaving a narrower, very muddy and slippery passage (October 2024). The exit walk in general is very slippery and technical.

Approach and logistics. A workable logistics plan runs from the Chão da Ribeira: leave a car at the "end" of the canyon and climb via Lombo Barbinhas to the Levada do Seixal, then up to the Levada do Norte; following it to the left, the canyon start is reached after the first tunnel (about 1.2 km). The approach takes almost 2 h. With ropes of 2x50 m, 2x60 m and 1x70 m a group of 5 needs about 4h30 to the end of the last rappel; it is then possible to link into João Delgado (C) for the exit. In normal flow a group of 5 takes around 4h45 (July 2023).