Canyon in Madeira
Ribeira do Passo (Superior)
Advanced · v4a2 III
Rappels: 24 · Max waterfall: 65 m · Min rope: 45 m
A very aesthetic canyon offering an interesting variety of rock types and vegetation with brief openings looking out over São Vicente. Some sections are enclosed, so the flow must be assessed before descending; the rock is somewhat slippery. Many descents take in only the lower, more interesting part from R16/R17 and continue into Passo Inferior: the combined descent takes about 5h30 (December 2024).
Current status
As of December 2024Water is running and all anchors are OK; at R19 use the stainless-ring rope anchor rather than the webbing on the tree; combined with the lower section the descent takes 5h30.
Season and flow
Flow is normal throughout the year (2018 to 2024), running in December 2024.
Anchors and re-equipment
R6: rusty maillon needs replacing (October 2020). R9: the tree anchor leaned toward the waterfall so the sling risked sliding along the trunk (October 2020); by June 2023 the R9 anchor had disappeared and a maillon anchor was placed on a tree on the left as drawn in the topo. R10 (approximately): heavily corroded backup hanger to replace (October 2020). R19 has two tree anchors: avoid the first (webbing) because the tree's inclination lets it slide to a less secure part of the trunk; use the rope with a stainless ring further right. R20 can be avoided at the biggest step (June 2023). R23 had old hand-placed spits needing replacement (May 2020); in November 2020 the R23 anchor was replaced and a new rebelay added, and the deviation point at R24 was doubled so it can now be used as a rappel. The deviation is at R23, not R24, and R24 has a handrail then a 4 m step to a 12 m step with some fallen trees in the final pool. The topo was updated in April 2018. In December 2024 all anchors were OK.
Access and exit
Escape routes and access. There are escapes at R11 and R17 via the Vereda do Lanço linking the Levada do Norte to the Levada da Fajã do Rodrigues. This escape path also works as an entry: about 100 m before the start of the lower section, climb left for about 15 min to reach the upper canyon at R16. Another approach is from Ginjas along the Levada da Fajã dos Rodrigues, finishing on a slightly exposed path to R17.
Official notes
A levada controls the flow.
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.