Canyon in Madeira
Ribeira Seca ou do Paul (Inferior)
Extreme · v5a3 II
Rappels: 15 · Max waterfall: 95 m · Min rope: 50 m
A big-vertical canyon that was forgotten for many years and remains a true underdog: very captivating verticality in basalt mixed with volcanic ash, a quick entry and an instant exit, and magnificent views from the big rappels, which end directly above the Paul do Mar pier. The downside is dense scrub and brambles, mud, dark water and a very slippery floor; the initial and final sections are dirty and smelly.
Current status
As of December 2025In high flow under blue sky the canyon is in good condition with all anchors in place; a recent flood partly cleaned the bed, but about 1.5 h of bush and bramble cutting was still needed to get through.
Season and flow
Medium to strong in March 2017, low in June 2020, good after rain in October 2020 and December 2022, medium in January and March 2023, very good in December 2024 and high in December 2025.
Anchors and re-equipment
Equipment history. By March 2017 the gear from the 2001 exploration was almost entirely destroyed and descents had to improvise on trees and single points. In June 2020 the canyon was **fully re-equipped in stainless steel**, and the anchors now correspond to the current topo. In January 2023 they were all in perfect condition, but bring spanners to tighten R8; R11 had been buried in mud (since cleaned) and a non-certified rope/maillon anchor on river right is not recommended. R8 is well hidden by vegetation. In December 2024 bolts were added in the lower section that had formerly been bypassed, plus three bolts river left on the last waterfall to allow a descent in the water, with the intention of replacing them with titanium glue-ins; the middle anchor of the second big waterfall is hard to see (black like the wall, about 1.5 m below the ledge where the jet forms a small geyser, far river left). As of December 2025 all anchors are in place.
Hazards
There is considerable rockfall onto the fractionated pitches while the upper section is being rappelled. On the first big vertical, R4→R5, visual contact is lost, so manage rope rub carefully. With a 100 m rope it is possible to descend directly from R7 as a single 80 m rappel. Do not go in rain or wind; high flow is a real problem.
Access and exit
Approach from above the hotel (about 10 min; a sign marks a small tunnel entrance) or via recommended route No. 19 from point #3. In December 2024 the Caminho Real from Prazeres was closed, so access was from Maloeira. The 2023 fires burned the entry clean, but the bamboo regrows.
Route notes
Route notes. After the toboggan, the established option is to exit river right onto the levada and follow it to the bridge, then rappel from a tree just before the bridge back into the canyon for the last two waterfalls. It is also possible to descend everything without bypasses, as was done in December 2025. The flow doubles after the first big waterfall thanks to a second branch; in December 2025 a blocked levada had turned the water brown.
Official notes
In summer this canyon can dry up completely; in winter expect strong flows that can complicate the descent on some rappels.
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.