Go Explore Canyoning Level 2 (Nun’s Valley) .

Madeira’s Nuns Valley is a dramatic place to get wet. On this Level 2 canyoning trip, you walk beside a levada and along a dirt track before entering a mountain canyon with four rappels, optional jumps, natural slides, and pools. The biggest abseil reaches 15 meters, but you choose how adventurous you want to be.

I like the small groups of up to 10 people, since guides José, Miguel, and Filipe can give more careful instructions and encouragement. I also like the practical inclusions: wetsuit and canyoning gear, insurance, photos, water, and even a little chocolate. The main consideration is that this is an active outing, not a sightseeing ride. You need to be comfortable with wet clothes, heights, uneven ground, and a few moments outside your comfort zone.

Key points at a glance

• Four rappels in Nuns Valley: The highest descent is about 15 meters, with other abseils reaching roughly 10 to 15 meters.
• Optional jumps and slides: You can choose the bigger jumps and waterfalls, so the activity can be adjusted to your confidence.
• A scenic approach walk: The canyon begins after about 20 minutes on a dirt road and beside a levada.
• Patient, safety-focused guides: José, Miguel, and Filipe explain each move clearly and help first-timers settle in.
• Useful inclusions: Equipment, transfers from selected pickup points, insurance, photos, water, and chocolate are covered.
• Bring your own changing supplies: Swimwear and a towel are required, and changing rooms are not included.

Why Nuns Valley makes a fine canyoning setting

Curral das Freiras, known in English as Nuns Valley, sits in the middle of Madeira, surrounded by steep mountain walls. The setting matters here. You are not simply moving from one obstacle to the next in an artificial adventure park. The canyon is part of a rugged interior valley, and the views are present throughout the activity.

The experience begins with roughly 20 minutes of walking on a dirt road and alongside a levada. That approach is short enough not to feel like a separate hike, but it gives you time to see the valley from above and get used to the group. Once you reach the canyon, the pace changes to a mixture of rappelling, water crossings, jumps, slides, and short pauses for instructions.

The water and rock make the outing feel properly wild, though the activity is guided and equipped. In wet weather, the valley can look especially dramatic. The guides decide how to proceed safely, and the equipment includes wetsuits, which are useful when the water feels cool.

What Level 2 really means here

The label Level 2 can sound more intimidating than it is. This is the intermediate option, aimed at people who want more action than a gentle introductory trip but do not necessarily have previous canyoning experience.

You should expect a physical activity involving walking over uneven ground, climbing around rocks, sitting or sliding into pools, and handling several rappels. You do not need to commit to every large jump. Optional jumps are part of the design, so you can choose the ones that suit you and skip those that do not.

That flexibility is one of the best features of the trip. A confident participant can seek out the larger jumps and waterfalls, while a nervous first-timer can focus on the rappels and smaller water entries. The guides explain the choices as you go instead of asking you to make every decision before the activity begins.

Still, do not book this expecting a mild nature walk. The highest rappel is 15 meters, and the activity is specifically meant for people ready to leave their comfort zone. Pregnant women should not take part.

The approach walk beside the levada

The first active section is the walk to the canyon. You spend about 20 minutes on a dirt road and beside a levada, Madeira’s traditional water channels. This gives you a useful transition from ordinary sightseeing to the canyoning session.

The walk is also when you can ask questions and get comfortable with your guide. A short approach is a practical advantage because the four-hour schedule includes the guided canyoning itself, rather than using most of the morning for a long trek to the starting point.

Wear footwear suited to the supplied canyoning equipment and uneven surfaces. The exact walking conditions can vary with rain, and the ground may be slippery. You will want to keep your hands free and avoid bringing anything that cannot get wet.

Four rappels, with a 15-meter high point

Rappelling is the central skill of this outing. You use ropes and the provided gear to descend rock faces and waterfalls under the guide’s direction. There are four abseils in total, with the largest at approximately 15 meters.

The guide demonstrations and safety instructions matter more than speed. José and Miguel have been especially praised for explaining each step calmly and checking that people feel secure before continuing. That is important for anyone who has never handled a rope descent. The first rappel may feel like the biggest mental hurdle, but the instruction gives you a clear process to follow.

The height also adds a real sense of achievement. This is not just a walk through shallow water. You are moving through the canyon by rope, and the 15-meter descent gives the activity a memorable centerpiece without making every part of it a major vertical challenge.

You should tell the operator your height, weight, age, and European shoe size before the trip. This allows the company to prepare the right equipment. It is a small booking task, but an important one for comfort and safety.

Jumps, pools, and natural water slides

The water sections keep the experience playful. Depending on conditions and your comfort level, you may jump into pools, slide down natural rock formations, and enter the water beneath waterfalls. The larger jumps are optional, so you can enjoy the canyon without forcing yourself into a move that feels wrong.

I like this arrangement because it gives the group room for different confidence levels. One person may want the bigger plunge, while another may prefer to use the rope or take a smaller route. The activity remains social without requiring everyone to have the same appetite for height.

The water temperature can feel cool. Wetsuits are provided, and that makes a noticeable difference during a four-hour outing. You still need to bring swimwear to wear underneath and a towel for afterward. There are no changing rooms included, so plan your clothing and post-activity arrangements with that in mind.

Do not bring alcohol or drugs. Keep valuables to a minimum, since this is a wet, active environment rather than a place for phones, loose jewelry, or bulky bags.

Guides who help first-timers feel at ease

A canyoning trip depends heavily on the guides. The most consistently praised part of this experience is the guide team’s tone: professional, patient, cheerful, and willing to explain the safety steps more than once.

José and Miguel are named most often, while Filipe is also part of the guide team. They combine clear directions with a relaxed sense of humor. That balance is useful. A guide who is too casual can make a rope descent feel unsettling, while one who is too stern can drain the fun from the day.

The guides also adjust their encouragement to the person in front of them. First-timers have been able to take part in Level 2, including families with children aged 10 and 13, according to the supplied experience notes. That does not mean the activity is suitable for every child or family, but it shows that prior canyoning experience is not listed as a requirement.

You should still be honest about nerves, fitness, and comfort with heights. The guide can explain the options, but you need to communicate clearly if you want to skip a jump or need more time before a descent.

A small group makes the four-hour schedule work better

The maximum group size is 10 people. That is small enough to keep instructions personal, though the actual number on your date may be lower or close to the limit.

Small groups help in several ways. You spend less time waiting at each obstacle, the guide can watch individual technique more closely, and the group can move at a more even pace. This is especially useful when some people are first-timers and others already enjoy canyoning.

The session lasts about four hours, with the guided canyoning portion listed at roughly 3.5 hours. Pickup times are confirmed the day before, so do not assume the exact start time until the operator contacts you. Check availability for the current departure choices.

Transport from Funchal and the west side

Transport is included from three specified meeting points:

• In Funchal, pickup is roadside by the CR7 Museum
• In Ponta do Sol, pickup is at the petrol station
• In Calheta, pickup is in front of the Pingo Doce supermarket

The return is to the same general locations. These are practical meeting points, but you need to confirm the exact time the day before. The operator notes that driving directly to the canyon location may be more convenient if you have a car, and free parking is available there.

That choice can affect your day. Included pickup is useful if you are staying near one of the listed points and do not want to drive Madeira’s mountain roads. Driving yourself may save time if your accommodation is elsewhere, but you will need to handle navigation and arrive at the correct canyon meeting place.

What the $82 price covers

At $82 per person, the cost is reasonable for a four-hour guided adventure, especially because the main extra expenses are already included. You receive the required canyoning equipment, a qualified guide, insurance, transfers from the listed pickup points, water, chocolate, and photos.

The photos are more useful than they might sound. During rappelling and jumps, you cannot safely operate your own camera. Having images taken by the team lets you remember the setting without carrying a phone through wet rock and pools.

The chocolate is a small but welcome touch during an active outing. You should not treat it as a meal, though, so eat beforehand according to your own needs. The supplied details do not list lunch, a full snack, or towels.

The strongest value comes from the combination of specialist equipment and instruction. Buying or renting canyoning gear independently would not make sense for a one-off holiday activity, and the guide’s safety supervision is what allows you to try the ropes and water obstacles with more confidence.

What to pack and what happens after the canyon

Bring swimwear and a towel. Swimwear goes under the wetsuit, and the towel becomes important once the session ends. Since changing rooms are not included, you may want to wear clothing that is easy to put on again and keep your post-tour plans simple.

Send the operator your height in centimeters, weight in kilograms, age, and European shoe size before the activity. These details help with equipment fitting, and delays are less likely when the company has the information in advance.

The outing includes photos, so you can leave your phone behind unless you have a secure waterproof solution. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed, and pregnant women should not book this activity.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the scheduled experience for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which is useful when Madeira’s weather may affect how you arrange your active days.

Who should book Level 2 canyoning?

I would recommend this trip to you if you want a real physical activity in Madeira and like the idea of combining mountain scenery with rope work and water obstacles. It suits adventurous beginners as well as people with some previous canyoning experience.

It is particularly good for mixed-confidence groups because the jumps are optional. A friend who wants the larger plunge can choose it, while you can use the safer option without losing the rest of the experience.

I would think twice if you dislike heights, cannot manage uneven walking, or want a dry half-day with little exertion. The 15-meter rappel is not a minor detail, and wet conditions can make the outing feel more demanding.

Should you book Go Explore Canyoning Level 2?

Book it if your idea of Madeira includes more than viewpoints and levada walks. Nuns Valley gives this trip a strong sense of place, while the four rappels, pools, slides, and optional jumps provide enough action to make Level 2 feel worthwhile.

The best reasons to choose it are the small group, the patient guide style, the included gear and photos, and the freedom to decide how far you want to push yourself. The main trade-offs are the need to manage wet clothes and heights, the lack of changing rooms, and the need to confirm pickup details the day before.

For an active four hours at $82, with transport, insurance, equipment, and photos included, this is a sound choice for an adventurous day in Madeira. If you are unsure, choose it only if you can accept that the canyon is meant to challenge you a little. That is exactly what makes the experience memorable.

FAQ

How long does the canyoning activity last?

The activity lasts four hours, with the guided canyoning portion taking approximately 3.5 hours. Starting times depend on availability.

Where does the tour pick up?

Pickup is available at the CR7 Museum roadside in Funchal, at the petrol station in Ponta do Sol, and in front of the Pingo Doce supermarket in Calheta. Pickup times are confirmed the day before.

How high are the rappels?

There are four rappels, and the highest is approximately 15 meters. Other sections reach about 10 to 15 meters.

Do I need previous canyoning experience?

Level 2 is designed for people seeking more adventure, but the supplied information and guide experience indicate that people without previous canyoning experience can take part. The guides explain the safety steps and the larger jumps are optional.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear and a towel. You also need to provide your height in centimeters, weight in kilograms, European shoe size, and age before the activity.

Is cancellation free?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The activity also offers a reserve-now, pay-later option.