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

The best part of this Madeira canyoning trip is the setting: you work your way through a narrow mountain canyon in Nun’s Valley, surrounded by huge slopes and quiet views that you cannot get from the road. The route includes four abseils, several optional jumps, natural slides, and refreshing pools, with the highest descent reaching 15 meters.

I like the choice built into the outing. You can take the bigger jump or use the safer alternative, and the guides, including José and Miguel, are praised for calm explanations and steady encouragement. I also like the small-group limit of 10, plus the fact that photos, equipment, transport, water, and chocolate are included.

The main consideration is that Level 2 is not a gentle sightseeing walk. You need to be comfortable in wet conditions, climbing and scrambling, and stepping beyond your usual comfort zone. The water may feel cool, towels and changing rooms are not provided, and there is about 20 minutes of walking before the canyon begins.

Key points to know before booking

• Four abseils in Nun’s Valley: The highest is 15 meters, with several descents between roughly 10 and 15 meters.
• Optional jumps and natural slides: You choose how adventurous to be at several points.
• Small groups of up to 10: This gives the guides more time to explain safety steps and help each person.
• A four-hour half-day: About 3.5 hours are spent on the guided canyoning portion, with pickup and return arranged around it.
• Useful inclusions: Equipment, qualified guides, insurance, photos, water, chocolate, and selected transfers are part of the $82 price.
• Come prepared for wet adventure: Bring swimwear and a towel, then send your height, weight, age, and EU shoe size before the trip.

What Level 2 means in Nun’s Valley

This is the intermediate option for Go Explore, but the practical meaning is more useful than the label. You do not need to arrive as an expert. The guides explain the techniques and safety rules before each obstacle, and the activity has worked well for first-timers who wanted a serious thrill without committing to the most extreme canyoning available.

You should still expect active participation. You will walk for about 20 minutes along a dirt road and a levada before reaching the canyon. Once there, you move through water, handle the abseiling equipment, and make choices at jumps and slides.

The biggest abseil is 15 meters, which is high enough to feel like a real achievement. The stated canyon heights range from 10 to 15 meters, so this is not a trip built around tiny drops or a quick splash in a stream. At the same time, the jumps are optional. That balance makes the outing easier to recommend to a mixed group, provided everyone accepts that the day is active and wet.

I would describe it as a good step up for someone curious about canyoning, rather than a first activity for a person who dislikes heights. You can receive support from the guides, but you still need to make your way through the course.

Four abseils, pools, slides, and choices

The heart of the trip is a sequence of canyon obstacles. Four abseils give the day its structure, with the tallest one reaching 15 meters. You are attached to the rope and guided down the rock face, rather than simply walking through the stream.

The guides place strong attention on instructions. José, Miguel, and the wider team are described as patient, clear, and encouraging, especially when someone feels nervous before a descent. That matters here. A good canyoning guide does more than point out the next obstacle. The guide needs to explain where to put your feet, how to use the rope, and when to wait.

Between the abseils, you may encounter pools, natural slides, and jump points. The wording of the activity makes clear that the larger jumps are your choice. That lets you set your own pace, though you should ask the guide about the alternative at each spot rather than assume every jump has the same exit.

The water adds fun but also affects comfort. You wear the supplied wetsuit, which has helped people stay warm in rainy weather and cooler river water. Still, bring swimwear to wear beneath it, and bring a towel for afterward. There are no changing rooms included, so think about how you will manage dry clothes once the activity ends.

The approach along the dirt road and levada

Before the canyon begins, you walk for around 20 minutes on a dirt road and beside a levada. This is not a long hike, but it is worth knowing about if you were expecting to step out of a vehicle and immediately reach the first waterfall.

The approach helps shift the pace from ordinary sightseeing to an outdoor outing. You get mountain views before the technical section starts, and the levada offers a clear sense of Madeira’s distinctive water channels. You should wear footwear suitable for a wet, uneven activity, though the operator supplies the equipment needed for canyoning itself.

This short walk also gives the guides time to explain the day and help the group prepare. Since participants may have different levels of confidence, that early briefing is useful. You can ask questions before reaching the first rope rather than trying to learn everything at the edge of a drop.

Why Nun’s Valley makes this more than a rope course

Curral das Freiras, known in English as Nun’s Valley, is one of Madeira’s most dramatic inland settings. The canyon sits among steep mountains in the center of the island, and the surrounding views are part of the reward.

Canyoning changes how you see the valley. From a viewpoint, you admire the slopes from a distance. Here, you move through a wet mountain corridor and look upward from the stream. The activity takes you into places that ordinary road sightseeing does not reach.

The setting also gives the outing a strong sense of place. You are not doing a generic indoor ropes course or a short jump session near a resort. The water, rock, levada, and enclosing mountains are all tied to Madeira’s terrain.

Weather can change the mood quickly. One person described arriving in rain and worrying about the conditions, but the guides checked that the activity was safe and kept the group comfortable. That does not mean every day will run in the same way. It does mean you should expect the guides to make safety decisions based on the conditions rather than push ahead simply because the trip is booked.

Guides, safety, and the small-group advantage

The operator limits groups to 10 people. I consider that one of the strongest practical features of the trip. Canyoning involves repeated instructions, waiting your turn, and occasional nerves. A smaller group gives the guides more room to watch each person and keep the order moving.

José and Miguel are the names most often connected with the experience, while Pedro and Filipe are also mentioned as part of the guiding team. The consistent picture is of guides who explain the safety steps carefully, stay upbeat, and use humor without losing focus.

That combination matters. You want a guide who can make the group relax, but you also want clear boundaries around the rope, jumps, and water. The strongest part of the guiding style appears to be the calm approach. People with no canyoning background have been able to follow the instructions, while more experienced participants still found the guides engaging.

You will need to provide your height in centimeters, weight in kilograms, age, and EU shoe size before the trip. This is practical information for fitting equipment and planning the activity, so send it promptly when requested.

What the $82 price includes

At $82 per person, this is priced as a full activity rather than a simple guided walk. The value comes from the number of costly and useful elements bundled together:

• Required canyoning equipment
• Qualified guide
• Insurance
• Transfer from the listed pickup areas
• Photos
• Water
• Chocolate

The included photos are a real convenience. Canyoning is a poor time to protect a phone or camera, and you will want both hands free for the rope and rock. Having the guides take photos means you can concentrate on the activity and leave with a record of the jumps, abseils, and mountain setting.

Chocolate may sound like a small touch, but a snack during an active half-day is welcome. Water is also included, so you do not need to carry all your refreshments through the canyon.

The price is less attractive if you are already staying near Curral das Freiras and can drive yourself. In that case, the included transfer has less value, though the equipment, guide, insurance, photos, water, and snack still matter. If you own a car, driving directly to the canyon is described as the more convenient option, with free parking available at the location.

Pickup points and the practical timing

Three pickup options are offered:

• The roadside by Portugal’s CR7 Museum in Funchal
• In front of the Pingo Doce supermarket in Calheta
• At the petrol station in Ponta do Sol

The exact pickup times are confirmed the day before. That is useful because canyoning schedules can depend on conditions and group arrangements, but it also means you should not assume a fixed time until the confirmation arrives.

The activity lasts four hours in total, with the guided canyoning section listed at about 3.5 hours. Pickup and return are available to the same three areas. If you are staying outside those points, you will need to arrange your own way to one of them or drive to the canyon.

The CR7 Museum pickup is roadside, not a hotel pickup. In Calheta, the meeting point is in front of Pingo Doce. In Ponta do Sol, it is at the petrol station. Check these details carefully before setting out, especially if you are relying on public transport or a taxi.

Who will enjoy this most

I would choose this for an active visitor who wants Madeira beyond viewpoints and levada walks. It suits you if you like heights, water, and a bit of controlled fear, but still want the option to skip a jump.

It can also work for a mixed-experience group. Some people who had never tried canyoning found Level 2 manageable with the guides’ help, while more adventurous participants enjoyed the larger drops and optional jumps. Families have taken part with children aged 10 and 13, according to the supplied experience details, but the operator does not provide a formal minimum age here. Ask before booking if age is an important factor for your group.

I would not choose it if you are pregnant, since the activity is specifically not suitable for pregnant women. I would also think twice if you dislike cold water, slippery rock, heights, or getting fully wet.

Alcohol and drugs are not allowed. That is obvious for a technical outdoor activity, but it is worth stating plainly: arrive alert and ready to follow instructions.

What to bring and what not to expect

Pack swimwear and a towel. Wear the swimwear under the wetsuit, and keep the towel ready for the return journey.

Do not count on a changing room. The tour information specifically says towels, swimwear, and changing rooms are not included, meaning you must bring the first two and plan for the lack of the third.

You should also expect to be photographed during the activity. Since photos are included, you can leave your own camera behind. The better choice is to focus on the guide’s instructions and enjoy the route.

Bring a flexible attitude about weather and start time. The guides confirm pickup times the day before, and rainy conditions may be part of the day. Rain does not automatically end the activity, but the guides decide if conditions are safe.

Booking flexibility and languages

The activity is offered in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish. That helps international groups, particularly when safety instructions need to be understood clearly.

You can reserve now and pay later, which is useful if your Madeira plans are still shifting. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Keep those terms in mind, but also remember that your height, weight, age, and shoe size are needed for preparation.

The small group limit and included transfer make this easier to fit into a half-day schedule. If you are driving, the free parking and direct arrival may be simpler. If you are staying in Funchal, Calheta, or Ponta do Sol without a car, the transfer adds useful value.

Should you book Go Explore Level 2 Canyoning?

Book it if you want a proper mountain adventure with clear guidance, optional jumps, and a strong setting. The four abseils, 15-meter maximum descent, pools, and slides give you plenty to do, while the small group and patient instruction help keep the experience approachable.

I especially like the combination of adventure and choice. You can challenge yourself without being forced into every jump, and the included photos mean you do not have to risk your phone. At $82, the package is fair when you use the transfer, equipment, insurance, guide, photos, water, and snack.

Skip it if you want a dry or relaxed excursion, need a changing room, or feel uneasy about heights and cold water. For everyone else, this is a strong way to experience Nun’s Valley from inside the canyon, not just from a roadside viewpoint.

FAQ

How long does the canyoning activity last?

The activity lasts four hours. The guided canyoning portion is listed as approximately 3.5 hours.

Where does the canyoning take place?

It takes place in Curral das Freiras, also known as Nun’s Valley, in the mountainous center of Madeira.

How many abseils are included?

The route includes four abseils. The largest is 15 meters, and the stated canyon heights range from 10 to 15 meters.

Are the jumps compulsory?

No. Several jumps are optional, so you can choose the level of challenge that feels right for you.

Is Level 2 suitable for beginners?

The activity is described as an intermediate level, but it can suit people without previous canyoning experience if they want more adventure and follow the guides’ instructions.

What languages are available?

The hosts or guides can provide the activity in English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish.

What is included in the price?

The $82 price includes required equipment, a qualified guide, insurance, selected transfers, photos, water, and chocolate.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear and a towel. Changing rooms are not included.

Where are the pickup points?

Pickup is available by the roadside at Portugal’s CR7 Museum, in front of the Pingo Doce supermarket in Calheta, or at the petrol station in Ponta do Sol.

Is the activity suitable during pregnancy?

No. The activity is specifically listed as not suitable for pregnant women.