Canyoning in Madrid

Would you like to go canyoning in Madrid? Depending on the conditions left by the rains and permits, the only practicable ravine in Madrid is Somosierra. But do not worry, in this guide we help you choose accurate alternatives that deserve to be visited, because you will live a different experience, do not stay with the desire because the ravine does not meet your expectations, right?

The simplest way to define canyoning in Madrid is to imagine a water park composed exclusively of natural elements. This discipline is also known as canyon descent because what we do is to descend a section of a river following its course. Instead of doing it walking along the riverbank, we do it from inside, which gives us access to areas that can not be reached by a regular tourist who is out walking in the countryside.

Take a look at this video so you can see the adventure that awaits you if at the end you decide to make a descent with us:



Although there are dry ravines through which water does not flow, the canyons available in the Community of Madrid and bordering provinces are mostly aquatic. This means that they are part of an active river throughout all or most of the year. The intensity of its channel will determine the appropriate periods to lower it since doing it when it is higher could endanger the adventure. The ideal is to join this activity between April and October so that we will also avoid the low temperatures of the coldest months.

There are features common to all the ravines of Madrid and its surroundings. With a previous instruction from the monitor that will accompany us we will let ourselves slide down rocks in the manner of slides, we will jump up to pools from different heights and we will do walking detours. These forms of progression can be complicated as much as we want according to the level to which the ravine belongs. It is important to keep it in mind to know if it is the one that corresponds with your experience:

- Level I: For families and beginners since the obstacles are not so much or not at all complicated and it has the advantage of presenting alternative ways to avoid the challenges. Children from the age of 8 can come, and also from the ages of 12 to 14, depending on the case. Cliffs that needs to be faced do not surpass 2 meters of height.

- Level II: Even though it does not require previous experience, it is a medium-level ravine and has cliffs of 8 meters of height and more, and needs participants capable of resisting exercise. In exchange, you will enjoy the most extreme sensations and in them, you will try rappelling basics like the technique of progressions when descending with a rope.

- Level III and IV: Anyone who already enjoyed this type of activity will love this one, like a lot, because they will know the techniques that will need to be carried out well, with the collective material that transport the group, meaning the harnesses and ropes. There are rappels that surpasses hundreds of meters and radical jumps that you should not be scared of and just take the right impulse to get away from the rock wall.

In Madrid, we have the Somosierra ravine located in the port with the same name. It is found just almost one hour from the city center and there exist companies that will take you from there with their own modes of transportation. If you like the idea of coming with your vehicles, there are great access from the road. It can be considered as an initiatory level because it has “escapes” throughout the tour to not face the challenge that scares you, even though we recommend to try them all. Youngsters from the age of 14 can carried it out and it is completed in 3 hours.

The central position of the peninsula of Madrid is just perfect to move around and to other provinces to enjoy canyoning. Another interesting initiatory descend is Ventano del Diablo and is located in Cuenca, located in quarter of an hour from La Mancha. It is carried out all year round with adults and children from the age of 8. The adventurers will be 2 hours and a half long inside the channel, whilst having a lots of fun and practicing a minimum technical complexity.

In the Sierra of Gredos, in the province of Ávila, we can try the Arbillas ravine, suitable for everyone too. Is a great opportunity to experience easy rappels and it only has 3. For it, we will arrange a trip of 170 kilometers from Madrid.

Back to Cuenca, we can ascend to level III with the Arroyo de la Dehesa ravine that has the longest rappels throughout the mountain ranges. There is a requirement that needs to be fulfill, and that the minimum age is 16 years because of the difficulty of the route that has a duration of 5 hours.

To every canyoner will be provided with a neoprene suit, helmet and a harness. Bring a swimsuit under your clothing and sports shoes. It is better if you do not have much appreciation to the pieces of clothes so that you can completely immerse them in the water without contemplations and get the most out of an adventure that you have to join, like now.