Canyoning in Madeira Island vs Full Day Jeep Safari East: I Did Both and One Clearly Won

I Did Both and. Here's What Nobody Tells You

I spent a week in Madeira trying to decide between two adventure tours that kept popping up on Viator: the Level 1 Canyoning experience and the Full Day Jeep Safari East covering Pico do Arieiro, Santana, and Ponta de São Lourenço. I did both back to back in July 2025. The canyoning left me buzzing but bruised. The jeep safari left me exhausted in a different way. Here's the honest breakdown nobody gives you.

The canyoning is a wet, vertical, adrenaline-pumping 4 hours. The jeep safari is a 9-hour road trip with short walks. They're not the same kind of adventure at all. But if I had to pick one for a first-time visitor? I'd choose the Level 1 Canyoning tour without hesitation. .

The Level 1 Canyoning Experience

I met the guide at 8:30 AM at a meeting point in Funchal. After a 40-minute drive into the Ribeira das Cales canyon, we suited up in wetsuits, helmets, and harnesses. The canyon itself is a series of natural rock slides, small waterfalls, and pools of crystal-clear water. The first slide was a 3-meter drop into a deep pool. I felt my stomach drop, then the cold water hit, and I was grinning. The canyon is narrow, the walls are covered in moss, and the sound of water echoes off the rock. It's intimate. You're never more than 20 meters from the group, but the canyon walls block out everything else. The guide pointed out ferns and a rare Madeiran orchid growing out of the rock face. The whole thing took about 3.5 hours from start to finish, including a break for poncha and biscuits halfway through.

Who it's NOT for: anyone who hates cold water (the stream is 14°C year-round), anyone who can't swim, or anyone with a fear of tight spaces. The canyon walls close in at several points. Also, if you have bad knees, the walking sections on wet rock are slippery. I saw one woman bail after the first slide because she couldn't handle the temperatur.

The gear was good. Wetsuits were 5mm thick, which is enough for the short exposure. Helmets were modern with adjustable straps. The group size was 8 people plus the guide. I'd have preferred 6 max, but 8 was manageable. The guide spoke excellent English and checked everyone's comfort level before each slid.

Why Nearly Won Me Over

The Full Day Jeep Safari East covers a lot of ground. You start at Pico do Arieiro (1,818m), drive through the mountains to Santana for the thatched houses, then end at Ponta de São Lourenço for the coastal hike. The jeep is a converted Land Rover Defender with open sides. The wind whips your hair, and you see the situation change from volcanic peaks to green valleys to dry coastal cliffs. The guide gave solid commentary about Madeira's history and the levada system. I learned more about the island in that one day than I did in three days of solo driving.

But : the jeep safari is mostly driving. You spend about 5 hours in the vehicle and maybe 3 hours total walking. The stops at Pico do Arieiro are short (20 minutes at the summit viewpoint), and you don't hike the PR1 trail. You just take photos and get back in the jeep. At Ponta de São Lourenço, you walk about 1km of the PR8 trail before turning back. It's a taste, not a proper hike. If you're looking for a scenic road trip with photo stops and no real physical effort, this is your tour. But if you want to actually do something, the canyoning wins.

The Full Day Jeep Safari East Experience

The jeep picked me up at 8 AM from my hotel in Funchal. First stop was Pico do Arieiro. We arrived at 9:15 AM, and the parking lot was already filling up. The guide gave us 25 minutes at the summit. The view was clear, and the clouds were below us. I took the classic photo at the stone archway. Then we drove down through the mountains to Santana. The drive took 45 minutes on winding roads. In Santana, we had 40 minutes to see the thatched houses and grab a bolo do caco from the bakery next to them. The bread was warm, with garlic butter, and cost €2.50. That was the highlight of the morning. Then we drove another hour to Ponta de São Lourenço for the coastal walk. We did about 1.5km of the PR8 trail, saw the volcanic rock formations, and turned back. The guide gave us 50 minutes total. It felt rushed.

Who it's NOT for: anyone who wants to hike properly. This is a sightseeing tour, not a hiking tour. Also, if you get carsick, the mountain roads are relentless. The jeep has no suspension to speak of. I saw two people in the group looking green by the time we reached Santana. Bring motion sickness tablets if you're prone to it.

The guide was knowledgeable, and the jeep was comfortable enough for a day trip. Lunch was at a restaurant in Santana (not included in the price). I paid €15 for a grilled scabbardfish with banana. It was good, but the timing felt tight. We ate in 30 minutes and were back in the jeep.

The Moment I Made My Decisione.

The canyoning won me over during the last slide. It was a 5-meter drop into a pool so clear I could see the bottom 4 meters down. I hit the water, came up gasping, and looked around at the canyon walls covered in ferns. The guide was already at the edge, laughing, offering a hand to the next person. The group was bonding. We were all shivering and grinning. That moment felt like I was actually in Madeira, not just driving past it. The jeep safari showed me the island. The canyoning made me feel it.

That said, I wouldn't do the canyoning again with bad weather. Check the IPMA forecast before you book. If rain is forecast in the mountains, the canyon streams can rise fast. I checked the IFCN trail condition hotline (291 211 800) the morning of my canyoning trip, and they confirmed the canyon was open. Always do this. Canyons can close too.

If you're fit and want a proper physical challenge, book the Level 1 Canyoning tour. If you have limited mobility or want a relaxed day with photo stops, the jeep safari is fine. But be honest with yourself about what you want from your day in Madeira.

What I Wish I'd Known Before I Went

For the canyoning: bring a GoPro with a head mount. The guides take photos, but they charge €20 for the digital set. I wish I'd brought my own. Also, wear a swimsuit under your clothes. The changing facilities are basic (a tent at the canyon entrance). The water is cold. I mean, really cold. The wetsuit helps, but your face and hands will be numb for the first 15 minutes. The poncha break halfway through is not just for fun. It's to warm you up. Drink it.

For the jeep safari: bring a buff or scarf. The open jeep means wind in your face for hours. The dust on the unpaved sections gets into everything. I had grit in my hair for two days. Also, the lunch stop in Santana is not included. Bring cash. The bakery next to the thatched houses only takes cash. The ATM in Santana is often out of service. And if you're prone to motion sickness, sit in the front of the jeep. The back seat bounces like a carnival rid.

One more thing: the canyoning tour starts early, but the jeep safari starts even earlier. Both require you to be at the meeting point on time. The Funchal traffic at 7:30 AM is worse than you expect. Give yourself an extra 15 minutes. I almost missed the canyoning pickup because I underestimated the traffic on the road from Monte to Funchal. The driver waited, but only because another group was late too.

Finally, if you're doing the jeep safari, don't expect to hike the full PR1 or PR8 trails. You get a taste. If you want the full hike, book a dedicated PR1 sunrise transfer instead. Those sell out 3-5 days in advance during peak season, so book early. I learned that the hard way when I tried to add one for a friend visiting in August and found zero availability for the whole week.