Seixal (Lower)
| Rating: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | Raps:14, max ↨131ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Basalt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Condition Reports: | 16 Jul 2024
"Time reflects Seixal integral. Lower technical section (Levada do Seixal to car) took about 3h. Flow was low and inconsequential, yet countless spring |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best season: | Anytime
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regions: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
_Banner.jpg)
32.7782, -17.1146
Search nearby locations
Weather forecast
WaterflowIntroduction
An incredibly beautiful canyon with a good mix of dark grottos and expansive views down-canyon. It has the added bonus of sunshine in the lower part. The rigging is less technical than other canyons on the island.
Approach
Just east of Seixal, turn up ER221, which is marked as Chão da Ribeira. Like most places in Madeira, the road is very steep and winding. Continue all the way to Chão da Ribeira and park in a lot outside a farm. (Note this is the main exit parking for all of the Seixal tributary canyons). From the parking lot, follow the road along the river, which becomes trail. The trail undulates up and down hill until eventually terminating at a “Lombo Barbinhos” sign on the river’s edge, pointing you to cross the river. The Verada do Lombo Barbinhos starts on the other side of the river, about 50m upriver from the crossing. You can cross at the sign, and follow social trails upriver until you find the actual trail, or you can cross slightly upriver to the trail. Either way, plan to get wet on the crossing.
Verada do Lomb Barbinhos is nearly entirely stairs - its a great workout! Climb until you reach the Levada do Seixal, then turn right. This Levada trail is rough compared to others, narrow with a lot of exposure. You will go through one long tunnel on the approach. The entrance to the tunnel can be intimidating, as you cross strong current coming from the Hortela falls into the Levada. However, once crossing it, the tunnel is easy traveling compared to some other tunnels on the island. Headlamp required! The canyon starts immediately after exiting the tunnel.
Descent
The canyon descent is pretty straight forward. There are a few awkward (possibly nuisance) rappels in the beginning, but once you arrive at the grotto, it’s beautiful! The rest of the canyon is just pure fun. Rather than listing rappels here, go to the camadeira website below and download the canyon topo. It has all the info you need!
Exit
The exit is super straight forward. Follow the creek until you reach the Lombo Barbinhos crossing, where you crossed earlier that day, and head back on the trail you took from your cars.
Red tape
Beta sites
-
Descente-Canyon.com : Seixal (inférieur) -
CaMadeira.com : Ribeira do Seixal (inferior) -
BarrancosCanarios.com : Ribeira do Seixal Inferior
Trip reports and media
-
Wikiloc.com : Seixal Inferior - Wikiloc.com : Seixal inferior
- Wikiloc.com : Ribeira do Seixal
