Gran Canaria has real canyon drama. This 4-hour canyoning adventure in Los Marteles Special Natural Reserve sends you into the Barranco de los Cernícalos where you rappel, hike, and move through waterfall country with rural-jungle views. I love how the route mixes action with nature notes, including those standout native willow trees.

The second thing I like is the hands-on format: you meet your instructor, get fitted with a wetsuit, harness, and helmet, and learn how to use the gear before you commit to the waterfalls. With an extra safety rope always in place, it keeps the fun high while the technical parts feel more controlled.

Still, it is not a sit-and-look outing. You’re dealing with wet rock, water crossings, and slippery footing, and at least one participant reported a painful knee after a stone at underwater level. If you have back or heart problems, vertigo, or a fear of heights, this one is probably not for you.

Key Highlights That Make This Canyoning Worth Your Time

• Los Marteles Special Natural Reserve: one of the last jungle reserves on Gran Canaria, so the scenery feels like you left the island’s coast behind.
• A true water canyon in Gran Canaria: it’s described as the only canyon with water, which matters because a dry canyon is a different experience.
• Rappels up to 12 meters and 4 waterfalls: you’re not just walking through a gorge—you’re descending real waterfall drops.
• The full “gear first” approach: wetsuit, harness, helmet, and instructor guidance before you start, so you’re not guessing.
• Extra safety rope plus an active route: you rappel, wade through pools, and hike through jungle sections as you descend.
• Snacks and views from above: you finish with a break and a look back at the canyon.

Los Marteles Reserve: Why This Canyoning Feels Like More Than a Stunt

There are lots of ways to chase adrenaline. What I like about this one is the setting: Los Marteles Special Natural Reserve. It’s where you can still feel that rough, green, “old” Gran Canaria vibe—lush enough to notice plants and small changes in light as the canyon tightens.

The Barranco de los Cernícalos is also described as the only canyon with water on the island. That matters because water changes everything. It affects the sound, the footing, the way you time your steps, and the overall mood—water turns a ravine into something alive.

And then there’s the wildlife-and-plant part. The highlights call out native willow trees, which is exactly the kind of detail that makes the walk feel guided, not just handled. If you like nature that you can actually see and name—rather than just scenic photos—this route gives you that.

Gear Up Fast: Wetsuit, Harness, Helmet, and the Instructor’s System

Your adventure starts with real prep. You meet at the parking area for Descenso de Barranco/Canyoning Los Cernícalos, then your instructor fits you with the wetsuit, harness, and helmet. You’ll also get instruction so the setup makes sense before you move.

This is where most “beginner” canyoning trips win or lose trust. Here, the process is structured: you learn how to use the equipment, get it properly fitted, and then you’re ready to head out. You don’t need prior experience—so you’re learning the essentials rather than trying to copy someone else.

One safety detail deserves your attention: you’re always connected by an extra safety rope during canyoning. That doesn’t eliminate risk—wet rock still needs respect—but it does shift the experience from guesswork to technique.

The 20-Minute Hike In: Views Over the Northeast Part of Gran Canaria

Before the waterfalls, you’ll hike for about 20 minutes through a rural area. This section is short, but it’s useful. You get the rhythm of moving in the landscape, you settle your gear, and you start warming up before you hit the technical part.

As you go, you get views over the northeast part of Gran Canaria. That’s a great pacing choice: you’re not immediately dumped into the water-and-rope part. You also get a chance to listen, because the guide shares island history and background along the way.

Even if you’re mainly there for action, the first hike helps you feel oriented. When later the canyon narrows, you’ll understand where you are relative to the broader island views.

Rappelling Waterfalls Up to 12 Meters: The Main Event

Once you’re at the watercourse, it’s time for the main adrenaline moment: rappelling down waterfalls with your instructor guiding you. The route includes descents up to 12 meters.

The structure matters. You follow the watercourse and rappel down, and you also slide across pools and walk through jungle sections while descending. That blend keeps it from becoming repetitive. It’s not just one long drop. It’s a sequence of challenges.

The route includes 4 waterfalls. After the fourth rappel, you reach the narrowest part of the canyon. That’s when the environment starts to feel more intense—less open space, more sound bouncing off rock, and more focus required on footing.

If you’re excited by heights but also want a guided approach, this is the sweet spot: you’re descending real waterfall drops, but with instruction and a safety system in place.

Pools, Jungle Footwork, and the Narrowest Section

Between waterfall drops, you’ll still work. You wade through pools, cross water sections, and hike through jungle parts of the ravine as you go down.

This is where canyoning stops being “just rope work.” Your body has to adjust: wet terrain, shifting water level, and steps that look simple until you’re on them. You also cross a waterfall after reaching that narrowest section, then continue back along an adventure trail toward the start point.

One small practical note: the experience can still be physically demanding even though you don’t need experience. Wet surfaces require attention, and moving in a harness can make you think more about balance. It’s totally doable for many people—just don’t treat it like an easy walk.

Also, canyoning involves short bursts of intense effort followed by recovery time. You’ll likely notice that your energy goes in waves: get to a rappel point, focus, descend, move to the next section, repeat.

Learning Gran Canaria While You Move: History, Plants, and Native Willows

I like that the tour doesn’t only sell thrills. You’re learning while you’re getting wet.

The highlights mention learning about Gran Canaria’s past, and the experience setup supports that: the guide shares island history during the rural hike and throughout the route. In a canyon, this kind of storytelling lands better. You’re surrounded by what you’re hearing about, so it feels connected rather than tacked on.

Plants are part of it too. The highlights call out outstanding nature attractions, including native willow trees. Seeing those trees in canyon-like conditions makes the landscape feel specific and earned. You’re not just in a random “green area.” You’re in a reserve with recognizable ecological features.

Safety and Suitability: When This Adventure Makes Sense (and When It Doesn’t)

This activity is built for people who can handle a physical, wet, height-related outing. The rules for who should skip it are clear, and I agree with taking them seriously.

It is not suitable for:

• Children under 12
• Pregnant women
• People with back problems
• People with heart problems
• Wheelchair users
• People afraid of heights
• People with vertigo
• People with a cold
• People over 243 lbs (110 kg)
• People over 70 years

Even for those who do fit the list, canyoning requires respect for conditions. One past participant mentioned a knee injury after a stone under the water level. That’s a useful reminder that pool crossings and underwater footing can be unpredictable.

The good news is that the tour includes an instructor, equipment, insurance, and an extra safety rope. You still control a lot by following instructions, staying aware of your footing, and moving deliberately through slippery sections.

If you’re the type who freezes at the edge of a height, this could feel stressful. If you can stay calm and listen, you’ll likely get more out of the waterfall descents than fear-based tension.

What You Actually Get for $77: Value Over Flash

At $77 per person for about 4 hours, this isn’t a “cheap thrill,” but it also isn’t overpriced for what you’re doing. You’re paying for:

• A guided canyon route in Los Marteles Special Natural Reserve
• Technical gear: wetsuit, harness, and helmet
• Insurance coverage
• Photos included
• A snack included
• Instructor support throughout the rappels and crossings

The value is in the full package. If you tried to cobble this together yourself—gear, training, and safety planning—it would quickly become more expensive and far more complicated than a single guided session.

This is also a small group experience, limited to 10 participants. Smaller groups matter in canyoning. It helps with spacing, time for safety checks, and getting your attention when you need it.

So the real question isn’t only cost. It’s: do you want guided, structured waterfall canyon action rather than a lighter hike? If yes, $77 for 4 hours in this environment can feel like a fair deal.

What to Bring (and What Not to): Your Comfort Depends on It

You’ll want to come prepared, because the tour includes water time and a change-over moment at the end.

Bring:

• Swimwear
• Change of clothes
• Hiking shoes
• Water

What not to wear:

• Sandals or flip flops

That last point matters more than it sounds. Wet rock and pool sections reward grip and ankle support. Shoes designed for walking give you better control than soft, flexible footwear.

Also, bring water—even though you’ll get a snack—because you’ll likely sweat during the hike-in and then cool down after getting wet. Staying hydrated helps you feel steadier on later sections.

Timing, Group Size, and the Booking Style That Fits Real Travel

This is a 4-hour tour, and there are starting times based on availability. It’s a small group capped at 10 participants, with instruction in English and Spanish.

If you’re organizing a day around it, build your plan around that 4-hour block. Hotel pickup and drop-off aren’t included, so you’ll need to get yourself to the meeting point by your own transport. The good part: the meeting point is straightforward—Parking Descenso de Barranco/Canyoning Los Cernícalos.

One other practical bonus: the tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance and a pay-later option, which can reduce stress when your Gran Canaria schedule depends on weather or other plans.

The Bottom Line: Should You Book This Las Palmas Canyoning Trip?

Book it if you want a real canyon experience on Gran Canaria—rappelling down waterfalls, moving through pools, and hiking through jungle-like reserve terrain—with an instructor system and extra safety rope. I’d also lean toward booking if you like guided context: history, plant details, and those native willows make the day feel more complete than a one-note adrenaline session.

Skip it if heights scare you, if vertigo is an issue, if you have back or heart problems, or if you’re not feeling well (the tour specifically says people with a cold should not go). And if you’re injury-prone, treat pool crossings seriously and be ready for wet, slick footing.

If you match the fitness and comfort requirements, this is one of those activities where the time flies because you’re constantly doing something—learning, moving, rappelling, and looking back at the canyon from above.

FAQ

How long is the canyoning adventure in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria?

The tour lasts 4 hours.

What is the meeting point for the canyoning experience?

You meet at Parking Descenso de Barranco/Canyoning Los Cernícalos.

Do I need any experience to do this canyoning trip?

No experience is required.

What languages do the instructors speak?

The instructor speaks English and Spanish.

Is the group size small?

Yes. It is limited to 10 participants.

What should I bring, and what footwear is not allowed?

Bring swimwear, a change of clothes, hiking shoes, and water. Sandals or flip flops are not allowed.

Who should not book this activity?

It is not suitable for children under 12, pregnant women, people with back or heart problems, wheelchair users, people afraid of heights, people with vertigo, people with a cold, people over 110 kg, or people over 70 years.