Tenerife: Los Carrizales Water Canyoning Tour

Expect water, rope, and a serious workout. Tenerife’s Los Carrizales canyoning tour takes you into a rugged canyon for jumps, slides, rappels, natural pools, and a demanding hike through volcanic country. It is not a gentle splash around. It is a six-hour challenge led by Vulcan Walkers guide Peter, with groups limited to eight people.

I like the small-group format, which gives the guide room to watch each person and offer alternatives when a jump feels too high. I also like that the route uses both water and mountain terrain, so you get more than a short canyon descent.

The main caution is simple: this is extremely athletic. The return route can feel more like climbing than walking, and people who dislike heights, struggle with uneven ground, or lack swimming confidence should choose another Tenerife activity.

The essential facts at a glance

• Jumps, slides, and rappels: You may jump from several heights, rappel with a rope, and slide around 10 meters into the water.
• A demanding six-hour outing: The day includes a 30-minute safety briefing, several hours of hiking, canyoning, and a 30-minute break.
• Natural swimming pools: Fresh canyon water gives you a welcome cool-down after the physical work.
• Small groups of up to eight: This allows Peter to explain techniques and help nervous participants.
• Best for fit adults and older teenagers: The minimum age is 14, but the activity is not suitable for children, non-swimmers, or people with vertigo.
• Bring your own basics: You need swimwear, a towel, food, water, sunscreen, sports shoes, and sports clothing.

What the Los Carrizales route is really like

The advertised duration is six hours, but this is not six hours of nonstop canyon action. Your day combines preparation, walking, technical sections, rest, and the return to the meeting point.

The schedule lists a 30-minute safety briefing, four hours of hiking, a 30-minute break, and another two hours of hiking. The practical description also refers to reaching the canyon after a hike, spending several hours on the water, and then walking back. The exact balance can depend on route conditions and the group, but you should plan for a full day of movement.

That matters because the canyoning itself is only part of the test. The approach and return are a major part of the experience. Several people who loved the activity still stressed that the way back over volcanic rock is hard. Treat this as a mountain outing with water sections, not as a quick amusement ride.

Meeting Peter and getting ready at C. Carrizal Bajo

The meeting point is at C. Carrizal Bajo, 9, where parking is available beside the road. Look for a Berlingo marked Vulcan Walkers and a guide wearing a neoprene suit. The guide listed for the experience is Peter, who speaks English, Hungarian, and Spanish.

Once the group is together, Peter provides the equipment and gives the safety briefing. This is a useful part of the day, not paperwork to rush through. You need to understand how to use the rope, how to approach a jump, and how to move safely on wet rock before the canyon narrows around you.

The small group size is a real advantage here. With no more than eight participants, the guide can keep an eye on different ability levels. If you are nervous about a particular jump, you can use the rope instead. That choice is important: the tour pushes you outside your comfort zone, but it does not require you to prove yourself at every single drop.

The hike into the canyon

The walk to the canyon is part of the adventure and part of the price you pay in energy. You should expect uneven ground, a good amount of exercise, and sections that test your legs before the water work even begins.

The route takes you into the Los Carrizales area, where the setting becomes the reward for the effort. The canyon offers a more rugged side of Tenerife, away from the standard resort routine. You are not simply looking at the island from a road or viewpoint. You are moving through its rock, water, and steep terrain.

Bring water and food because neither is included. Sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses also matter during the exposed walking sections. Sports shoes are required, and you should wear clothing that can cope with a wet, active day. A towel and swimwear are essential for the pools.

Do not arrive expecting the hike to be a warm-up that you can ignore. The return is reported to be particularly demanding, with scrambling and a steep ascent over volcanic rocks. If you rarely exercise, this is the point where the tour can shift from exciting to unpleasant.

The canyoning sections: jumps, rope work, and a 10-meter slide

Once you reach the canyoning area, the character of the day changes. You move through natural water features by jumping, sliding, and rappelling. The clear pools provide a cool landing and a welcome break from the heat and effort of the approach.

The jumps come at different heights. That gives you some choice, though you still need to be comfortable with heights and water. If you would rather not jump, the rope offers a way down at several points. This is one of the strongest features of the experience because you can take on the challenge without turning one nervous moment into a bad one.

The headline thrill is a slide from about 10 meters high. You feel the speed, then hit the pool below with a proper splash. It is the sort of feature that supplies the adrenaline people book this tour for, but the guide’s instruction and your own judgment should come first.

Rappelling adds a different kind of challenge. A jump is over quickly. A rope descent requires you to trust the equipment, control your movement, and listen to the guide. Peter’s safety-focused approach is especially valuable here. The technical parts are more enjoyable when you are not wondering what to do with your hands or feet.

You should also expect scrambling. Canyoning is not only polished slides and clean jumps. You may need to use your hands and find your footing on rough surfaces. That is why sports shoes and a good baseline of strength matter.

The pools are a reward, not the whole outing

The natural pools are one of the tour’s best simple pleasures. After the rope work and rock movement, the fresh water gives you a chance to cool down and reset.

You need to be able to swim. This is not a supervised floating excursion, and non-swimmers are specifically excluded. Even confident swimmers should follow the guide closely and treat every pool as part of a technical route rather than an ordinary swimming spot.

The water sections also help break up the physical effort. You move from dry rock to water, from a jump to a climb, and from concentration on the rope to a short rest in the pool. That variety keeps the day interesting, but it also means you should not underestimate how tired you may feel by the end.

The return route is the day’s hidden test

The way back deserves its own warning. It may be described as hiking, but direct experience from the tour points to steep climbing and scrambling over volcanic ground. One participant compared it to climbing rather than an ordinary walk, and another warned not to underestimate the return through volcanic rocks.

This is where the tour separates itself from easier canyon outings. The canyon provides the obvious thrills, but the ascent asks for steady legs, grip, balance, and patience. You may be tired, wet, and ready for a shower by this point.

I would schedule this tour early in your Tenerife stay rather than on the final morning, despite one successful booking on a departure day. You will want time to recover, and a tiring return could make an airport transfer or long drive less pleasant. That is practical advice, not a criticism of the route.

Guide quality and group atmosphere

Peter receives strong praise for patience, professionalism, and safety. Those qualities matter more here than a guide who simply keeps the energy high. You need clear instructions before a rappel, calm help when someone hesitates, and sensible decisions when the ground becomes difficult.

The guide can place ropes where you do not want to jump. That makes the experience more flexible for people who are brave enough to try canyoning but do not want every obstacle to become a leap of faith.

A small group also helps create a friendly atmosphere. With up to eight participants, you are likely to spend the day encouraging one another through the same jumps and climbs. The activity is physical enough that group spirit can make a real difference, but you should not book it solely because you want a social outing. The terrain remains the main event.

A complimentary video was provided to one group, but that should not be treated as a guaranteed inclusion. The confirmed inclusions are the guide, canyoning equipment, and liability and accident insurance.

Who should book this Tenerife canyoning trip?

This tour suits you if you:

• Exercise regularly and can handle several hours of walking and climbing.
• Are comfortable in water and can swim.
• Like heights, rope work, and physical challenges.
• Want a more active way to see Tenerife than a standard sightseeing trip.
• Can accept that the route may feel hard, especially on the return.
• Are at least 14 years old and weigh no more than 243 pounds, or 110 kilograms.

It is not suitable for pregnant women, people with back problems, people with vertigo, or anyone with a strong fear of heights. The upper age guidance is 65, and the tour is not intended for non-swimmers.

The minimum age does not mean every 14-year-old will be ready for the route. Fitness and confidence matter more than the number on an identity card. A strong young person may enjoy it, while an older but active participant may also manage well. Still, the stated restrictions should be taken seriously.

Is $157 good value?

At $157 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend six hours in Tenerife. The value depends on what you want from the day.

The price includes a specialist canyoning guide, equipment, and liability and accident insurance. You are also paying for a small group, instruction on rope techniques, and access to an active route that would be difficult to tackle responsibly without the right equipment and guidance.

Food, drinks, transport, and hotel pickup are not included. You need to reach C. Carrizal Bajo yourself, pack a meal and water, and manage the journey back to your accommodation. Those extra arrangements should be part of your budget.

For a casual visitor who wants a low-effort water activity, the price will feel high. For you if you want a demanding, memorable day built around jumps, slides, rappels, and mountain terrain, the cost is easier to justify. The best value comes when you genuinely want the physical challenge and will use the full experience rather than treating it as a single slide or waterfall visit.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start and a reserve-now, pay-later option add useful flexibility. Popular dates can fill quickly, so booking ahead makes sense if your schedule is fixed.

What to pack for Los Carrizales

Bring the following:

• Swimwear
• A towel
• Sports shoes
• Sports clothing
• Water
• Food
• Sunscreen
• A hat
• Sunglasses

The day involves water, sun, rock, and exercise, so a small practical pack is better than extra clothing you will not use. Food is worth remembering because it is not supplied, and six active hours can leave you hungry.

Alcohol and drugs are not allowed. Shoes are not allowed indoors, though the tour itself is an outdoor canyoning activity. Follow the guide’s instructions about equipment and clothing once you arrive.

Should you book the Los Carrizales canyoning tour?

Book it if you want Tenerife to push back a little. You will jump, rappel, slide, scramble, swim, and climb through a demanding route with a guide who can offer rope alternatives when your nerve gives out.

Do not book it because you think canyoning means a short float through a pretty gorge. The hiking and return can be as hard as the water sections, and the full day asks a lot from your legs. At $157, it makes sense for fit adults and adventurous older teenagers who want a serious outdoor activity and value skilled guidance, equipment, and a small group.

For the right person, Los Carrizales offers one of Tenerife’s most memorable active days. For anyone who dislikes heights, cannot swim, or prefers an easy holiday pace, choose a gentler excursion.

FAQ

How long does the Los Carrizales canyoning tour last?

The tour lasts six hours. The schedule includes a 30-minute safety briefing, hiking, a 30-minute break, and further hiking before returning to C. Carrizal Bajo, 9.

Where is the meeting point?

Meet at C. Carrizal Bajo, 9. Parking is available beside the road. Look for a Berlingo marked Vulcan Walkers and a guide wearing a neoprene suit.

Who leads the activity?

The listed guide is Peter. Instruction is available in English, Hungarian, and Spanish.

How many people can join the group?

The group is limited to eight participants.

What canyoning activities are included?

The route includes jumps from different heights, rappelling, slides, and swimming in natural pools. One slide is described as approximately 10 meters high.

Can I avoid jumping?

At some points, you can use a rope to climb down if you do not want to jump. You should still be comfortable with heights and rope work.

Is the tour suitable for beginners?

The activity can accommodate different comfort levels because rope alternatives are available, but it requires substantial fitness, swimming ability, and comfort with heights. It is not a gentle introductory walk.

What should I bring?

Bring sunglasses, a hat, swimwear, a towel, food, sunscreen, water, sports shoes, and sportswear.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you must make your own way to the meeting point.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also available.