Rappelling and canyoneering

In wall rappelling, called positive rappel, your feet stay against the rock during the descent and you walk backward, seated in the harness. It’s the most recommended for a first time. In negative rappel, the wall recedes or is absent, as in an open span or under a bridge, and the descent is free, in the air.

Waterfall rappelling, or canyon waterfalling, adds water: the rock becomes slippery, and the falling water wets and makes noise, which requires more attention to foot placement. Usually the rope runs beside the main flow, not through it.

In all cases, beginners descend with two safety measures. You control your own brake with one hand and, below, an instructor holds the rope end: if they pull, the descent stops. Before the full descent, a practice is done on a low section.

Introductory rappelling does not require strength: your weight rests in the harness and the brake does the work. It requires calmness to listen to instructions and to take the first step backward at the edge, which is the most frightening part. Operators set minimum and maximum age and weight according to the descent height and equipment.

Canyoneering requires fitness for walking on uneven terrain and, on many routes, the ability to swim. Pregnant people and anyone with back, knee or heart problems should consult the operator beforehand.

The operator supplies rope, harness, belay device, carabiners, helmet and, when the route requires, gloves and wetsuit. You should bring clothing that can get wet, closed shoes with grippy soles, a change of clothes, water and a snack. Long hair should be tied back so it doesn’t get into the braking device.

In Brotas, in the interior of São Paulo, rappelling is done on regional waterfalls. Socorro, in the Circuito das Águas Paulista, has descents on cliffs and waterfalls. In Alto Paraíso de Goiás, rappelling is done on waterfalls in Chapada dos Veadeiros.

In the South, canyons are the main attraction. Praia Grande, in Santa Catarina, is part of the Geopark Caminhos dos Cânions do Sul, and canyons such as Malacara are traversed by trail with a guide. On the Rio Grande do Sul side, in Cambará do Sul, Itaimbezinho Canyon is in Aparados da Serra National Park. The towns appear on the map on this page.

In the southern canyons, winter usually has cleaner air, and mist is more common in summer. At waterfalls, water volume changes with the rains, and the operator adjusts or postpones the descent.