Canyoning, the spectacular itineraries of Sardinia
The island is dotted with canyons: experience adventures and excitement in these wonders of nature, accessible in all seasons
Canyoning in Sardinia is a unique experience for admiring the scenic beauty of the island from privileged viewpoints: those of its breathtaking gorges, with rocks sculpted by the wind that act as a treasure chest for waterfalls and natural pools.
You can explore the Sardinian canyons in every season of the year, but spring and autumn are particularly suitable for enjoying the excursion to the full. During the mid-seasons, the temperatures are pleasant and the views are rich in bright colours.
Get ready to dive into one of the most captivating lands in the world and experience the unique beauty of Sardinia’s canyons, among which there's the most spectacular one in Europe.
The canyon of Bacu Sa Figu is located in the territory of Talana in Ogliastra and can be considered one of the wildest ravines in Sardinia. Equip yourself with a wetsuit, helmets, ropes, climbing harness and shoes, keeping in mind that the complete route includes 14 compulsory descents and contains some difficult passages in which experience and a good level of fitness are fundamental. The good news for budding canyoners is that there is a shorter, less challenging route that only crosses the first or second section of the torrent.
The rich vegetation of holm oaks, strawberry trees and junipers will accompany you along the pebbly riverbed where the water flows impetuously, especially between winter and spring, crossing majestic granite cliffs.
The canyon of Rio Pitrisconi gets its name from the river of the same name that crosses Monte Nieddu. Leave La Cinta, the long white beach of San Teodoro, behind you and you’ll find yourself in front of this granite massif standing out in the southernmost part of Gallura. The canyon is famous for its vertical walls and the crystal clear waters that cross it, creating a breathtaking landscape where you can set off on excursions face to face with the unspoilt nature in this place.
This canyoning route is also suitable for beginners who will have access to natural pools and slides carved out of the rock plunging into the emerald green water of Rio Pitrisconi. If you don’t suffer from vertigo and are a good swimmer, this is the right excursion for you if you want to try your hand at canyoning for the first time and for a first-hand experience of the adrenaline and emotions that this sport provokes.
The name Sa Spendula itself reveals the aquatic nature of this enchanted place: it literally means “waterfall” and identifies the waterfall symbolising Villacidro, praised by none other than Gabriele D’Annunzio in a sonnet. It’s a 60-metre triple cascade of the Coxinas torrent, which originates from the peaks of Santu Miali on Monte Linas and flows in the south-west of Sardinia.
Diving, water tobogganing and cascades await you in this magical place that seem like something out of a fairy tale. Following a short path, you will arrive directly inside the canyon, carved out of the granite and surrounded by an oleander thicket. The medium-easy difficulty makes it a suitable itinerary for inexperienced or already expert canyoners. Helmet, wetsuit and ropes await you, to admire what D’Annunzio defined “the pelting waters of the Spendula” up close.
The granite massif of Monte Linas has also carved out the spectacular Rio Oridda canyon in the territory of Villacidro. It represents an alternative route to the Piscina Irgas waterfall, but it is far more panoramic and tiring. The waterfall is over 40 metres high and is also a very popular destination for numerous Sunday hikers. Despite the route being rated as medium difficulty, a few particularly challenging passages on the rock should not be taken lightly: pay attention to the granite slabs, which are very slippery in some sections.
The water, which flows abundantly in the winter and spring, will be music to your ears and will accompany you during refreshing dips in the various pools you will come across along the way, before it flows downstream with the Leni torrent.
One of the best excursions for learning the basics of canyoning in Sardinia is the Rio Zairi canyon, carved out by the waterway of the same name that originates from Monte Linas, one of the largest southwestern mountain chains on the Island. This excursion in the Gonnosfanadiga is evidence of how the continuous flow of water has managed to erode the hard Sardinian granite over the centuries, setting a series of spectacular waterfalls in the rock. First there is a six-metre descent, passing through easy-to-navigate natural slides.
The magnificent landscape of holm oaks, cork oaks and other species typical of the Mediterranean scrub provides the background to this pleasant canyoning experience for beginners. If you’re lucky you will also be able to spot some deer or a golden eagle.
You won’t be wearing a costume for canyoning in Codula Fuili, where the water only flows underground in the vast Supramonte cave system. This ‘dry’ canyon, which is divided between the historical territories of Barbagia and Ogliastra, is also suitable for beginners.
The start of Codula Fuili does not coincide with the place of arrival. Travelling by car, you need to turn off into the road (concrete road) located along the hairpin bends of provincial road SP26 connecting Dorgali to Cala Gonone, at the beginning of which there are signs for the Codula Fuili holiday farm and the Nuraghe Mannu.
After leaving your car, continue on foot along a path of approximately 350/400 metres towards the first rope descent.
The view you can enjoy from this point of the gorge over the Gulf of Orosei is priceless. After the approach trekking is over, the actual ravine begins, with the first of four rope descents, all of which have an easy difficulty level. The “codula”, meaning canyon in Sardinian, gradually becomes narrower and wilder, with increasingly looming walls, treating you to pleasant shaded stretches. The last descent will take you towards an immense forest of oleanders, which will be in bloom in the summer and, last but not least, you will finally be able to put on your swimwear for a refreshing dip on the beach of Cala Fuili.
If you want to admire one of the largest canyons in Europe, with its 500-metre depth, just leave the crystal clear sea of the Gulf of Orosei behind you. If you love canyoning and other outdoor sports like trekking, mountain biking, horse riding and climbing, you’re in the right place.
To find out more about how the Rio Flumineddu rivulet has shaped the limestone walls of the Su Gorropu canyon over time, you can read our in-depth study of the Gorropu Gorge.
Happy canyoning!
