Body Rafting the Alcantara Gorges: River Trekking and Canyoning Near Taormina, Sicily
Difficulty
moderate
Duration
2 hours
Fitness Level
Should be comfortable walking on slippery rocks, swimming short distances, and scrambling over ledges; basic cardiovascular fitness required.
Overview
Step into a 30‑meter basalt corridor and let the Alcantara River guide you: this two‑hour river trekking and body rafting excursion pairs geology, legend, and a steady dose of adrenaline. Ideal for travelers seeking a compact, guided canyoning experience near Taormina.
Body Rafting the Alcantara Gorges: River Trekking and Canyoning Near Taormina, Sicily
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You enter the gorge the way the river carved it—by stepping into the water. Cold on your calves at first, the current tugs and tests the margins of your balance as basalt walls rise 30 meters on either side, patterned like the ribs of an enormous stone hive. Your guide clips a helmet on, hands out buoyancy jackets and a grin: today the Alcantara River becomes a classroom and a playground.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Arrive 30 minutes early
Save time for gear fitting and a safety briefing — the operator requires you at the meeting point half an hour before start.
Bring a swimsuit and dry layers
You’ll be in wetsuit-provided conditions; pack a towel and warm clothes to change into after the river.
Secure electronics
Use a waterproof case or action cam; phones can be ruined by splashes and falls in the current.
Know medical limits
The activity needs moderate fitness and is unsuitable after recent surgeries or limb injuries — disclose conditions when booking.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Kingfisher
- Freshwater snails and small trout
History
The Alcantara Gorge formed where lava flows from Mount Etna cooled into columnar basalt; over millennia the river carved the narrow canyon visible today.
Conservation
The gorge is a fragile freshwater habitat — stick to guided routes, avoid leaving trash, and use biodegradable sunscreen to reduce impacts.
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Adventure Hotspots in Taormina
Recommended Gear
Waterproof action camera or case
Protects your device and captures jumps, slides, and the basalt walls up close.
Lightweight river shoes (if you own a pair)
Provided by the operator, but personal shoes with good soles increase grip on wet rocks.
Swimsuit and quick-dry towel
You’ll wear a wetsuit over a swimsuit and need dry clothes for the return.
summer specific
Thermal base layer (early spring or late fall)
Adds warmth under the wetsuit when water temperatures are cold.
spring specific