For participants who have completed an introductory canyoning course, or have some canyoning experience, and want to improve their knowledge of safety systems.

You must be able to swim and have the fitness needed for 6–7-hour days in the mountains and canyons.

What you need to bring

• Comfortable sports clothing for the mountain walk to the canyon entrance.
• A bag to leave in the car with spare clothes in case yours get wet, a water bottle and food.
• Footwear is important: lace-up shoes with rubber soles and good ankle support, such as canyoning shoes, sports shoes or hiking shoes. Bring a spare pair to change into when you return to the car.
• Swimwear, towel and warm, dry clothes for after the canyon.
• If you wear glasses or contact lenses, bring a suitable way to prevent losing them during the activity.

Equipment we can lend you

• Shared equipment: ropes, first-aid kit, radio and watertight barrel, among other items.
• Personal equipment: wetsuit, neoprene socks, harness, helmet, safety lanyard and descender, plus one backpack for every two participants.
• A watertight barrel if you need to keep belongings dry.

Included

• Two days with a qualified professional canyoning guide.
• Initial assistance insurance.
• Shared equipment: ropes, first-aid kit, radio and watertight barrel, among other items.
• Personal equipment: wetsuit, neoprene socks, harness, helmet, safety lanyard and descender, plus one backpack for every two participants.
• Photos of the activity.

Not included

• Accommodation and meals. Contact us for details.
• Transport.

Schedule and location

The course takes place in the Aragonese Pyrenees, based in Jaca, where we have classrooms and equipment. Practical sessions use canyons in the Aragón and Tena valleys, according to conditions.

Friday / day 1: Meet at 19:00 at the PirineoSur office, Calle Antonio Beltrán 1, for theory and equipment preparation for the following day.

Saturday / day 2: Leave our Jaca office or the agreed meeting point at 09:00 and travel to the practical training area.

Sunday / day 3: Meet at 09:00 at the office or agreed meeting point. The course ends at 15:30.

Day 1: theory

Equipment, knots, rigging equipment and canyon logistics; basic whitewater concepts and reading the river; the physical and biological environment; route descriptions and grading; planning, weather and water levels; advanced progression techniques.

Day 2: practical skills

Movement without ropes: improving scrambling, downclimbing, jumping, diving, swimming and sliding. Rope techniques: retrievable-cord, re-belay and guided abseils; setting up fixed systems and ascending fixed ropes.

Day 3: practical skills

Changing pace in moving water and negotiating rocks, eddies, recirculating currents and water pressing against rock faces. Basic whitewater safety; abseiling and rigging retrievable traverse lines; rope manoeuvres in flowing water, zip lines and suspended rope transfers.