{"id":12427,"date":"2024-12-13T09:50:08","date_gmt":"2024-12-13T08:50:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canyon-corte.com\/?page_id=12427"},"modified":"2025-08-22T16:00:55","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T14:00:55","slug":"la-corse-des-canyons","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/canyon-corte.com\/en\/la-corse-des-canyons","title":{"rendered":"La Corse des canyons (EN)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Corsica's canyons

Corte, the green capital
of Corsica and its region<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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History and myths of Corsica's canyons<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Whitewater sports<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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River rafting has been around for as long as man has been fishing, and the first fishermen were already canyoning.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the Verdon gorges and certain canyons in the Sierra de Guara in Spain were descended. It wasn’t until the 1970s that canyoning became a genuine outdoor sport.
The techniques used – rope descents, anchoring and rope techniques – all come from caving. Unlike rock climbing, which involves climbing rocks, canyoning involves descending into a canyon.<\/p>

Canyoning should not be confused with river water sports such as :
Rafting
The descent is made in an inflatable boat. In Corsica, rafting is limited to April and May, mainly on the Golo, Tavignano and Asco rivers.
Hydrospeed
Hydrospeed, or white-water swimming, involves gliding down rivers, mainly rapids. You wear a neoprene suit, flippers and a floatation board. In Corsica, it’s done in the same way as rafting, when the snow is melting and the current and volume of water are your allies.
Kayaking
This is done in a light \u2018canoe\u2019-type boat with a paddle. Kayaking is a highly technical and physical sport. After some winters with good snowfalls, Corsica is the land of choice for European kayakers. The Golo, the Tavignano, the Asco, the Vecchio and the Fiumorbu are some of the most beautiful descents in the world, requiring a great deal of commitment on the part of kayakers.
Water rafting
This is a river descent combining swimming and walking. Unlike canyoning, you don’t need a rope.
Canyoning
Canyoning is a river descent similar to aquatic trekking, but with sections where rope techniques are required. You’ll need a wetsuit and safety equipment (helmet, harness and canyoning shoes).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Canyoning in Corsica<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Corsica is a real paradise for canyoning, one of the most popular regions in France. Don’t forget that Corsica is a rock in the sea and is the Mediterranean island with the most water.
The first canyoning facilities appeared in Corsica between 1980 and 1990. Members of the F\u00e9d\u00e9ration Fran\u00e7aise de Sp\u00e9l\u00e9ologie were very active, and they opened canyon after canyon by placing anchors (plates with a dowel or a pin), often using a tamponnoir (ancestor of the battery-powered perforator, \u2018tap, turn, tap, turn, tap…\u2019: a pin that will make a hole in the rock). A dowel would make a hole in hard granite, and patience was required to fix the plate).
Since 2000, most of the canyons have been explored and opened by the Corse-Canyon association, with Frank Jourdan at the helm.
Altipiani (canyon-corte) has opened and equipped several canyons: le Verghellu, le Capelli, le Saut du Cur\u00e9.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Corsica's canyons in pictures<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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<\/a>
\"Vue<\/div><\/a>
Vue generale sur le canyon<\/span>Vue generale sur le canyon<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
\"Canyon<\/div><\/a>
Canyon du Verghellu, Corte, Corse<\/span>Canyon du Verghellu<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
\"Canyon<\/div><\/a>
Canyon du Verghellu, Corte, Corse<\/span>Canyon du Verghellu<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
\"Verghellu-canyoning-corte-altipiani-corse\"<\/div><\/a>
Verghellu-canyoning-corte-altipiani-corse<\/span>Canyon du Verghellu<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
\"canyon-Verghellu-canyoning-toboggan-corte-altipiani-corse\"<\/div><\/a>
canyon-Verghellu-canyoning-toboggan-corte-altipiani-corse<\/span>Canyon du Verghellu<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
\"canyon-Verghellu-canyoning-aquatique-altipiani-corse\"<\/div><\/a>
canyon-Verghellu-canyoning-aquatique-altipiani-corse<\/span>Canyon du Verghellu<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
\"Canyon<\/div><\/a>
Canyon du Verghellu, Corte, Corse<\/span>Canyon du Verghellu<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
\"canyon-Verghellu-canyoning-altipiani\"<\/div><\/a>
canyon-Verghellu-canyoning-altipiani<\/span>Canyon du Verghellu<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
\"Canyon<\/div><\/a>
Canyon du Verghellu, Corte, Corse<\/span>Canyon du Verghellu<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
\"Canyon<\/div><\/a>
Canyon du Verghellu, Corte, Corse<\/span>Canyon du Verghellu<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
\"Canyon<\/div><\/a>
Canyon du Verghellu, Corte, Corse<\/span>Canyon du Verghellu<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
\"canyon-Verghellu-canyoning-corse-altipiani\"<\/div><\/a>
canyon-Verghellu-canyoning-corse-altipiani<\/span>Canyon du Verghellu<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
\"canyon-Verghellu-canyoning-saut-altipiani-corse\"<\/div><\/a>
canyon-Verghellu-canyoning-saut-altipiani-corse<\/span>Canyon du Verghellu<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a>
\"Canyon<\/div><\/a>
Canyon du Verghellu, Corte, Corse<\/span>Canyon du Verghellu<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The canyons of Corsica<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Central Corsica and its many canyons make it a must-see destination for canyoning enthusiasts on the Isle of Beauty.
There are some of the most popular and beautiful.
The Vecchio, which rises beneath the Monte d’Oro near the village of Vizzavona. Like the Tavignano, it can be kayaked when the snow melts, and becomes our playground during the summer months. The canyon is not technically difficult, but there are some impressive jumps, rocky passages and slides.
The Verghellu rises below Monte Rotondo and flows into the Vecchio, a mountain canyon that is great fun because of its rugged terrain: jumps, abseiling, slides and zip lines.
The Capelli, still in the Verghellu river, but on a different part of the route, resembles the Verghellu, but in miniature. It’s perfect for children.
The Tavignano rises at Lake Nino, a meeting place for Corsican druids on the night of certain moons. The river flows down through granite as far as Corte, then changes rock: we are in schist. It will end its course in the sea at Aleria. We’ve chosen the spot with the most impressive gorge to bring you the adventures of the Saut du Cur\u00e9.
On the way up to Calacuccia
The canyon de la Ruda, a beautiful gorge in a wild setting with fresh water, jumps, abseils and slides.
La Petra Leccia canyon, also in the Scala di Santa Regina gorge, where the Golo, Corsica’s longest river, flows. The famous \u2018bike canyon\u2019, with jumps, abseiling and a magical slide.
Descending south of Corte, we pass the Vizzavona pass.
Bocognano is home to another of Corsica’s famous canyons: the Richiusa, a real sabre-rattler in the mountains, with jumps, abseils and slides. In summer, beware of the crowds…
Head for Porto and the Calanques de Piana,
the Dardu, a canyon that ends in the sea, with jumps, abseiling and slides. A descent through red and pink granite peaks, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A real springtime canyon, come and experience it with the Spuntinu (traditional Corsican snack, the fisherman’s snack is a pure tradition invented by Altipiani) and the return trip by boat to Porto, a unique adventure.
The I Sulleoni canyon, the steepest but also the most beautiful in Corsica, with its 70-metre abseil, is an adventure in itself.
Le Zo\u00efcu, a cool-water canyon in a steep granite gorge, with watery abseils and jumps.
The other great region for canyoning is the Aiguilles de Bavella or Baveda.
Pulischellu is Corsica’s busiest canyon in summer, with jumps and slides in the middle of the Aiguilles de Bavella.
La Vacca is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful canyons in Corsica. With jumps, abseiling and a majestic setting, it’s an experience to be savoured with the senses and the eyes.
The Purcaraccia, hanging basins, abseiling, slides and jumps, under huge walls. See regulations for how to use it.
Heading towards Propriano, we come across the Baraci, a canyon that is both technical and fun, with jumps, abseils and slides.
I haven’t even mentioned the canyons of Cap Corse with the Viula, the Bastia region with the Cipetto, which we’ve renamed the \u2018spring canyon\u2019, U Branu, the Macini canyon in the Fiumorbo, etc.<\/p>

Here is a short list of Corsican canyons. For lovers of this activity, there is an excellent guide by Frank Jourdan, \u2018La Corse en Canyon\u2019.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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A short tour of central Corsica in pictures<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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