Sicily offers travelers countless opportunities for relaxation, but it also offers many opportunities to have fun in contact with nature.
Because in addition to the famous and vaunted beaches, the island boasts extraordinary natural places, such as the Alcantara Gorges.
Where are they and how does one get there? They are about half an hour's drive from Taormina, and from here you can get there by taking the SS 185 state road of Sella Mandrazzi towards Francavilla di Sicilia.
Let us venture out to discover them!
The Alcantara Gorges, story of a Sicilian canyon
Behind the Alcantara Gorges there is a geological history in which lava stone and water met, an encounter that gave life to a very special landscape.
It all began thousands of years ago when several volcanic eruptions created lava flows that reached the sea and formed Capo Schisò (where Giardini-Naxos is today).
But the Alcantara river has managed to make its way into the basalt and, in the territory of Motta Camastra, has shaped a canyon with walls featuring suggestive shapes that reach up to 30 meters in height.
This unmissable place can be visited in many ways, some are truly original.
River trekking and body rafting in the Alcantara Gorges
Once you have reached the Alcantara Gorges you can proceed to visit them independently by accessing the municipal entrance or, if you want a guide, from the Botanical and Geological Park.
By choosing this second option, you can take part in different routes and activities, including river trekking and body rafting.
These are two fun activities, suitable for both adults and children, which allow you to discover the gorges along the river together with expert guides, equipped with special overalls supplied or, in the case of body rafting, wetsuit, life jacket and helmet protective.
These two ways allow you to get a real “immersion” in the landscape and experience this ancient story up close, which sees the lava stone and the river waters as protagonists.
After the visit you can reach the beach of the gorges, a pleasant place to stop for a relaxing break and to think about the just experienced adventure in this Sicily, which offers a thousand surprises!