© Getty Images 

Wanaka, New Zealand -

Wanaka on New Zealand's South Island offers up some incredible canyoning opportunities. It's the gateway to the Southern Alps' Mount Aspiring National Park, a wilderness of glaciers, beech forests, alpine lakes, and tumbling waterfalls.

© Shutterstock 

Zion National Park, USA -

Already acknowledged as one of the best climbing destinations in the United States, Zion National Park in Utah is also one of the best canyoning hotspots. Destinations like the Narrows and the Subway offer opportunities for route finding, swimming, and short rappels.

© Getty Images 

Cebu, Philippines -

Cebu is the location of the Kawasan Falls, famous for its beautiful turquoise water. The falls, which sit at the foot of the Mantalongon Mountain Range, has three waterfall levels, all of which feature natural pools where visitors can swim and relax.

© Shutterstock 

Tara Canyon, Montenegro -

With a depth of 1,300 m (4,265 ft) Tara is the deepest canyon in Europe. Navigating the Tara River on foot across fast-flowing rapids and over steep waterfalls makes for one of the great European canyoning challenges.

© Shutterstock 

Copper Canyon, Mexico -

Copper Canyon in the state of Chihuahua in northwestern Mexico is actually a series of 20 canyons, formed over millennia by six rivers. It's one of the most challenging and remote of canyoning destinations, and levels of difficulty range from medium to high.

© Shutterstock 

Jalbire Canyon, Nepal -

Nepal is a top adventure tourist destination. After all, they come to climb Everest! For seasoned canyoneers, Jalbire is where you'll find huge waterfalls, towering rock formations, and yawning ravines. In fact, it's the perfect place to slide, abseil, rappel, and climb.

© Getty Images 

Blue Mountains, Australia -

The Empress Falls in Australia's Blue Mountains provide one of the ultimate tests for canyoning junkies. The mountains present a range of around 400 canyons, with many nowhere near the size of the Empress, so it's a destination for all levels of expertise.

© Shutterstock 

Agawa Canyon, Canada -

Agawa Canyon in Canada's sparsely populated Algoma District in northeastern Ontario is wilderness personified. Fortunately the region is accessible by train, and June to October is the best time to hit the river and waterfalls. Otherwise, ice climbing is the preferred winter sport.

© Shutterstock

Azores, Portugal -

Portugal's Azores archipelago is a chain of nine volcanic islands anchored in the mid-Atlantic Ocean. Of these, São Miguel, São Jorge, and Flores offer up memorable canyoning options and itineraries. São Jorge presents the largest vertical descents.

© Shutterstock 

Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica -

Speaking of volcanoes, Arenal Volcano on Costa Rica features a collection of crashing rivers and breathtaking waterfalls found hidden under its verdant, forested slopes... and the majestic wildlife provides an inspiring sideshow! And don't worry: according to The Costa Rica News, Arenal is now listed as dormant.

© Shutterstock 

Blyde River Canyon, South Africa -

South Africa's Blyde River Canyon is one of the continent's leading canyoning destinations, supported by a well-developed tourism industry. It's here that the mighty Kadishi Tufa waterfall is located—at 200 m (660 ft) one of the tallest waterfalls on the planet.

© Shutterstock 

Verdon Gorge, France -

The south of France is a world-class destination for canyoning, and the Alpes-Maritimes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence regions have some of the best descents. The Verdon Gorge near Castellane is the most famous of the region's river gorges, and not surprisingly offers some of the most inspiring canyoning experiences in the country.

© Getty Images 

Le Lauzet-Ubaye, France -

Le Lauzet-Ubaye, located in the Ubaye Valley in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, is also a renowned canyoning destination.

© Getty Images 

Lake Garda, Italy -

Lake Garda is known to every adventure tourist for canyoning trails. So, too, is the Suze Valley. At Lake Garda, novices should follow the Torrente Tuffone, while the more experienced will be tested on both the Torrente Aviana and Rio Nero routes.

© Shutterstock 

Cetina River Canyon, Croatia -

The Cetina River in southern Croatia offers a great location for rafting and canyoning. Snaking between the steep cliffs of the Cetina Canyon, the river eventually flows into a beautiful valley that is sun-drenched in summer.

© Shutterstock 

Gorgol Canyon, Spain -

Canyoning in Gorgol Canyon in the Pyrenees is a national pastime for many. This natural wonder is carved out of the Tena Valley in Spain's Huesca province in northern Aragón.

© Shutterstock 

Sierra de Guara, Spain -

Aragón is also home to the Sierra de Guara, an area that has become known in recent years for its excellent opportunities for canyoning due to its many gorges.

© Shutterstock 

Partnach Gorge, Germany -

Partnachklamm, in the southern German town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, is where you'll find Partnach Gorge. This is a year-round Bavarian canyoning destination. In winter, the river and waterfalls semi-freeze to give canyoneers a memorably chilly experience.

© Shutterstock 

Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales -

Pontneddfechan in the Brecon Beacons National Park is an area known as Wales' waterfall country. It's one of the few places in the United Kingdom where you can enjoy an authentic canyoning adventure.

© Getty Images 

Aguare Canyon, Spain -

Aguare Canyon in the Pyrenees in Huesca province is found near the delightful village of Canfranc, which lies in the valley of the Aragón River.

© Shutterstock 

La Tienda Canyon, Switzerland -

Running La Tinda Canyon, set above the village of Les Marécottes in the canton of Valais, is not for the nervous. Prior experience is necessary for canyoning here, since the maneuvers are a tad bit technical.

© Shutterstock 

Shakti Canyon, Indonesia -

Long-haul travelers descend on Bali year-round, and not just for the beaches. Bali is blessed with a stunning untamed interior of rivers and rain forests, and it's where you'll find Shakti Canyon, a natural wonder made for rappels, jumps, and slides. 

© Getty Images 

Galamus Gorges, France -

Pictured are two canyoneers walking the Agly River through the wonderful Galamus Gorges near Saint-Paul-de-Fenouillet in southern France. In the summer months the gorges are widely used to practice canyoning.

© Getty Images 

Aspromonte, Italy -

The Maesano Waterfalls are one of the most beautiful and most visited places in Italy's Aspromonte National Park, in Calabria. And not just famous with nature lovers! The crashing water provides an exceptional challenge for even the most experienced canyoneer.

© Getty Images 

Grand Canyon National Park, USA -

One of the world's great outdoor tourism destinations, Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona is home to much of the immense Grand Canyon. Along the floor of this stunning natural wonder are numerous rivers and gorges waiting to be explored, either on foot or by raft.

© Getty Images 

Pucayacu River Canyon, Ecuador -

South America offers up some extraordinary canyoning opportunities, and it takes supreme courage to tackle the Pucayacu River Canyon.

© Shutterstock 

Pedernales River Canyon, USA -

Set deep in Texas is the Pedernales River Canyon, where the relatively tame Pedernales River makes for ideal conditions for those new to canyoning.

© Shutterstock 

Finger Lake Canyon Falls, USA -

Finger Lake Canyon Falls, New York state's premier canyoning spot, is known as the Grand Canyon of the east for its daring watersport options.

© Shutterstock 

Grey Mares Trail, Scotland -

Grey Mares Trail, a 60-m (196 ft) hanging valley waterfall near Moffat in southern Scotland, is the most technical in the UK. For brave hearts only!

Sources: (The Costa Rica News) (Secret World)

See also: These adrenaline junkie celebs are into extreme sports

© Shutterstock