How to do the Sella descent by canoe (Asturias); our experience

Every year, on the first Saturday of August, the traditional International descent of the Sella, a festival that brings together more than a thousand canoeists who travel the 20 kilometers that separate Arriondas y Ribadesella.

Now, this very traditional sporting event in Asturias It also has a tourist aspect, as it has become one of the most popular activities carried out in this area in the east of the community.

But did you know that you yourself can make the descent of the Sella by canoe?

At present there are numerous active tourism companies that located in Arriondas offer the activity of the descent of the Sella by canoe, which can be done from April to October.

Although, without a doubt, it is in summer when there are more people enjoying this activity, as I have done recently.

How to do the Sella Descent activity by canoe

To do this canoe excursion you must go to Arriondas, town from where the famous annual competition and all the Descent excursions along the Sella River.

There are many companies that offer this activity, and the exact start of it on the river will depend on where the company you hire is located, which you will find located either on the river bank or inside the town.

In the latter case, once the material is delivered to you, the company itself will take you down by minibus to the departure point on the river.

El material they give you It is a life jacket, the canoe and the paddle.

In summer the water is not cold, so you can perfectly wear a swimsuit and wear, for example, a lycra t-shirt to protect you from the sun.

In the rest of the non-summer season, the departure equipment (without a price increase) includes a neoprene suit, since the waters of the Sella usually get quite cold.

If you prefer, you can also order this suit in the summer, but they will charge you an extra price.

As for footwear, ideally you should also wear neoprene ankle boots, but in summer you can wear flip-flops.

You can also wear sunglasses, but keep in mind that you are very likely to fall into the water and lose them.

They will offer you canoes for one, two or three people, but the latter is not recommended, because if there are three adults you may run aground in many sections of the river with the inconvenience that this entails.

You will also carry a hermetic plastic container where you can store all the objects you want to protect from water, such as wallets, cameras, glasses, etc.

And, likewise, some companies include a sandwich that you will surely want to take during the excursion.

This is the experience of canoeing down the Sella: routes

I can tell you that along the river you will find beach bars where you will be able to buy food and drinks, as well as numerous places to stop to recharge your batteries.

For you descent of the Sella by canoe You can choose two routes, the simplest, 7 kilometers, and the longest, 15 kilometers. The latter ends in the San Roman bridge, a It rained, about five kilometers from Ribadesella.

There are companies that also offer the possibility of picking you up at kilometer 10.

Before starting the activity in Arriondas, the instructors will teach you how to paddle the canoe and will give you advice that will be useful during the tour. Unless you hire a monitor, you will do the excursion alone, at your own pace.

They will then wait for you at the arrival location you have chosen.

Even so, it is advisable for someone in the group to carry a cell phone in case an incident arises or you want to shorten the initially planned route, regardless of the fact that the monitors make sure that no one is left behind.

The first section of the river is the most comfortable of the excursion, because although there are more people with their canoes, the river is narrower and there is more current, so you only have to worry about looking for the areas with the fastest flow.

In the second section, starting at kilometer 7, the river becomes wider, with less current and if it coincides with the rise of the tide, in the last section you will have to paddle more.

If your idea is to do the complete route, I recommend that you do not dawdle too much in the first seven kilometers because if not, the excursion may seem long.

El Sella descent activity schedule It is between 10 a.m. and 18 p.m., with departures ending around 13 p.m.

If you make the descent slowly, including some stops, it will take you about four hours to complete the entire 15 kilometer route.

How much does it cost to go down the Sella by canoe, prices

Los Sella descent prices They vary greatly depending on the company you hire, but it is usually between 22 and 30 euros per adult, and 15 euros for children.

If you watch the video included in this post, you can get an idea of ​​what your own descent of the Sella River can be like. Enjoy it!