As the city sizzles, what better way to cool off than out on the water? Kayaking is exhilarating, relaxing, challenging and great exercise all at the same time. And there’s something for everyone. Also, provided you stick to launch sites and respect wildlife, it’s low-impact on the environment and a great way to spot creatures in their natural habitat.
Catalunya offers a huge diversity of shorelines to explore, from the vertiginous cliffs, crystalline waters and hidden coves of the Costa Brava, to the endless sweeps of golden sand on the Costa Daurada. There’s no shortage of paddle potential inland either. Float through turquoise waters and breathtaking gorges straight out of Indiana Jones in Lleida’s “lake district”; cruise the wetlands of the Delta de l’Ebre on the lookout for birds; or master white water in the Pyrenees.
Photo courtesy of Club Nàutic Garraf.
Barcelona & Lleida
Club Nàutic Garraf
Nestled at the foot of the Garraf Massif, Club Nàutic offers a monthly bateig (introductory session) May through October, €20 per person. Learn basic paddle-craft and cruise towards Sitges in the company of experienced instructors. The club also runs regular day or weekend trips to the Costa Brava, Costa Daurada and the lakes year-round, including the spectacular Congost de Mont-rebei and the Pantà de Camarasa. The more experienced can even paddle around one of the Balearic Islands, sleeping in hidden coves along the way.
Read more: Rollin' on the River.
If you really get the bug, basic and advanced level courses are €70 pp and kayaks and other equipment are available for rent. While you don’t have to be a member to join excursions, the benefits include free storage and excursions, discounts on courses and access to the gym, pool, sauna, barbeque and other facilities. For membership, hire and excursion rates, contact the club.
Escullera de Ponent, S/N, Garraf, clubnauticgarraf.com
Kayaking in Sitges, photo courtesy of Nootka.
Nootka
From a sheltered beach on the seafront, Nootka runs four excursions along the Vilanova-Garraf coast Easter through October. Prices range from €35 adults, €28 kids for an easy two-hour seafront jaunt, to €80 pp for the more challenging five-hour return to Garraf. Guides are knowledgeable about the local area and its history. All kayaks are double unless you have experience and can take a single.
Nootka also runs courses, from beginner to advanced and kayak surfing. Prices range from €34 pp to €85 for two or more. Combined course or course+excursion packs are available, as are family discounts. Also available are paddle boarding, tailor-made activities for companies or groups and Easter or summer camps for kids (so you can dump them on the beach and grab a beer).
Platja de les Anquines, Passeig Marítim, 80, Sitges, nootka-kayak.com
Photo courtesy of Kayaking Costa Brava.
Costa Brava
Kayaking Costa Brava
This outfit runs excursions along the stunning coastline from Palamós to Cap de Creus. Guided tours range from a two-hour family trip (€25 adults/€15 children 4-12 years) out of Port Lligat (min eight pax) to 3-4 hour tours at €50 pp, to a two-day trek around Cap de Creus for €150 pp. Guides are knowledgeable about the history, flora and fauna of the area and KCB also offers personalized educational and other activities for schools, groups and companies. You can also organize excursions further afield, volunteer for marine trash clean-ups or support swimming races.
Read more: Via Ferrata: Crawling Up the Walls.
Most standard tours run morning and afternoon June through September. In season, you can rent sit-on-top (open) or touring kayaks and material by the hour or day from four different beaches. Out of season, touring kayak rental and tours (min. eight people) can be arranged on request. Beginner and advanced courses start at €38/hour pp, and British Canoe Union-qualifications €120/hour pp. Large groups and Centre Excursionistes de Catalunya members get discounts on tours. Also, anyone completing three tours gets the fourth free.
C/del Pintor Enric Serra, 42, L'Escala, & various beaches in season, kayakingcostabrava.com
Pyrenees
Kayak Sort
Kayak Sort runs tours and activities on the Noguera Pallares river from early April/Easter through mid-October. The water may be white, but there’s something for all levels, with three-hour introductory sessions starting at €60 pp. Novices can even tackle intermediate rapids accompanied by an experienced guide, from €98 pp. Half- and full-day guided tours are €90-€120 pp. Variable length courses, from beginner level up, are from 2.5 (€59 pp) to 10 hours (€236 pp). All rates go down for bookings of two or more people. Experienced paddlers can hire gear from €25 per kayak/half day. Kayak Sort also offers camps and activities for kids and can organize activities like rafting through other local companies.
Av. Verge de Montserrat nº4 Bx, Sort, kayakinsort.com
Photo courtesy of Aquaterra.
Vic Reservoirs
Aquaterra Club
Aquaterra runs a number of daily tours on the Pantà de Sau from 1.5 (€26 pp) to 2.5 hours (€38 pp), to a full day (€85 pp). Tours take in sights like the semi-submerged bell tower of San Romà de Sau, when visible, or the Monasterio de Sant Pere de Casserres. Guides are Real Federación Española de Piragüismo certified and knowledgeable about local history. Water level allowing, you can also undertake a two-day tour of the Pantà de Susqueda, stopping overnight by the Sant Martí de Queròs hermitage (€140 pp).
Other activities include three-hour Costa Brava trips from Lloret de Mar to Tossa (€45 pp), combined packs with activities like trekking or Segway, and tailor-made activities for schools and companies. Courses from beginner up last three or six hours, €85 pp and €150 pp, respectively. Most tours require a minimum of two people in season (March through November) and rates go down for more. Out of season, group tours can be arranged on request.
Mas la Riba s/n, Pantà de Sau, Vilanova de Sau–Osona, aquaterraclub.es
Minimum age, number of people, height or level of experience vary by activity and company. Reservations are recommended, especially in high season.
Kate Williams.
Kate Williams is a freelance writer, editor, translator and Director of The Writer Stuff. She left her native England for Barcelona in 2003 and never looked, or went, back. When she isn’t writing or discovering all the cool stuff going on in the city, she enjoys hiking in the Catalan countryside, kayaking on the Costa Brava, and volunteers at a local animal sanctuary. You can read more by Kate here.