In one sentence: Easter is the start of the season for the Sella descent. We open, the water is cold (8-11 °C), the wetsuit is included all year round and the river runs almost empty of canoes. If you fancy finding Asturias at its greenest, it is the best time to come.
If you are organising an Easter break in Asturias and wondering whether you will be able to do the Sella descent in March or April, the short answer is: yes. Easter is exactly when we lift the shutters after winter. At Aventura en el Sella we have spent more than 25 years opening the season at this time, and in this guide we tell you honestly what you will find: water temperature, the clothes you need, why the wetsuit is not an extra and when it is worth coming even if it is a bit chilly.
Spoiler: Easter has one huge advantage over summer that few people know about. We get to it at the end.
Yes, we open at Easter: specific dates for the start of the 2026 season
The Sella descent season traditionally starts at Easter and runs until the Pilar bank holiday in October. We do not open before March because the river in winter runs with too much flow and temperatures that are too low for tourist activity; we open when the climate allows a safe and enjoyable experience. If you want to see it month by month, you have it in the best time to do the Sella descent.
Easter 2026 falls like this: from Sunday 29 March (Palm Sunday) to Sunday 5 April (Easter Sunday). Maundy Thursday (2 April) and Good Friday (3 April) are the busiest days. If you are coming with the family, it is best to book a few days ahead, although the crowds at Easter are nothing like those of July or August.
Open starts from 10:30 to 12:30: you do not pick a time, you arrive whenever you can within that window. The river closes at 18:00 by order of the Confederación Hidrográfica del Cantábrico, so the whole activity fits comfortably within the day.
What the river Sella is like at Easter (air, water and flow)
This is what you really find in March and April in Arriondas:
- Air temperature (daytime): 12-16 °C at Easter, compared with 22-28 °C in summer.
- Water temperature: 8-11 °C (genuinely cold), compared with 15-18 °C in summer.
- River flow: high from snowmelt and rain, compared with the normal summer flow.
- Chance of rain: medium-high. In summer it is low.
- Overall feel: fresh but invigorating. It is not the Caribbean, it is Asturias in its most authentic version.
The water is genuinely cold. It comes straight from the snowmelt of the Picos de Europa, and in March-April the days are not yet long enough for the sun to warm the riverbed. That is why the wetsuit is compulsory at this time, and why we include it at no cost (we cover that in the next block).
In exchange, the high flow gives you a different experience: the river flows with more power, you move forward with less paddling effort, and at some points you will see little rapids that do not exist in August. The landscape is at its best: intense green, freshly awoken meadows, full rivers and morning mist over the valleys. For anyone who comes with a camera, April is hard to beat.
That said: Asturias in spring is changeable. The same day can start with sunshine and end with orbayu. We handle it without any drama (you have the plan B further down).
The wetsuit is included all year round, at Easter too
This is one of the questions you ask us most on the phone: "does the wetsuit cost extra at Easter?". No. In our All-Inclusive package, the short wetsuit is part of the price all year round, not just in March and April. When the water is cold, we give it to you before you set off, end of story. When it is hot in August and it is not needed, it is not handed out. As simple as that.
We stress this because we have seen competitors advertise "free wetsuit at Easter!" as if it were a one-off promotion, when in reality it means they charge for it separately the rest of the year. That is not our case. For us, if you are going to paddle for two hours in water at 9 °C, the wetsuit is safety, not marketing.
What the price includes (at Easter too):
- Canoe, paddle and certified life jacket.
- Short wetsuit and neoprene booties if the water is cold.
- Mini lesson with a qualified monitor before setting off.
- Return transfer from Toraño or from the Complete drop-off point.
- Free parking, changing rooms and lockers with a key.
- Pets travel free (with a canine life jacket that we provide).
If you want to see the exact breakdown, you have it in prices and what the All-Inclusive package covers. And if you are interested in the open-window option, it is in Premium booking 10:30-12:30.
What to pack for the Sella descent at Easter
The difference between enjoying the descent at Easter and getting cold is in the backpack. This is what we recommend in order of priority:
For the river (everything is going to get wet):
- Swimwear (underneath everything else).
- Thermal top (lycra, polypropylene or surf rash vest). This is key. The wetsuit protects the torso, but the thermal adds a layer that makes the difference.
- Neoprene booties (we provide these).
- Cap and sunglasses: even if it is chilly, the glare off the water and the spring sun are still there.
For afterwards (dry clothes waiting for you):
- A big towel.
- A full change of dry clothes: underwear, socks, comfy trousers, a jumper or hoodie, dry trainers.
- A waterproof or cagoule (it might rain on the way back or going up on the transfer).
- A plastic bag for your wet clothes on the way home.
We keep all this in the locker with a key while you are on the water. You do not need to take anything in the canoe except the watertight drum with your phone if you want photos. If you want the all-year canonical list, it is in what to bring to the Sella descent.
Mini Sella or Complete: which route to choose in March and April
At Easter, the 7 km Mini route is the sensible choice for most people, and we will explain why. You have the interactive route map with the river's landmarks if you want to see it step by step, and the timings detail in how long the Sella descent takes.
- Mini Sella · 7 km · ~2 hours on the water: ideal at Easter. The body keeps moving, you warm up, you have time to stop at a meander, and you come off the water before the cold builds up. Perfect for families with little ones, couples coming to switch off and first-timers.
- Complete · 14.5 km · ~4 hours on the water: in high summer it is the choice if you come fit and with time to spare. At Easter, four hours in water at 9 °C is a lot of hours. We only recommend it if you have previous experience with the cold (skiers, surfers, people used to winter outdoor activities) and if the weather plays along.
If you are unsure, Mini at Easter, Complete in June or September. We have spent 25 years watching this and satisfaction is always higher with this logic. If you want to dig into the effort of each route, we have it in is the Sella descent tiring?.
The great advantage of Easter: the river almost to yourself
This is the reason why many people who already know the Sella come back at Easter rather than in summer: in March and April, the river runs practically empty of canoes. Where in August you see a hundred boats at once on any stretch, at Easter you see five. Sometimes none at all.
For couples coming to switch off from Madrid, Bilbao or Gijón, this changes the experience completely. You do not hear voices, you hear the river. The herons have not fled. The landscape does not compete with riverside bars blaring music (the riverside bars on the river, by the way, mostly open from June onwards, so at Easter it is best to bring your own food in the watertight drum and eat it wherever you like).
In exchange for being a little chilly, you take home a river that feels private. For us, that is well worth the 9 °C of the water.
And that is why we particularly recommend Easter to:
- Photographers: soft light, morning mist, contrasts of green that are impossible in August.
- Couples without children coming to switch off.
- Families with children over 8 with outdoor experience. For younger little ones and water this cold, here we explain when it works and when it is better to wait.
- Anyone who has already done the Sella in summer and wants to discover it in another season.
And if it rains, what happens? (realistic plan B)
A fair question. Here is the honest answer:
- If there is orbayu or light rain: the activity goes ahead anyway. In fact, in Asturias coming down the Sella with orbayu has its charm and, since you get wet regardless, it does not change the experience that much. The wetsuit keeps you warm and the transfer is waiting at the end.
- If it rains hard for several days in a row and the flow rises above the safe threshold: the Confederación Hidrográfica del Cantábrico may close the river. It is a technical decision, not ours. When this happens, we let you know by WhatsApp or phone in good time, and we move your booking to the next day at no cost or to the following weekend. If you cannot make another date, nothing is charged.
- Cancellations on your part: you have it covered in prices. The policy is flexible and the idea is that you come relaxed, not stressed by the weather forecast.
In 25 years, a complete closure due to a rise in flow at Easter is exceptional. The usual thing is to have one grey day and another glorious one, and the activity goes ahead with no problem. If you want to know who you are booking with, we tell you about ourselves in the Arriondas team behind Aventura en el Sella.
In summary: why come at Easter
Easter is the start of the Sella descent season, and it is one of the best times of the year if you want to find the river almost to yourself, with the landscape at its greenest and without the summer crowds. The water is cold (8-11 °C), but the wetsuit is included all year round, not just at this time. With a thermal top underneath and a dry change of clothes waiting, the experience is invigorating and thoroughly enjoyable.
Our recommendation: the 7 km Mini, book 1-3 days ahead, bring a waterproof in case Asturias decides to be Asturias, and let yourself go. If you want to understand why every August there is a Sella festival here, we have it in the Descenso Internacional del Sella; and if you want to read the real reviews of those who have already come, they are in 147 reviews with 4.5 stars.
To book your Easter 2026 place (without paying now), you have a real-time calendar, or write to us at info@aventuraenelsella.es. We will be waiting for you in Arriondas, just as spring starts to be in the air.
What you ask us most
- Is the water cold at Easter?
Yes. The Sella water in March and April sits at around 8-11 °C because it comes from the snowmelt of the Picos de Europa. That is why a wetsuit is compulsory, and we hand it over with the canoe at no extra cost. Once you have it on, the cold stops being a problem.
- Is the wetsuit included at Easter?
Yes. At Aventura en el Sella, the short wetsuit and the neoprene booties are part of the All-Inclusive package all year round, not just at Easter. It is not a one-off promotion: it is part of the kit we always provide whenever the water is cold.
- What if it rains on the day of my Easter booking?
If it is light rain or orbayu (Asturian drizzle), the activity goes ahead anyway: you get wet regardless and the wetsuit keeps you protected. It is only cancelled if the Confederación Hidrográfica del Cantábrico closes the river due to a heavy rise in flow. In that case we let you know in good time and move your booking at no cost, or we refund you if you cannot make another date.
- Do I need to book well in advance for Easter?
Not as far ahead as for summer. At Easter, 1 to 3 days in advance is enough, except for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, which fill up sooner. Booking is free and you do not pay until the day of the activity.
- Which route is better at Easter, Mini or Complete?
The 7 km Mini, almost always. It is around two hours on the water, you come off before the cold builds up and you have the afternoon free. The 14.5 km Complete only if you come with previous winter-outdoor experience. If you are unsure, we break it down for you in is the Sella descent tiring?
