In one sentence: Gijón to Arriondas is around 50 km on the A-8 (≈55 minutes by car). The Sella descent fits comfortably into a single day: leave at 9:00, back in Gijón before 18:00, with a swim, a riverside-bar stop and a quick nap thrown in.
You live in Gijón, you have a free Saturday and you fancy switching off by the river with the little ones (or with the gang). The Sella descent is the perfect day plan from the city: you are in Arriondas in under an hour, you paddle down the river at your own pace between meadows and riverside bars, you stop at one of them for a drink or a snack if you fancy, and by mid-afternoon you are back home with time for a shower and a quiet supper.
In this post you will find the full guide to organising it from Gijón: distance, route, transport options and a minute-by-minute day plan. We have been in Arriondas for more than 25 years and most of our families come precisely from Gijón, Oviedo and Avilés, so we have answered these questions a fair few times.
Quick summary: distance, time and what you need to know
Before getting stuck in, the figures that actually matter:
- Distance Gijón → Arriondas: roughly 50 km as the crow flies along the A-8. Other sites talk about 70 km because they count the old route via Villaviciosa, but with today's motorway the trip lands at around 50. If you want to see the full route with every exit, we break it down by point of origin.
- Driving time: 50-55 minutes in normal conditions. In August, at weekends or on bank holidays, add 15-20 minutes for traffic as you reach Arriondas.
- Best time to leave: between 8:30 and 9:30 from Gijón. That way you arrive at our facilities between 9:30 and 10:30, get kitted out without rushing and slip into the river within the Premium window (10:30-12:30).
- Back in Gijón: between 16:30 and 18:00. The river closes at 18:00 by order of the Confederación Hidrográfica, so you are home in plenty of time for supper.
- Car park: free at our facilities. No need to find a space in the village or pay for pay-and-display.
- Booking: always online, by WhatsApp, phone or email. We do not take walk-ins because in high season we run out of canoes by mid-morning.
If you are coming with children from 5 years (minimum height 1.15 m) or with a dog, I can tell you straight away that both are possible: pets are free and we provide a canine life jacket. And if it is already clear that your launch point is Arriondas and you want to focus on the village itself, we have our specific guide from Arriondas village.
How to get there by car from Gijón (step by step)
The most comfortable option, and the one we recommend to 90% of the families coming from Gijón, is to drive over. You park for free, you do not rely on bus timetables and, on the way back, you can stop for supper in Villaviciosa or a glass of cider in Lastres without feeling rushed.
Recommended route (A-8 + AS-255):
- Leave Gijón on the A-8 motorway heading towards Santander.
- After passing Villaviciosa, take the exit onto the AS-255 signposted for Arriondas / Cangas de Onís. It is a well signposted road that runs along the valley.
- On reaching Arriondas, follow signs for "Descenso del Sella – Aventura en el Sella". Our facilities are on the edge of the village, with a wide entrance and our own car park.
Alternative route (A-8 + A-64 + N-634): if you are coming from the west of Gijón or prefer to stay on the motorway almost to the end, you can drop down the AS-I towards Oviedo, link with the A-64 and take exit 14 to join the N-634 all the way to Arriondas. The total time is much the same (55-60 minutes), but you clock up more kilometres.
Set Google Maps to "Aventura en el Sella, Arriondas", not just "Arriondas": it takes you straight to our door and saves you driving round the village.
Fill up in Gijón. There are petrol stations in Arriondas, but on August Saturdays they tend to have a queue.
Take it easy on the AS-255. It is a lovely road but full of curves; the spot speed cameras tend to be between Villaviciosa and Colunga.
How to get there by bus: the ALSA Gijón-Arriondas line
Coming without a car? It is doable too, although it means setting off a little earlier.
- Operator: ALSA runs regular Gijón-Arriondas services, usually via Villaviciosa or Oviedo depending on the timetable. Check the live timetable on alsa.es the day before, as it varies between high and low season.
- Approximate journey time: between 1 h 15 min and 1 h 45 min, depending on whether it is direct or has a connection at Oviedo.
- Arriondas stop: the village's central bus station. From the stop to our facilities it is roughly 1 km (a 15-minute easy walk or 5 minutes in a local taxi).
- Return: after the descent we bring you back to our base in the shuttle; from there you can grab a taxi or walk to the station. Check the return bus timetable to Gijón before leaving home so you do not get stranded.
My honest recommendation: if you are a couple or a group of friends, sharing a car works out more practical and cheaper. If you are travelling alone, as a couple without a car, or staying somewhere in central Gijón without parking, the bus works perfectly well.
Day plan: from your morning coffee in Gijón to a dip in the Sella and back
Here is how I organise a typical July Saturday for a family setting off from Gijón:
- 8:30 — Coffee and toast at home or at any café in Gijón. Rucksack packed the night before (swimsuit on under your clothes, towel, dry change, sun cream, cap, water).
- 9:00 — Leave Gijón by car. A-8 heading for Santander.
- 9:55 — Arrive at our facilities in Arriondas. Park in our free car park.
- 10:00-10:30 — Check in at reception. We hand you the canoe, life jackets (also the canine one if you have brought your dog), a wetsuit if the river is chilly, and the watertight barrel for your phone. A quick safety briefing and into the shuttle.
- 10:30-12:30 — Onto the water within the Premium open window of the descent. You do not pick an exact time: when you are ready, you board your canoe and start paddling at your own pace.
- 12:30-15:00 — Paddling down the Sella. The Mini route is 7 km (≈1 h 30 min) and the Full is 14.5 km (≈3-4 h with stops). You stop at the riverside bars (Riverland, El Oasis, El Prau, El Bosque, La Mediana, Toraño) to take a breather, let the little ones splash in the safe pools and have a drink or a snack. If you want to pack your bag carefully, have a look at what to bring on the Sella descent.
- 15:00-15:30 — Off the river at the finish point. We pick you up in the shuttle and drive you back to our facilities.
- 15:30-16:30 — Changing rooms and lockers to change, shower and stash the wet things. Coffee or a soft drink in the rest area if you fancy.
- 16:30-17:30 — Back to Gijón on the same route. If you still have the energy and it is on your way, you can stop in Villaviciosa or Lastres for a quick bite.
- 18:00 — Home. With time for a short nap before supper.
A rounded plan for a Saturday or Sunday: you leave Gijón with your coffee still warm and you are back in time for supper without a rush, with the descent done and the whole family pleasantly worn out.
What if I want to stay over nearby?
Lots of people coming from Gijón make the most of it and pair the descent with a night in eastern Asturias: Arriondas, Cangas de Onís, Ribadesella or Llanes. It makes a brilliant short-weekend plan, especially if you also want to add a visit to the Lakes of Covadonga or a beach afternoon in Ribadesella.
Around there you will find everything from family-run rural cottages to charming hotels and campsites. We have a dedicated post with real options and price ranges: guide to accommodation near the Sella descent.
If you decide to stay over, my advice is to book the activity first (places fly in July and August) and then slot the accommodation around the descent time.
Booking, price and what is included from Gijón
When you book with us from Gijón you pay exactly the same as if you were coming from Arriondas itself. There is no surcharge for travelling from the city. What we do include in the price (it is not extra) is the following:
- Canoe (Mini 7 km or Full 14.5 km).
- Paddle, life jacket and watertight barrel for your phone.
- Wetsuit if the river is chilly (in May, June and September, usually yes).
- Shuttle from our facilities to the launch point and return from the finish point.
- Free car park, changing rooms and lockers to keep your kit dry.
- Pets free of charge (canine life jacket included).
- Safety monitor on the river.
2026 prices (the same wherever you travel from):
- Children aged 5 to 12: €25.
- Adults: €35.
- Minimum age 5 years and 1.15 m in height.
- Pets: free.
You have the full breakdown on the prices and age-based discounts page. To book there are four channels: website ("Book" button), WhatsApp, phone or email. There are no walk-in bookings at the office because we manage places online so that nobody is left without a canoe on arrival.
In July and August book 3-5 days ahead. Outside high season you can book one or two days in advance, and even for the same day if you ring first thing and we still have room. But never turn up in Arriondas without a booking thinking "we'll see how it goes": we do not work like that. When you have it clear, book your canoe online and we will take care of the rest.
What you ask us most
- How long does it take to drive from Gijón to Arriondas?
Between 50 and 55 minutes on the A-8 + AS-255. In August and on bank holidays add 15-20 minutes for traffic as you reach the village.
- Is there a direct bus from Gijón to the Sella descent?
ALSA runs regular Gijón-Arriondas services, sometimes direct and sometimes with a change at Oviedo. Check the day's timetable on alsa.es before setting off.
- Can you do the Sella descent as a day trip from Gijón?
Yes, easily. Leaving Gijón around 9:00, you are home before 18:00 with the descent done, lunch sorted and a hot shower under your belt. It is a full day plan — no need to stay overnight.
- Is there a car park at the facilities and is it free?
Yes. We have our own free car park next to reception. You will not need to look for a space in the village or pay for pay-and-display.
