In one line: on the Sella almost nobody actually goes in a real "kayak". What you hire in Arriondas is, in 95% of cases, an open canoe with 2 or 3 seats (K3 rule), stable, with a backrest and fit for families, couples and dogs. The single kayak exists, but it is a different beast: nimbler, less stable, and for sportier paddlers.
We have spent more than 25 years taking families, couples and groups down the river Sella, and the question lands in our WhatsApp and our phone every week: "do I go in a kayak or a canoe?". The short answer is that most people doing the descent go in an open canoe, not a sporty kayak. The longer answer is below, with real-world detail so you can decide before you book your descent.
In this guide we clear up what is actually on offer on the tourist Sella, why the canoe is the standard choice, what the technical differences with the kayak are, and which profile each boat suits. It is not a sales pitch: it is an honest explainer so you turn up in Arriondas knowing exactly what is waiting for you on the water.
First things first: on the Sella almost nobody goes in a real "kayak"
When people talk about "Sella descent in a kayak", most of the time they are talking, in reality, about an open canoe with several seats. The name stuck because of commercial habit and because the word "kayak" rings a bell with the general public. But the boat that almost every Arriondas company hires out is a modern polyethylene canoe with raised seats and a comfortable backrest.
At Aventura en el Sella we hire out unsinkable open canoes with 2 and 3 seats (K3 rule, max 3 people per canoe), not single kayaks. We say it upfront because it changes everything: the stability, the effort, the minimum age and the possibility of bringing your dog on board. If you have seen "kayak" on another website or in a search and you were picturing a narrow, sporty boat, take a breath: what you are going to paddle is much friendlier than that.
That confusion also explains why some people book expecting a more "extreme" experience. The tourist Sella is not that. It is a kind river, with gentle Grade I rapids, where grandparents go down with their grandkids, couples on a relaxed plan and groups of mates who want to take in the landscape. The open canoe is exactly what that plan calls for.
The open canoe: what ours is like and who it is for
The open canoe is the family boat of the Sella, full stop. These are the real specs of the ones we run on every descent:
- Seats: 2 or 3 people per canoe (K2 or K3). K3 is the maximum on the Sella: there is no 4-seater canoe on the river. If you are 4, you book two canoes that the instructor groups together at the launch so you go down side by side. Real-world combos: a couple in a K2, three friends in a K3, a 2+2 family in two grouped K2s, a family with a dog in a K3 (two people + a furry one)…
- Paddle: double-bladed (one each, with a blade at each end). You paddle sitting down, facing forward.
- Seat: raised, with a comfortable backrest. You are not sitting on the floor of the boat, you sit as if in a low chair.
- Hull: wide and flat. Very stable. Very hard to flip in a Grade I river like the Sella.
- Space: enough for a large dry barrel with food, phone, towel and dry clothes. It fits between your feet.
- Pets: yes. Your dog comes on board with its canine life jacket (we put it on, no charge). Plenty of folk discover this when they arrive and are delighted they can bring their furry friend.
- Minimum age: 5 years and 1.15 m tall, with a properly fitted kids life jacket.
- Technique needed: minimal. A 10-minute briefing before you launch and off you go.
The canoe is the natural boat for the Sella because the river asks for enjoyment, not performance. You drift along taking it all in, chatting to whoever is with you, stop for photos at the Pozo del Arco and, if you fancy, you let the current do the work for a stretch. If you are coming with little ones, our guide to the descent with small kids walks you through it step by step.
The single kayak: when it makes sense
The single kayak is another story. Some companies (not all) offer it as an option for very specific profiles. It is worth knowing what it is like to understand why we do not recommend it as a first family outing:
- Seats: 1 (sometimes 2 in sit-on-top tandem models).
- Paddle: double-bladed, one each.
- Seat: low, almost flush with the water. Very low backrest or none at all.
- Hull: narrower and longer. Nimbler but less stable than a canoe.
- Space: scarce. A small dry bag at most. No family luggage fits.
- Pets: no. Neither the space nor the stability for a dog.
- Rough minimum age: 12-14 years (depends on the company) and you need to be a confident swimmer.
- Technique needed: some paddling to hold your line and straighten the kayak through the Sella's gentle rapids.
The kayak has its crowd: people coming on their own, experienced paddlers, younger groups looking for a sportier pace. If you have paddled before and want a more active day, it is a valid option and you will find it at other Arriondas companies. If you are coming as a family, with your partner or with your dog, the canoe will give you a much better day.
On the Sella, "kayak" and "canoe" are not the same word. The open canoe is the standard, the family choice, the boat we have been running in Arriondas for 25 years. The single kayak is the sporty exception.
Quick comparison: canoe vs kayak on the Sella
Here is the summary so you can see the differences at a glance. It is the question we get most on WhatsApp and it saves you a couple of phone calls:
- Seats: canoe 2 or 3 (K3 rule, max) / kayak 1 (sometimes 2).
- Stability: canoe very high / kayak medium.
- Backrest: canoe yes, comfy / kayak low or none.
- Minimum age: canoe 5 years and 1.15 m / kayak 12-14 years.
- Pets on board: canoe yes, free / kayak no.
- Luggage space: canoe large dry barrel / kayak small dry bag.
- Paddling technique: canoe minimal / kayak some paddling.
- Ideal for: canoe families, couples, first-timers / kayak solo, sporty, experienced.
- Speed: canoe relaxed / kayak nimbler.
- Physical effort: canoe low-medium / kayak medium.
- Rough price: both in the €25-35 per person bracket.
Is the kayak harder than the canoe?
Yes, the kayak needs a bit more technique, especially to hold your line and to react when the river kicks up a little. On the Sella we are talking very gentle Grade I rapids, nothing serious, but it tips more easily than a canoe because the hull is narrower.
The canoe, on the other hand, forgives almost anything: anyone can paddle it, no matter the age, no matter that it is your first time with a paddle in your hand. That is the charm of a kind river like the Sella: you can go down it as a family without ever having held a paddle and enjoy the 4-5 hours of the descent just as much. If you are worried about getting tired, we break it down in is the Sella descent tiring?.
One important nuance: the Sella rapids are Grade I (the gentlest on the international scale). They are not dangerous in themselves, but in a kayak you will feel them more: the boat will dance about and you will need to paddle to straighten it. In an open canoe, you barely notice them.
Grade I is the gentlest level on the international whitewater scale: moving water but without major obstacles or serious drops. Suitable for absolute beginners in an open canoe. In a single kayak, the same river feels more active.
Can I bring my dog in a kayak?
No. This is one of the most common questions we get and the answer is clear: the single kayak does not take pets. There is no space, no stability and the dog would be uncomfortable and at risk the whole way down.
In an open canoe yes (K2 or K3, any size), no problem at all. The dog rides on the floor of the boat between the seats, with its canine life jacket on (we put it on, no extra charge — it comes as standard with any booking with a pet). The usual is one dog per canoe; if you bring more than one, we split them across the canoes in your group, and in special cases (two small, calm dogs) we have a look at the launch. It is one of the reasons the Sella is one of the few descents in Spain that is genuinely pet-friendly.
If you are coming with your dog, the call is made: canoe, no question. And if you want to know exactly how we set it up (size of the furry one, life jacket, behaviour in the water) we cover it on our descent-with-pets page.
And the price? Is the kayak more expensive?
It is usually in the same bracket: between €25 and €35 per person depending on company, route and season. At Aventura en el Sella we run a very clear price by age, with no hidden extras:
- €25 kids up to 12.
- €35 adults.
- Pets free.
That price includes canoe, paddles, life jackets (including the dog's), return bus transfer, dry barrel and launch instructor. No hidden extras, no surprise charges when you arrive.
If you compare with a single kayak at other companies, the difference is usually in what is included, not in the boat itself. Always check that the bus, the dry barrel and the life jackets are inside the price before you compare. It can save you a nasty surprise at the end of the day.
You can bring your own lunch in the dry barrel we give you (it stays dry) and have it on a river beach, or stop for a bite at one of the six riverside bars on the route. No obligatory spend. Heads up: no alcohol on the river or at the riverside bars — that is a rule from the Cantabrian Water Authority, not ours.
So which boat do I pick?
Boiling it down to the practical stuff, no fluff:
Pick the canoe if…
- You are coming as a family or with kids from 5 years.
- It is your first time in a canoe on a river.
- You are coming as a couple and want to chat and take photos.
- You are bringing the dog.
- You want to relax and stop to eat without rushing.
- You have never paddled or paddled very little.
- You are here for the Sella landscape, not the cardio.
Pick the kayak if…
- You are coming on your own and you are sporty.
- You have paddled before with confidence.
- You want a nimbler, quicker descent.
- You are not bringing small kids or pets.
- You want a day with a bit more physical effort.
At Aventura en el Sella we have specialised in the first profile. We have spent more than 25 years putting families into stable canoes, with backrests, with room for the dry barrel and for the dog.
The 147 reviews with 4.5 stars that back us up confirm it: the best way to do the Sella is to take it slow, in good company, with just the right amount of paddling. If your plan fits that profile, book your canoe with us and we will see you in Arriondas. If you want an experience with open hours and no time pressure, have a look at the Premium Booking (10:30-12:30, flexible arrival).
Booking your canoe with no surprises
Before we wrap up, a few operational rules worth having clear so the day goes smoothly:
- Booking in advance is strongly recommended, especially in July, August and bank holidays. In May, June or September we usually have space on the same day, but it is still worth confirming.
- Book via web, WhatsApp, phone or email. We do not take walk-in bookings at the desk "because I was passing by": we want to make sure we have a canoe and an instructor ready for you.
- Pets free, no extra charge. Give us a shout with the approximate weight when you book so we prep the right canine life jacket.
- The river closes at 18:00 by order of the Cantabrian Water Authority. If you do the Full route from Arriondas, do not launch later than 13:00.
- K3 rule, max 3 seats per canoe. There is no 4-person canoe on the Sella: if you are 4 or more, you book several canoes that the instructor groups together at the launch. Same goes for adult groups without kids: the K3 rule does not change.
- No alcohol on the river or at the riverside bars. That is a rule from the Water Authority, not ours. We mention it because some folk turn up with the idea of "a few beers on board": not on the Sella.
- You have to know how to swim. It is a non-negotiable requirement, kids and adults alike.
If you have specific questions (your dog's weight, your little one's size, the date of the International Sella Descent, the best time of year to come or how the historic descent goes) write to us via the contact page or via WhatsApp from the website. We reply personally: behind every message there is a person from the Arriondas team, not a bot. And if you are coming from far away and need to find us, how to get here has the exact route with a map.
What you ask us most
- What is the difference between a kayak and a canoe on the Sella?
The open canoe is wide, stable, fits 2 or 3 people (the Sella rule is K3, maximum 3 per canoe), has a backrest and welcomes kids from 5 and pets on board. The single kayak is narrower, has no backrest, no room for dogs and asks for a bit of paddling technique. On the Sella, what almost every operator hires out is actually a canoe, even though plenty of folk still call it a "kayak" out of habit.
- Is it harder to go down the Sella in a kayak than in a canoe?
Yes, a fair bit. The kayak needs you to paddle to hold a line and is less stable in the gentle Grade I rapids of the Sella. The canoe forgives almost anything and you can take it down with no prior experience, even with small kids on board.
- Can I bring my dog in a kayak on the Sella?
No. The single kayak does not take pets — there is no space and not enough stability. If you are coming with a dog, it has to be an open canoe (K2 or K3, any size goes); the usual is one dog per canoe, and if you have more than one we split them between the canoes in your group. At Aventura en el Sella your pet travels free and gets its canine life jacket included (we put it on).
- What is the minimum age in a kayak vs a canoe?
In a canoe, 5 years old and 1.15 m tall, wearing a properly fitted kids life jacket. In a single kayak, the usual minimum is 12-14 years depending on the company, and you have to be a confident swimmer.
- How many people fit in a Sella canoe?
2 or 3 (K2 or K3). On the Sella the rule is K3, maximum 3 seats per canoe — there is no 4-seater canoe on this river. If you are 4 (two adults and two kids, four mates…) you book two canoes that the instructor groups together at the launch so you go down side by side. We explain it in detail here. The price is per person, whichever format you take.
- What is included with the hire at Aventura en el Sella?
Canoe, paddles, life jackets (including the canine one if you bring a pet), dry barrel, return bus and launch instructor. €25 kids up to 12 · €35 adults · pets free. Booking is easy via web, WhatsApp, phone or email — we do not take walk-in bookings.
