One-line summary: swimsuit on, footwear that can get wet, a towel in the locker and your phone in the barrel we hand out. The rest — canoe, double paddle, life jacket, barrel, wetsuit if needed — is on us. Anything else you read is usually filler.
We have been preparing the Sella River descent for thousands of people in Arriondas for 25 years. And the same question still comes up every morning at the desk: "hey, do I need to bring this?". This guide is the honest summary of what you actually need, what you do not, and the details nobody tells you until you already have the paddle in your hand.
If you came with the plan settled and just want the checklist, jump to the final list. If you want to understand why each item, keep reading — it will save you three WhatsApp messages before the big day.
The essentials
Four things are personal and we do not include them. Everything else (canoe, double paddle, life jacket, waterproof barrel) is on us.
Swimwear or technical wear
Swimsuit or quick-dry shorts. Avoid cotton — soaked, it weighs you down, chafes and will not dry until dinner.
Footwear you can wet
No running trainers, no simple flip-flops. In order:
Towel and dry clothes
For after. Stays in the locked locker during the descent. We include hot showers and changing rooms · you leave for Arriondas, fully showered, within an hour.
Sun protection
Water-resistant SPF 50, cap with strap, sunglasses with strap. Water reflection multiplies exposure even on cloudy days.
If we had to pick one piece of advice from the last 25 years, it would be this: arrive with your swimsuit on and turn up calmly between 10:30 and 12:30 (open hours · a Premium perk). 80% of the day's small headaches start with rushed changing rooms and last-minute paperwork.
What you do not need to bring
Online you will find endless checklists copied from white-water descents or kayak expeditions. The Sella is not that. This is the gear we provide that you do not have to bring:
- Unsinkable canoe — single, double or K3 (up to 3 seats), depending on the booking.
- Double paddle, ergonomic, adjusted to your height.
- Certified life jacket (adult and child sizes).
- Waterproof barrel for phone, keys and small personal items.
- Wetsuit if the temperature calls for it (spring and early autumn).
- Return transfer back to the starting point.
- Mandatory activity insurance.
- Changing rooms, hot showers and locked lockers.
So when you see lists asking you to bring a "helmet", "whistle", "rescue rope" or "your own wetsuit", that is not for the Sella: it is for a more technical descent. This river is calm (class I – II) and designed for all audiences.
Phone, money, keys
and the waterproof barrel
The million-dollar question: "where do I put my phone?". Inside the waterproof barrel we give you before launching. It is a plastic cylinder with an airtight seal that is tied to the canoe. It fits:
- Phone (even in larger booklet-style cases).
- Car keys — you can also leave them in the locker.
- Wallet with ID, card and some loose cash.
- A small item of clothing or spare glasses.
If you want to take photos during the descent without opening the barrel every time, a waterproof pouch with a lanyard is the best investment of the day. For 5–10€ at any beach shop, you get one that works and turns the descent into a continuous photo roll without fear of soaking your phone.
Bring a card and some loose cash in the barrel. At the riverside snack bars you can have a soft drink, juice or ice cream (no alcohol is served on the route), but not all have a card reader with good coverage. With 10–15 € per person you will have plenty.
If you are with kids
With kids the list grows a little, but it is worth reviewing. The minimum age is 5 years and 1.15 m for safety; if in doubt, ask us before booking. Extras we do recommend for a day with kids:
- Cap with strap — not one that flies off in the first gust.
- Technical t-shirt or long-sleeve rashguard — to protect shoulders and back from 3 hours of direct sun.
- Children's sun cream SPF 50+ — applied before leaving the car and reapplied at the first stop.
- Snack and water — biscuits, easy fruit, bars, sandwiches. Kids snack on the way.
- Complete dry change of clothes in the locker — underwear included. It is the detail that turns the journey home from "soaked kid under the air-con" into something comfortable.
There is much more to say about paddling the Sella with small children — real age, typical parental fears, how to plan the day. We have developed it in a separate guide: Sella River descent with small kids.
If you are with a dog
Pets travel free in our canoes. If it is your dog's first time in a water activity, bring:
- Folding bowl and an extra water bottle — they dehydrate more than you think.
- Short leash (a long one tangles with the paddle).
- A dedicated towel in the locker — not yours, trust us.
- Canine life jacket — we provide one while supplies last, but if you bring your own you guarantee the exact size and save time at the desk.
- Their usual snack. Stick to dog-friendly food — keep human snacks for the humans.
Final printable checklist
The short list. What should leave home already prepared:
✓ Swimsuit or technical shorts (worn from home)
✓ Technical t-shirt / rashguard
✓ Booties or sandals with strap
✓ Cap with strap
✓ Sunglasses with strap
✓ Water-resistant SPF 50 sun cream
✓ Towel + full dry change of clothes (for the locker)
✓ Charger and waterproof pouch for the phone (optional but recommended)
✓ Card or loose cash for the snack bars
✓ Extra snack if travelling with kids
✓ Dog kit if travelling with a dog (bowl, leash, towel, life jacket)
✓ Unsinkable canoe · double paddle · life jacket
✓ Waterproof barrel · wetsuit (if applicable)
✓ Practical mini-class before launching
✓ Return transfer from the end point
✓ Changing rooms, hot showers, locked lockers
✓ Guarded parking in Arriondas
✓ Activity insurance
✓ Certified instructors on the river
With that covered, all you have to do is pick a date and arrive with time to spare. The rest we sort at the desk.
And if you have a specific question that is not on the list — allergies, reduced mobility, a tricky shoe size, a huge dog, grandmas afraid of water — write to us and we will look into it. In 25 years we have seen almost everything; what matters is that you arrive calm.
What you ask us most
- Do I need to bring a swimsuit for the Sella River descent?
Yes — it is the most comfortable option. A swimsuit (or quick-dry technical shorts) is the base layer. On top goes the life jacket we provide. Avoid jeans or cotton: they soak through, get heavy and take hours to dry.
- Can I bring my phone in the canoe?
Yes — inside the waterproof barrel we hand out before launching. It fits a phone, keys, wallet and a small item of clothing. Even so, we recommend a waterproof pouch for taking photos along the way without opening the barrel every time.
- Do I need to bring sun protection and sunglasses?
Absolutely recommended. The reflection from the water multiplies sun exposure even on cloudy days. Water-resistant SPF 50, a cap or visor, and sunglasses with a strap (so they do not fall in the river). With kids, reapply cream every 2 hours.
- Are there lockers to leave my things?
Yes. We include locked lockers at our facilities in Arriondas, so you can leave your bigger backpack, change of clothes, towels and anything you do not need on the river. During the descent you only carry the essentials in the waterproof barrel.
- Do I need to bring food?
You can bring your own snack in the watertight barrel we hand you at check-in (it stays dry the whole way). Along the route there are 6 riverside snack bars where you can stop for a soft drink, juice, ice cream, water or a sandwich if you fancy something extra.
- What if I bring too much clothing and it gets wet?
Not a disaster, but uncomfortable. Water splashes constantly in the canoe and the waterproof barrel only protects what is inside. That is why we recommend arriving in your swimsuit, with sandals or wetsuit booties and a towel in the locker to change into when you get back. Hot showers are included.
