Kayak, Hike & Snorkel to La Costa Brava

We will meet on the benches outside the Casino of Barcelona (Casino Barcelona, Carrer de la Marina, 19, 21, 08005 Barcelona, Spain). It is very close to the harbour “Port Olympic”. For private tours, we come and pick you up at your place. Please arrive 10 minutes before your tour is scheduled to begin, and give yourself extra time if you’re unsure of the location.

Small Group – A maximum of 8 kayakers per instructor/van.
Regular Group – Up to 12 kayakers per instructor, up to 4 groups per private coach.
Private Group – No maximum number, with the quantity of instructors according to group size.

We will take a private van/minibus or coach up the coast towards France. It’s about 1 hour and 15 minutes through the Catalonian valleys. We will kayak in and around the village of Sant Feliu de Guixols and S’Agaró.

We understand that whilst travelling plans can change and that you may need to cancel your tours. Just give us 24 hours advance notice, and we will offer a full refund on any amount that you have paid (with the exception of private group trips, which must be cancelled 7 days in advance for a full refund… of course exceptions are made for COVID related travel issues). If you need to cancel within 24 hours of our reservation we normally cannot offer any refund, unless we can fill your spots. It may be possible to reschedule your booking for another day, depending on availability.

How many people will there be in a group?
The tour will be divided into groups of maximum 8 people per instructor (Spanish law requires that there is one guide per 16 kayakers). We allow more for private groups.

What if I am unable to swim, can I still participate?
We cannot take you on the kayaks with no swimming ability. The Spanish Sports Federation regulates this and we conform to the rules.

What is the required swimming level?
You need to be able to swim a lap of a swimming pool without the help of any life jackets.

Do I need to be an experienced kayaker?
No! We’ve had everyone from children to 80-year-old first-time kayakers come out and have a blast on our adventurous kayaking tour.

Where do we keep our stuff during the activity?
We have a secure room on the beach where you can store all your belongings not needed for the tour.

What should I wear?
We recommend a swimsuit/bathing suit. Depending on the temperature of the water (usually only applicable in the early and late parts of the summer) and the wind, we might recommend wearing a wetsuit. We have neoprene spring suits (wetsuit with no lower arms and legs) that you can use free of charge.

Where are we going and how long is the journey?
We will take a private coach/bus up the coast towards France. It’s about 1 hour and 15 minutes through the Catalonian valleys. We will kayak in and around the village of Sant Feliu de Guixols and S’Agaró.

What route will we take when we get there?
We will choose a route for your tour based on the group and the sea/weather conditions (wind and waves), though we’ll always try to minimize paddling into strong wind and currents. Every tour is slightly different. There are four different routes that we can do, and we will always try and visit the marine reserve, but this depends on the day’s sea conditions.

How fast do you paddle? Will I be able to keep up? Will I get bored moving too slowly?
Our pace depends on the group, but we generally take our time. We almost always have plenty of time to get where we’re going, so there’s no need to rush. We’ll keep things moving, and we will never leave anyone behind.

Will we go into caves?
Normally yes. However, your guide will determine this once in front of the caves. Safety is our number one priority.

Will I get wet?
You most certainly will. It’s all part of the fun. However, the degree of how wet you get depends on the day, and snorkelling is not compulsory, you can chill out in the kayak or explore the rocks and nearby rock pools while the others are in the water.

Can I just come along for the kayaking or just the snorkelling?
Yes of course. If you don’t fancy snorkelling, you can stay in your kayak, sunbathe on the rocks, relax or explore the snorkelling area in your kayak. If you just want to snorkel and not kayak, just choose the beach day option.

Will I see any wildlife?
Yes, we will hopefully see tonnes of animals in their natural habitat. Of course, this depends on the sea conditions of the day. However, we hope to see octopus, Moray Eels, Cormorants and lots of other kinds of colourful, native fish.

Is the sea cold?
At the beginning and end of the season, the sea can be quite fresh. It’s perfect for kayaking but some might find the ocean a little chilly in those periods. We do provide you with neoprene spring suits (free of charge) that do help somewhat. Either way, we will always make sure that the group will be having a blast.

What can I bring on the kayak?
We recommend bringing as little as possible. Feel free to bring a waterproof camera and a bottle of water on the kayak. Basically, don’t bring anything with you that you don’t want to get wet or lose. If you have any medication, diabetic snacks, etc… we can provide a waterproof bag.

Can I buy food and drinks there?
Yes. There is a bar/restaurant next to us. You’re welcome to sit on their terrace and eat your sandwiches. You can also buy your drinks there (soft drinks, beer, cocktails, etc). They do sell bottles of water but it’s cheaper to buy water before joining us on the tour in Barcelona.

Who will be taking me on the tour?
One of our experienced and certified guides will lead your group on the tour. Each guide has extensive knowledge of the area and is trained in water safety and first aid.

I’m already in Costa Brava, can I meet you directly there?
Lucky you, and yes. Just email us before booking and we will send you the address, parking info, and itinerary. We will also be able to give you a discount if you ask for a discount code before booking.

Do you have weight limits for kayaking?
Unfortunately yes. Our smallest life jackets are limited to 25 Kg (56 lbs) and our maximum limit is 115 Kg (253 lbs).

Is sea kayaking different from other kayaking?
Sea kayaking takes place in the beautiful blue ocean. And here, we can have fun surfing the waves on our kayak. The kayaks are also normally slightly larger and are more stable than your traditional river kayak.

What’s the snorkelling like in Costa Brava?
Well, don’t expect the Mediterranean to be like the Great Barrier Reef or the Red Sea but it can be very rewarding playing with an octopus and getting up close to a Moray Eel. Every day is different, and we sometimes get some unexpected visitors such as stingrays.

Where is your office in Barcelona?
We are an office-less company, that way we keep our overheads low and can pass these savings onto you.

When do you cancel tours because of the weather?
We generally don’t cancel tours due to overcast skies or scattered showers (the Mediterranean can be especially calm and pleasant during light rain), but we do cancel trips for steady rain, especially strong wind, thunderstorms, and high waves. Sometimes, but very rarely, we do cancel tours for jellyfish blooms. If you have reserved a tour, we will email you if we are cancelling the trip due to weather and give you a choice of either rescheduling (depending on availability) or receiving a full refund. We will do this as soon as we know the tour will be cancelled, however, this can sometimes not be until the evening before the tour.

Do you use double or single kayaks on your trips?
We typically use tandem (two-person) sit-on-top sea kayaks on our tours. We find that tandems are best for most people because they are more stable and spacious. Plus, if you get tired, your partner can pick up the slack! If you are joining a tour on your own, you will either be given a solo kayak or paired up with another person in the group. We will always try and pair you up as it’s more fun this way.

What brand or style of kayaks do you use?
We use sit-on-top kayaks because they are safer and more fun. All our kayaks are from Rotomod (RTM) which are based in France. We generally use the RTM Ocean Duo (Tandem) and the RTM Mambo (Individual), both with deluxe seats. They are made of high-density linear polyethylene (PEHD). This material is very strong and recyclable. Due to their unique hull design, they are equally at home in the surf as they are on flat water.

Do I need to tip my guide?
No, only if you want to and feel that it’s deserved. Tips are never expected but always appreciated.