Asturias on Kayak

A unique kayaking route: an excursion through the Cantabrian Sea, exploring caves and admiring the Picos de Europa.

Thanks to very favorable, if not unique, conditions, we were able to marvel at the beauty of the Cantabrian cliffs and were left speechless as we discovered and explored the famous caves that give rise to the Bufones de Pría.

Asturias

Asturias is paradise on Earth. This phrase isn’t far from reality, as this autonomous community in Spain truly has it all. The famous Picos de Europa, whose formation dates back about 500 million years during the Paleozoic era, and a sea as fascinating as it is fierce in its stormy days, are just a few of its standout attractions. The region of King Pelayo boasts incredible natural landscapes, along with a culture that permeates every corner, delicious cuisine, and its signature cider.

Rana Sella

Can you explore the Asturian coast and admire the Picos de Europa from a different perspective?

This was our question when we decided to visit this beautiful land in a unique way. And we found the answer in Rana Sella!

Rana Sella is one of the oldest active tourism companies in the area and is located at the Finca la Fundición de Coviella in Cangas de Onís. Among other activities, they organize the famous descenso del río Sella. It’s common to see dozens of kayaks from various companies descending the river with families or groups of friends—an activity that gains popularity every year, even if it can sometimes get a little chaotic.

Instead of paddling down the famous river, we chose an alternative route: heading out into the Cantabrian Sea to visit and appreciate the Asturian cliffs from a different point of view. Perhaps a less well-known route, but one that gave us surprises, laughter, and a bit of adventure!

Kayak!

After meeting our guides, we quickly boarded a van equipped with a trailer and gear. A 30-minute journey brought us to the starting point of our adventure. Playa de Cuevas del Mar welcomed us with calm waters, sand adorned with rocks, and cliffs full of small caves. Excitedly, we unloaded the kayaks and prepared ourselves: life vests, paddles, and a thirst for adventure!

As we entered the sea, we were surprised not only by the calm waters and lack of waves but also by the pleasant temperature despite being late autumn. This is the Cantabrian Sea! The kayaks gently sliced through the water as we left the shore behind, under the skilled guidance of Calo. Hugging the cliffs of Cantabria is an incredible experience, especially as the rocks began to reveal unexpected gems like Playa de la Canal within minutes.

The Cantabrian Coast

This is the hallmark of the Cantabrian Coast: millions of years ago, the sea carved its way through limestone rock, giving us a landscape full of surprises today—holes, narrow passages, spectacular rock formations, and caves that suddenly open up like cenotes.

Not just rocks

The environment stands out not only for its unique features but also for the marine life that attentive eyes can spot. At low tide, percebes, mussels, and seaweed are exposed—famous ingredients in delicious recipes. But remember, it’s not allowed to collect them without permission! It’s important to appreciate nature without destroying or harming it.

As we continued along the route, we encountered sardines, some Pelagia noctiluca jellyfish, and even a carabela portuguesa! Be very careful with the latter—it’s notorious for its painful sting, which can have severe consequences in rare cases.

The Cantabrian Sea

The route took us to the Grallas formation, where we were left speechless. Entering what seemed like a dark cave, the ceiling suddenly opened up, letting in light and sky colors. Who knows how many millions of years ago the rocky roof collapsed to gift us such a breathtaking sight?

We reached Playa de Guadamía but didn’t enter. Our guides noticed a change in the waves, which were growing stronger, so we decided to turn back toward our starting point. However, the surprises didn’t end there. Paddling further from the coast allowed us to admire the incredible mountain range of the Picos de Europa from the sea in a kayak!

Seeing the Cantabrian Sea embrace the cliffs, with the mountains standing watch like sentinels in the background, was a truly striking experience.

We finished the route just in time as the wind started to stir the sea. We returned to shore tired but thrilled to have explored this stretch of coast. Thanks to exceptionally favorable conditions and the expertise of our guides, we were able to discover the caves and corners that give rise to Asturias’ famous bufones.

A different excursion, accompanied by favorable weather that allowed us to enjoy Asturias’ signature landscape from another perspective, full of charm. Asturias is truly paradise on Earth!

No AI was used to write the text and edit the photos.

Do you want to see them too? Take a look at the gallery below or if you like read another one of my adventures on Trips and other stories!