Jaire Aventura

Who they are

Jaire began in 1993, when four adventure enthusiasts decided to show the Sella river to visitors. Its legal notice identifies it as Jaire, C.B., with a registered address at La Espasa (Caravia). Today, according to its website, it employs 52 people among instructors, drivers, reception, design, cleaning and IT. The base is at El Merediz (Coviella, Cangas de Onís), on the N-634, half a kilometre from Arriondas, with its own parking, changing rooms and showers. The website does not publish an active tourism registration number.

The Sella descent

It is its main activity. Canoes for one, two or three people are rented to paddle down the Sella independently on two routes: the long one, of about 15 km between Arriondas and Llovio, three to four hours, and a short one of 7 km, about two hours. There are two landing points on private land, at kilometre 7 and 15; the route is chosen before setting out. At the end, a company vehicle collects the paddlers and returns them to the base.

The season runs from 1 March to 31 October. Reception opens at 10:00, departures are between 11:00 and 13:00 and all canoes must be out of the water by 17:30. Anyone who has not passed the first pick-up point by 16:00 finishes there.

The price, €35 for adults and €25 for children up to 12, includes the canoe, paddle, life jacket, a waterproof barrel for belongings, a map of the river, transport, insurance and the use of changing rooms and showers. Outside high season, from 1 May to 1 October, the wetsuit and boots are free; in that period they are rented for €5 and €3. A picnic can be added for €5.

There is no minimum age, but children must be at least 1.15 m tall and everyone must be able to swim. For families there are double and triple canoes with a child seat and children's life jackets. You can also go down with a dog: one dog per canoe, or two if they are small, with a canine life jacket for hire at €4.

Other activities

In eastern Asturias they organise canyoning (about four hours, from €55), seasonal rafting (about two hours, €50), caving (about 50 minutes, from €30) and cave-canyoning, a canyon inside a cave (€75). All include equipment. They also have paintball, Splatmaster for children, an adventure park with circuits at 4 to 7 metres high, school activities, packages with a hotel and gift vouchers.

Booking and cancellation

You book online, by phone (985 84 14 64), by WhatsApp or by email ([email protected]). For the Sella you pay 50% when booking and the rest on the day of the activity; groups of more than 10 people pay in a single payment. Cancelling more than 48 hours ahead you get back what you paid minus €2 per person; with less than 24 hours there is no refund, and anyone who does not arrive on time loses the booking. Changes are accepted up to 24 hours before.

The website is in Spanish, English, German and French. It is best to avoid the weekend of the International Sella Descent, in August, unless you are going for the festival.