Rafting on the Segura from Cieza to Blanca

Between Cieza and Blanca the Segura leaves its canyons and enters the Ricote Valley. This 14 km stretch is the one Descensos Blanca runs in rafting boats, with guides, a bus that takes the group up to the starting point and a stop halfway down the river for lunch. It is a leisure trip: the company takes children from 6 years old and asks for no experience.

It all starts at the Blanca landing stage

You meet in Blanca, where the company has its own landing stage, changing rooms, lockers and showers. There you change, receive a life jacket, helmet and the rest of the kit, and a bus takes you upriver to Cieza. From there you paddle back towards Blanca, among fruit orchards and rock walls, with a stop halfway for lunch. When you reach the landing stage there are showers and a drinks service, and the company provides a photo report of the trip down.

Sessions take four hours in all: from 9:00 to 13:00 or from 13:00 to 17:00. The descent usually lasts three to four hours; if you want something shorter or a full day, you can ask for it.

Who is in the boat with you

The guides are qualified and, according to the company, canoeists from the Club de Piragüismo de Blanca with training in water rescue. The activity carries public liability and accident insurance.

Descensos Blanca prices

These are "from" prices, per person, published by the company on its website:

• Rafting with lunch, morning session: from €20.
• Rafting with paella, afternoon session: from €27; at the end there is paella, an open bar and dessert.
• Banana boat with lunch: from €30.
• Kayak with lunch: from €35.

For groups there are separate rates, available by phone. Book on 656 357 988 (also on WhatsApp) or 623 461 749, from 7:00 to 23:00; the website says they are open every day of the year.

What the website does not make clear

It does not say whether you need to be able to swim, what happens if the river is high or the weather is bad, or what the cancellation terms are. Ask when you book, especially if you are going with small children. Wear clothes and footwear that can get wet and will not come off your feet, and bring a full change of clothes and a bag for the wet ones.

After the river

Blanca is in the north of the valley. If you take the morning session, the rafting and Ojós bridges Sunday continues with lunch at El Sordo in Ricote and an afternoon walk along the Ojós bridges route.