There’s nothing more appetising than a refreshing dip in the heat of the summer. From north to south and east to west, Catalonia has options to suit all tastes: the Mediterranean waters near the Catalan coast, the rivers and pools in the Pyrenees in Catalonia, the best water park for a visit with the whole family… Get your swimsuit ready! This summer’s going to be unique and packed with water activities.
Barcelona seen from the sea
The gentle afternoon sun, your feet trailing in the sea and views over the Barcelona skyline are the ingredients of this summer cocktail. The Tour del Mar boat tour starts on board a catamaran in the city’s port and continues with a stop inside the city walls at the Drassanes Reials or royal shipyards, the site of the Maritime Museum. You’ll find historic treasures such as the replica of the Don Juan de Austria’s Royal Galley, the flagship at the Battle of Lepanto. You can also see a schooner dating from 1919 that has been totally restored and is now moored in the port. The final destination is the emblematic viewing platform atop the monument to Columbus, and a cava or wine tasting with a tapa.
Let the stars be your guide on this nocturnal voyage
If you’ve never set out to sea in the middle of the night, you may have some questions. How is the boat steered? Can it be done without technology? The answer is simple: classic ships navigated using the stars, and that’s what you’ll do in this adventure that starts out from the coast of Palamós. You learn to identify the constellations in the sky thanks to the crew, you’ll locate the pole star that indicates North, and you’ll learn about the role of the sextant in all these proceedings. After the activity, you can enjoy a glass of cava and live music on Castell beach.
A refreshing Caribbean odyssey
Come with the family and visit the Costa Caribe Aquatic Park in PortAventura in Salou: it offers 50,000 m2 of fun, and water attractions suitable for all ages. You’ll find spiral slides standing 15 metres high, a fast-flowing river on which to float round the park on an inner tube, and mats-sleds for hurtling down rapids and waterfalls at top speed. If you’re an adrenaline junkie, don’t miss King Khajuna, the highest free-fall slide in Europe. But the fun is also guaranteed for the younger members of the family in the Indoor Zone, Woody’s Lagoon and on the Pirate Galleon.
Riding the rapids at the Noguera Pallaresa
Rafting is one of the top adventure sports, and the section between Llavorsí and Sort is one of the very best places for it. You’ll descend the river on an inflatable boat and you’ll have oars to guide you downstream. Of course you’ll be accompanied by the professionals at Rafting Sort Rubber-River. During your journey you’ll cover a distance of 18 kilometres and pass numerous spectacular rapids like the Rentadora, the Paso del Ángel and the rapids at the Presa de Sort dam. The boat takes a maximum of 8 people.
The depths of the sea with a mask and a snorkel
Discover the Terres de l’Ebre by scuba diving in its marine environment. The team at Plàncton Diving, formed by oceanographer guides, will be at your side at all times to make sure you don’t miss any of the marine flora and fauna and their curiosities. They’ll also kit you out with a wetsuit, goggles and a snorkel, and take you to places you’d never have imagined were so close to home. You’ll also learn their philosophy, based on responsible diving and respectful marine life. And you’ll even be able to take home a photographic souvenir of your adventure!
Take the leap into the adventure of canyoning
In the interior of El Berguedà you can enjoy a very special sport. a combination of hiking, climbing and water activities all rolled into one. This sport is canyoning, and if you’ve never done it before, now’s your chance. In Vallcebre you’ll discover what it’s like to walk along the river and enjoy the waterfalls and natural slides. You’ll go through an underground cave and learn to abseil down canyons under the watchful eye of qualified extreme-altitude guides. You don’t need to be exceptionally fit or have any specific knowledge –you just need to want to have fun.
Exploring the Delta de l’Ebre by bicycle and kayak
You’ll start by peddling along the bicycle track parallel to the Ebro river. You’ll cross the Pasador bridge and the towpath, a green route that will take you to the town of Balada, where you can see the island of Gràcia. This is the point where you leave your bicycle and switch to a kayak, to navigate the waters flowing between wooded riverbanks. Among the poplars, black poplars and tamarinds, you can spot storks, herons and even grey herons, but you need to keep your eyes open. This waterborne adventure is the ideal way to enjoy this Biosphere Reserve.
