Canoeing and Kayaking
The rivers of Navarre are especially attractive to the visitor for the pursuit of water sports, since the countryside through which they run is very diverse. In the north their waters carve out the valleys and gorges of the Pyrenees, in the central region they run through age-old cities, and in the south they meander gently through the market gardens of the Ebro valley.
The rivers belong to two hydrographical groups, the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, according to which sea they flow towards. The first are concentrated in the northeast; the volume of water they contain is low, since their sources are close to their estuaries, and regular, due to the abundance of rainfall in the region. The second, on the other hand, vary according to the stretch of river and the season.
The most distinctive characteristic of the navigable rivers is that their waters are mainly calm , enabling those who want to start canoeing to learn in safety. There are advanced courses for the more experienced practitioners of the sport, as well as opportunities to take excursions and canoe on rivers individually.
The perfect time for the Pyrenean rivers is the spring. During the winter the rivers have been filled with the snow that has covered the mountain ridges and is starting to thaw; they are fed equally by rain and snow, which creates stretches of water of difficulty level 3-4. The main Pyrenean water courses are: Urrobi, Irati, Areta, Salazar and Esca. Given that there are different types of stretches, we will highlight the most recommended ones, indicating their main characteristics:
| River |
Embarkation point |
Disembarkation point |
Kilometres |
Level |
| Urrobi |
Auritz-Burguete, after 2.5 kilometres on the N-135 road, take the diversion on the NA-4251 until you get to the embarkation point next to a small house at the side of the river. |
Under the bridge that leads to Arrieta |
6 km |
III-IV |
| Irati |
Aribe (Aezkoa Valley). Access from the NA-140 which connects Auritz-Burguete with the Salazar and Roncal valleys |
Oroz Betelu, where the Itoiz reservoir starts |
9 km |
III-IV |
| Salazar |
At the bridge on the NA-138, turn off to Bigüezal |
Bridge over the River Salazar at Usún, which you reach after going through Domeño on the NA-138 |
8 km |
III – with sections of level 4
(Take great care at the dam on the final stretch, difficult access and exit) |
Esca
|
After the dam at Burgui, on the NA-137, leading to Roncal. |
On the bridge at Salvatierra |
7 km |
III-IV (Dams on this stretch) |
On the Atlantic side , the Bidasoa is also a springtime river, although less difficult than the Pyrenean rivers.
In the central zone and on the southern plains of ‘La Ribera’ the rivers contain more water, which ensures an even flow more suited to navigation throughout the year. We would highlight the Ega, the Arakil (from Izurdiaga), the Arga, the Aragón and the Ebro, with an average difficulty level of 1-2.
Each stretch of river has sections of variable technical difficulty, which means you need to obtain information in advance about the level of difficulty and be aware of the critical points on each one. The watercourses in these areas are navigable with open or closed-in canoes.
Useful information
