Catalonia is full of unique places to navigate the inland waters of the region, enjoy the scenery and, at the same time, do some sports. There are many companies that offer river routes, canoe outings and fishing boats in rivers, swamps, reservoirs and lakes. It even has an Olympic canal to practice and perfect rowing. In Catalonia rowing as a family is fun. Rafting in the Catalan Pyrenees The townships of Sort, Llavorsí and Rialp in the Catalan stretch of the Pyrenees abound in rafting activities along the Noguera Pallaresa river, the best in Europe for white-water sports. Here, adventure water sports are the main highlight of many a family activity. Feel the thrill of going down a river bypassing the currents and doing rafting descents is what companies like Rafting Llavorsí, Kayak Sort, Outdoor Adventour and Aiguadicció Rialp propose. Outings accompanied by a monitor, where you will alternate steep descents with calmer sections and you will enjoy wave trains, narrows and rollers that will give you all the thrills of white-water rafting. At the Parc Olímpic del Segre, in Seu d’Urgell, Olympic and other sports area practised such as rafting, water sledding and canoeing. This sport is a good option to enjoy water sports altogether at your own pace. The park offers single-person kayaks and up to three-person Canadian canoes, which you can glide along together while paddling. You travel along a stretch of the Segre canal, where the waters are calmer, so you don't have to worry for the little ones. Fun in high mountain lakes and reservoirs In the Catalan Pyrenees, get ready to cross the Baells reservoir, just outside Berga. This kayak trip run by Turisme del Berguedà combines sport with a bit of culture. In the middle of the reservoir is the Monastery of Sant Salvador de la Vedella, the only building left of the old town with the same name, which was flooded by the rising waters. After the experience, you can rent a scooter and have get your childing to launch themselves down the built-in slide. With RocRoi try the Big SUP with the family at Lake Torrassa, in Valls d'Àneu. Climb on the giant board, with capacity for 10 people, and row together to keep your balance and not fall off. Families on board a pirogue, canoe or kayak On the Costa Brava, you will find the Aiguamolls de l'Empordà, one of the main wetlands in Catalonia. The canoeing school SK Kayak suggest taking a kayak trip along the Fluvià river to Sant Pere Pescador. The instructors explain, on dry land, the basic technique of paddling and warm you up a bit before boarding you in the kayaks. Once on board, you will take a trip to the Reserva Integral de l’Illa de Caramany, a small river island with one of the most extensive riparian forests preserved in the Aiguamolls de l'Empordà Natural Park. In Castelldefels, on the Costa Barcelona, the former Olympic rowing venue Canal Olímpic de Catalunya is perfect for a little family rowing. It is the best setting to introduce children to water sports, as it is a closed water space, with no currents or waves. This artificial canal is 1,250 metres long and 130 metres wide. One of the best sports at this facility is rowing, as you can rent a canoe (canoe or double kayak) for two people and also paddles and safety vests, so you can make a tandem with your children and start practicing paddling.In the Terres de l'Ebre, the Ebro is a perfect river for discovering nature one paddle at a time. On board a pirogue, take a trip into the riparian forest, and explore the area’s flora and fauna. Lo Mas de la Cuixota organises these canoe trips, with a specialized instructor who will explain the essentials about boating here. L’Encanyissada is the largest lagoon in the delta of the Ebro and is the only waterfowl hunting reserve in Catalonia. It is surrounded by bird watching viewpoints. Lo Mas de la Cuixota also organises outings in perch boats in the swamps, canals and lagoons of the Ebro River. Perch boats are the boats used by local fishermen. It is propelled with the perxa, a wooden pole about three meters long. Ready to take your first paddle as a family?