Guided Kayak Tour of La Concha Bay and Tximistarri Cove

The guided sea kayak tour of La Concha Bay and Tximistarri Cove is a two-hour paddling excursion in San Sebastian, in Spain's Basque Country. It starts at Ondarreta beach, at the western end of the city's shell-shaped bay, and crosses the sheltered water toward Tximistarri cove, passing views of Santa Clara island, Mount Igueldo and the city's seafront. The tour is run by Itsas Eskola, the water-sports school of the Real Club de Tenis de San Sebastian at Eduardo Chillida Pasealekua 9, and is sold through the city tourism shop at shop.sansebastianturismoa.eus.

The activity is sea kayaking at a beginner level. No previous paddling experience is needed, but participants should be able to swim and be in reasonable general health for about 1.5 hours of gentle paddling. The minimum age is 10. Kayak, paddle and life jacket are provided, while visitors bring swimwear, a towel and sun protection, and should wear clothes that can get wet.

The session lasts about 2 hours in total: around 30 minutes of briefing on the beach and about 1.5 hours on the water. The briefing covers paddling technique, steering, group formation and what to do in case of capsize. The guide leads the group and keeps it together, and the bay is protected by Santa Clara island and the two headlands, which usually keeps conditions calm. Participants stay in the bay rather than the open sea. The operator is a long-established club school, and bookings through the municipal tourism shop add a layer of official listing. Specific instructor certifications are not published on the booking page, so visitors can ask the school before booking.

The listed price is EUR 32 (USD 36.80) per person with VAT included, and the San Sebastian Card gives a 10 percent discount on the adult rate. Departures have been listed on Wednesdays and Fridays at 4:30 pm and Saturdays at 12:00, and these dates should be confirmed when booking.

The best season runs from June to September, with calm mornings and warm water, although the tour is offered from spring to autumn. Tours may be cancelled or rescheduled in strong wind, swell or poor visibility, and visitors should check the weather policy when booking. Ondarreta is about 2 km west of the Parte Vieja and is served by city buses, making it an easy half-day addition to a beach and old-town itinerary.