What to wear on the water

What should you wear kayaking on the Costa Brava?

A swimsuit, a light quick-dry top, water shoes, a cap and sunglasses on a strap. That covers a summer tour from the briefing to the snorkel stop.

• A swimsuit as the base layer. You will swim and snorkel mid-tour, and the listings ask for swimwear.
• A quick-dry top, such as a rash vest or a synthetic T-shirt, for sun cover on the shoulders. Sleeves help on long sunny paddles.
• Water shoes or old sneakers that can get wet, for pebbles and rocks.
• A cap or sun hat and sunglasses with a strap. Anything that is not tied on can end up at the bottom of a cove.
• Shorts in a fast-drying fabric if you prefer not to paddle in a swimsuit alone.

On cooler days most bases lend a wetsuit or neoprene top; more on that below. Leave jewelry and anything precious in the hotel safe.

Can you wear jeans kayaking, and what should you not wear?

Skip jeans. Denim soaks up water, gets heavy and cold, rubs when you paddle and takes hours to dry. The same goes for cotton hoodies and sweatpants.

The rule of thumb is simple: wear what you would swim in, plus sun cover. Avoid:

• Jeans and heavy cotton. Wet cotton clings, chills you in the wind and stays wet all day.
• Flip-flops. They come off in the water and give no grip on wet rock.
• Loose jewelry and watches you would hate to lose.
• Headphones. The S'Agaró, Sant Feliu and Rats Penats listings do not allow them, and you need to hear the guide.

Do you wear a bathing suit while kayaking? Yes, on every tour here. The private tour also asks for a change of clothes for afterwards, which is a good idea on any of them.

Do you need water shoes for kayaking?

They are the one item most worth packing. None of the tours supplies them: S'Agaró, Platja d'Aro and the private tour list water shoes as not included.

Costa Brava coves are often pebble or rock rather than sand, and the snorkel stops are over rocky seabeds with sea urchins. Neoprene water shoes protect your feet getting in and out and give grip on wet stone. Old sneakers that can get soaked are fine too.

Two tours have their own footwear notes. The Rats Penats sea kayak asks you to bring socks, handy inside a closed cockpit. The private tour asks for closed-toe shoes. If you are on the Tossa hike and rental, wear sports shoes for the walk and pack water shoes for the paddle.

What should you bring on a kayak tour, and what is included?

Sunscreen, water, a towel and swimwear on every tour; your passport or ID card on the Medes Islands tour. The kayak, paddle and life jacket are always included.

What each listing includes, and what it asks you to bring:

Water matters more than people expect: S'Agaró, Sant Feliu and the Rats Penats trip list bottled water as not included, and two hours of paddling in the sun is thirsty work. Bring a refillable bottle. Sunscreen goes on before you launch; the private tour asks for a biodegradable one, kinder to the coves you snorkel in.

Stable sit-on-top doubles, snorkel gear, an optional wetsuit in cooler weather and a secure place for your things while you paddle.

★ 4.7 · 2 hours · from $33

Explore the Sant Feliu kayak tour → Tour details

Can you take your phone kayaking?

On the guided tours you rarely need it: the bases have a safe place for belongings and the guides take photos for you. If you do take it, use a waterproof pouch or a dry bag clipped to the kayak.

S'Agaró and both Sant Feliu tours offer a safe space for your things and include photos of the activity. At Platja d'Aro, belongings go in a trunk that is locked once the tour starts. The private tour includes free photos too. Ask at the base before you set off whether phones are allowed on the water that day.

On the self-guided rental, you are your own safety plan, so take the phone. The RNLI's advice for anyone heading onto the water is to "carry your mobile phone in a waterproof pouch, or a handheld VHF radio." A small roll-top dry bag clipped behind the seat keeps keys and a card dry too. In Spain, the emergency number is 112.

Can you wear glasses or contact lenses with a snorkel mask?

Glasses do not fit under a snorkel mask, so take them off for the swim. Contact lenses are a bad idea: the US FDA says to remove them before swimming.

The FDA's contact lens advice is direct: "Do not expose your contact lenses to any water: tap, bottled, distilled, lake or ocean water." It warns of a risk of eye infection from bacteria in the ocean, among other waters. If you rely on lenses, ask your optician about a prescription mask, or snorkel without them and enjoy the colors up close.

In the kayak, glasses and sunglasses are fine on a strap or cord, because a dropped pair sinks fast. Polarized lenses cut the glare off the water. If you have a mask that fits you well, bring it: it seals better than a borrowed one, and on the Medes Islands kayak tour you need your own anyway.

Do you need a wetsuit for kayaking on the Costa Brava?

Not in high summer. On cooler days, most tours lend one: S'Agaró, Sant Feliu and the Rats Penats trip offer a wetsuit on the coldest days, Platja d'Aro includes neoprene and the private tour includes a wetsuit.

A wetsuit or neoprene top keeps you warm when you are wet and the wind picks up, which is when you feel cold on the water. Early and late in the season, say yes when the base offers one. Underneath, wear your swimsuit and nothing else.

The Medes Islands listing does not mention a wetsuit among its equipment, so on a cooler day ask the base or bring a thin synthetic layer. How warm is the sea month by month? See the sea temperature notes, and for paddling after summer, kayaking in autumn.

What about seasickness on a kayak tour?

Some people feel it when they stop and bob on the swell. Tossa's listing says its tour is not suitable for people prone to seasickness; if you are, pick a calm morning and keep your eyes on the horizon.

The NHS's general tips for motion sickness carry over well to a kayak: "look straight ahead at a fixed point, such as the horizon", breathe fresh air, and do not eat heavy meals or drink alcohol shortly before. A light breakfast is the sweet spot, and Tossa advises eating one before its morning tours. Avoid staring at your phone or at the waves right next to the boat.

Inta, after the Sant Feliu tour in Oct 2026: "Definitely worth it but don’t sign up if you suffer with travel sickness or any motion sickness." If you are unsure, ask the base about the sea that morning, or choose the sheltered bay of S'Agaró. For anything medical, ask a pharmacist or a doctor before you travel.

Two hours in the sheltered S'Agaró bay, into sea caves and rock passages, with snorkel gear and a wetsuit on the coldest days.

★ 4.7 · 2 hours · from $38

Explore the sea caves tour from S'Agaró → Tour details

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