Cinque Terre and Portofino Walking tours. Italy guided trips in Cinque Terre, Amalfi, Dolomites, Tuscany and Sicily

Cinque Terre and Portofino National Park Walking - Trip Overview

This tour fully explores the numerous trails above and along this remarkable stretch of coast. Each day’s walk ends in a colorful harbor town and is always rewarded with one cultural feast after another for both the eyes and stomach. Most anyone can enjoy this tour at his or her preferred pace and distance.

Days 1-2:Island Exploration & Portero Marble Mines
Revel in the colorful harbor of Portovenere from the nearby island’s offshore view of the coast. Then a spectacular panoramic trail leads us to Riomaggiore, the “prima terra,” to introduce the regional magic. Fresh mussels for dinner anyone?

Days 3-4: Abbeys, Saffron & Pilgrim Trails:
Walk along the “Via Amore” to Manarola then to Corniglia via an isolated path of olive groves, fig trees and poppies. From pictorial Camogli hike to the ancient isolated abbey of San Fruttuoso and its Dorian tower before a saunter into Portofino via the high jutting cliffs.

Days 5-6: The Last Two Villages
Absorb the atmosphere of each of the last two villages as we meander the coastal paths to incomparable Vernazza, sample the local Sciacchetra wine, and shop or swim at Monterosso al Mare.

Inclusions:

5 nights lodging: 2 nights at 3-star Inn on sea and 3 nights in 4-star converted castle
All full course dinners except one
Water bottles to keep & walking poles to use during hikes
Snacks and water during hikes, Route note and maps
All tour transfers including meet/depart, and luggage transfer
Multi-lingual guide(s)
All entrance fees mentioned in itinerary
All public transport (boats & trains) mentioned in itinerary.

Not included: Airfare, beverages, trip insurance (strongly recommended), personal items, guide tips.

A note on Accommodations: One question frequently asked regards our choice of lodging?
As beautiful as these 5 tiny villages may be, due to its size they really don't offer many 3 & 4 star accommodations. The ones they do have tend to be filled with mainly American tourists, thus all the menus are in English and the Italian experience gets a bit lost. There is so much more to this part of the Italian Riviera that we would like to share with you. Thus during the day we enjoy ample time within the dramatic setting of the 5-terre. Then in the evening we experience the Italian flavor of life. You enjoy a seaside Albergo in nearby Portovenere, which is a short boat ride away and still part of the 5-terre National Park. Here you experience a beautiful coastal setting mainly frequented by Italians. Later we transfer to the 4-star Hotel Castelli, a converted castle located in an Italian family destination offering 2 bays and a colorful village loaded with charm.

Walking Cinque Terre & Portofino National Park- Detailed Trip Itinerary

Portovenere waterfront

This remote coastal region was only accessible by sea until the railroads were built in the middle of the 20th century. Even today, the difficulties of driving through the twisting mountain roads make rail or sea the preferred mode of entry. The isolated coastal village of Portovenere, where we are based for our first two nights, was bypassed by the railroads and thus it still remains relatively isolated. For your convenience we meet you in La Spezia, the nearest train station, and transfer to this southernmost point on the Cinque Terre coast to start 5 days of magnificent coastal walking. We walk to all five villages that make up the Cinque Terre and always allow for enough time to explore en route. Additionally, we hike within the Portofino Natural Park, and visit this renowned harbor town where yachts as big as mansions lay anchor.
Our hikes fully explore the mountain paths above and along this remarkable stretch of coast. Your guide will surely point out many of the natural wonders of each region and lead you along the more quiet trails where vast panoramas have you quickly reaching for your camera. The hiking paths are numerous throughout this coastal mountain range and are rated as easy to moderate, meaning that we can chose a path suited to your preferences. Any good walker can do all of our listed routes, but the most spectacular paths are from higher elevations and these routes can become steep & narrow in spots (see each day for walking times). For these moments we have designed alternate routes for anyone not up for some of this more difficult terrain; no one ever feels as if they hold up a group. With two guides we can easily split up and regroup so that most anyone can enjoy this tour at his or her preferred pace and distance. Regardless of our trail each day’s hike ends in a colorful harbor town and is always rewarded with one cultural feast after another for both the eyes and stomach.

Day 1: Islands, Grottoes & Castles

After meeting at the train station we transfer into Portovenere, a fishing village and ancient fortified town located at the extreme south end of the Cinque Terre coast. Pastel colored homes line the harbor and the narrow alleyways of Portovenere. These weathered domiciles were once part of a fortified wall that survived a lively and often bloody history lasting into the middle of the 20th century. We soon board a boat for small nearby Palmeria Island. Christine On this nature reserve we enjoy an easy 2 hour walk around an island that offers us incredible views of both Portovenere and the entire coast of the Cinque Terre. Also featured are unique caves and mussel farms; which you are sure to enjoy at your welcome dinner.
On our return from the island we enter this fortress town through a medieval gate that is connected to a city wall that extends along the sea as well as up to the castle. We examine the old homes, which in some cases still retain the facades decorated with the original arches and slate portals. At the end of the narrow street of the “Caruggo” is the Church of San Pietro, and a stone portal to “Byron’s Grotto” with its spectacular viewpoints. After a brief look into the Church of San Lorenzo we head down the nearby castle steps into the Calata quay, lined by medieval houses, and conclude our day of walking with a sparkling glass of prosecco along the harbor.

Lodgings:3-star along the waterfront with sea view of the port & Palmeria Island.

Dinner: An excellent waterfront trattoria on Palmeria Island

Day 2: The First Village

We start hiking from our hotel and for 45 minutes/ 300 meters we slowly climb up and out of town, passing by Byron’s Grotto, the abandoned marble mines and the Argonese Castle to embark on one of Italy’s finest hikes.For those that find the going too difficult we can transfer to the summit. Before ending our ascent we take time to look back and absorb the beauty of the medieval castle &church that seem to have grown from the sheer cliff in which they reside. We soon pass a rock-climbing training ground that was originally used by the ancient Navies of the region and the mines that excavate the rare portrero marble. Once at the summit we are quickly rewarded with a friendly path that reveals the vast coastal turquoise blue waters while skirting the sheer cliffs of a unique colorful geology. Soon the scent of pine and abundant wild flowers lead us up to the tiny village of Campiglia. From here the Bay of La Spezia reveals itself to one side and the open seas to the other; the ideal spot for lunch.
Our afternoon path leads along the ridge that divides the coastal area from the Vara Valley. Looking down past vineyards and fields of flowers with a deep blue sea draws us a lovely background; click. Past the gardens of squash, tomatoes and herbs we head into a pine forest and the promontory that looks back onto all five villages of the Cinque Terre. After we reach the Chapel Madonna di Montenegro, a peaceful hillside sanctuary, we descend into the first of the five villages, Riomaggiore. To descend upon the first village from this isolated path truly accents the feeling of isolation the Cinque Terre has known for centuries. After we explore Riomaggiore, a well-preserved colorful harbor village with medieval character, we board a boat back to Portovenere. From the boat you are sure to proudly retrace your route in utter disbelief.

Lodgings: Same as precious night

Dinner: Excellent Trattoria on the waterfront in the town square.

Day 3: Cascading Vineyards & "Via Amore"

We re-board the boat and return to Riomaggiore and once again revisit the previous day’s hike before disembarking for a much easier start to our day. We walk along the romantic “Via Amore” from town into the second village, stunning Manarola. The path is carved along the coastal cliff where local artists have decorated the rocky walls with paintings and tokens such as the symbolic locks binding their love followed by the ceremonial toss of the key into the sea.
trail above Corniglia Out of Manarola we leave the crowds behind and begin the day’s first and only ascent of 30 minutes up to the tiny olive oil producing village of Volastra. (For those that feel too challenged we can take the local bus up to Volastra). We depart this tiny village for a trail that enjoys the ultimate Cinque Terre view everyone seeks to find, yet very few do. This impressive stretch inspires almost everyone to start to paint or take up photography. The bright yellow lemon trees with deep green leaves in front of the sparkling blue ocean impress even the novice. High above the sea the terraced hillsides of vineyards of the famed Sciacchetra wine producers serve as the ideal foreground to the villages hanging over the sea below. Our trail takes us through the lush valley filled with chestnut and oak groves, wild flowers & vineyards down to the third village of the Cinque Terre, Corniglia. Built on a sheer cliff above the sea we take our time wandering through the narrow alleyways of colorful houses and shops that lead to the town’s castle of 1273. Squarzafico, the Captain of the Genoese Republic, besieged the original inhabitant of the castle and Nicolao Fieschi, who had sided with King Charles of Anjou. Later Nicolao was quoted as wondering why he ever sided with that French King in the first place. This is one of the many legends we examine within these stonewalls. We board a train for the quaint coastal town of Sestri Levante.

Lodgings: Stunning 4-star converted castle perched above town for 3 nights.

Dinner: A well-known restaurant with Italian elite and sports a “Godfather” ambience.

Day 4: Colorful Camogli to Portofino

Out of Camogli we hike within a completely different surrounding than the previous days. One of our favorite hikes on any tour; we pass through lush gardens and olive groves to a hillside town, where the views from the church still impress the locals. We then make our way along an unusual trail that’s carved into the cliffs and leads to a tiny cove accessible only by foot or boat. Nestled here is the “Torre Andrea Doria,” a medieval lookout tower and the ancient Abbey San Fruttuoso, both can be explored before we decide on lunch.

Here you may wish to go for a swim or we boat out 15m off shore to see the “Christ of the Depths” located 18m underwater (a statue erected in memory of lost sailors and to now protect scuba divers.) In the Abbey is a replica for those unable to do such a dive or a local boat enables one to view the statue from the surface.

We then walk through the south end of the park into the famed Portofino where the yachts can be as big as the mansions that dot the hillsides before transferring into the popular resort town of Santa Margherita. Walking through the south end of the park we descend down into the famed Portofino where the yachts can be as big as the mansions that dot the hillsides. After exploring this renowned port we transfer into the popular resort town of Santa Margherita. Decorated stylishly with flowers, this palm-tree-lined waterfront is filled with cafes, beautiful boutiques & colorful fruit and pastry shops. Traditional "Bagni" line the beaches and the churches are filled with fascinating art collections. For those that wish to take a break from walking or have a day to themselves then this is the place to explore and then visit Portofino, a short sdistance away. It’s also always an option to end any hike early so that you can have longer to enjoy any of the villages we visit.

Lodgings: same as previous night

Dinner: Free night out. We offer plenty of options for you to explore.

Day 5-6: The Last Two Villages

Today's itinerary takes us back into the Cinque Terre and is designed to be very flexible so that you can enjoy these last 2 villages in your preferred style. Some may wish for a rigorous Cinque Terre Villagbe hike into each village while others may prefer our casual walk into town allowing for more time to shop, swim and explore the villages. Either way we start the day by returning by train to Corniglia, the destination of our third days hike. From here we can either walk the easy 1-1/2 hours at a leisurely pace and on a trail of very little elevation gain in order to reach the next village or for those that wish for a more rigorous hike we can head for the high ground far from the crowds and take in the majestic views of the coast before ascending down to each village. Either way each route is along a very lush path that commands excellent views of the sea as well as a spectacular view of incomparable Vernazza.

You’ll have more than enough time to absorb the atmosphere of Vernazza before starting on our hike to the last of the five villages, Monterosso al Mare. For those that can’t quiet get enough of Vernazza you’ll have the option of taking the train into Monterosso. Within either village there is plenty of shopping, swimming and wine tasting to be enjoyed.

Lodgings: Same as previous night

Dinner: Farewell dinner is at my favorite family-run seafood restaurant in Italy—sea bass baked in salt anyone? Good-bye from station

Transportation Logistics

The following is a list of train schedules for transportation to and from the tour start and end locations. Train departure times and tracks are subject to change, so verify before boarding.

From Pisa: ~1 hour
#176 Cisalpino Cinque Terre train:
Pisa Centrale--11:44-- arrival La Spezia Centrale--12:38