Cinque Terre Short Break
5 Days & 4 Nights 4.2 Read 21 reviews- Discover the best of the Cinque Terre National Park on foot
- Enjoy coastal walks between colourful fishing villages
- Sample freshly-caught seafood, pesto pastas, and chilled limoncello
- Follow the route as it winds through lemon groves and terraced vineyards
- Stay in charming accommodations for an authentic experience
What To Expect
Tour Style:
Self Guided | Go at your own pace on an independent active trip.
Activity:
Multi Center Walking | You will spend multiple nights in one or more of the locations on this walking tour
This trip is suitable for:
Solo Travelers, Multi-Generational, First Timers
As a guide, we would suggest that the minimum age of traveler this tour would be suitable for is: 12 Years
Ideal if you have an interest in:
- Foodie Adventures
- Coastal & Island
- National Parks & Trails
- Special Occasions
Inspiration:
- Most Popular
- Classic
Activity Level & Terrain
This trip has 6 days of walking and is graded moderate. The terrain varies from coastal paths to rolling mountain trails making for a pleasant mixture. Each day can be shortened by taking a train or ferry to your next overnight destination (please refer to your walking notes for specific locations en route). A 48-hour (two-day), trail and rail pass is included which can be used for the Cinque Terre portion of this trip taking you to the start of each hike within the national park and ensuring the flexibility to shorten your walk or avoid a section completely should there be a landslide or trail closure. This may occur and more information on trail closures is provided in your information pack.
Daily walks average around 10-11 km, following dirt paths, paved roads, forest trails and coastal paths. Some of the route encompass short sections of staircases, especially while walking from village-to-village within the Cinque Terre.
To get the most from this trip you should be in excellent physical shape and comfortable walking on undulating terrain with many ascents and descents. Please be advised that this trip may not be appropriate for unstable walkers or people suffering from vertigo.
Navigation
While the route is not waymarked, navigation is straightforward using the Macs Adventure Smartphone Navigation App.
Your daily walks will be mapped in the app with GPX tracks, including route notes and turn-by-turn directions. All of these resources are available to download for offline use. More information is outlined within your detailed information pack, in addition to 24/7 telephone support from Macs Adventure should you require assistance.
Accommodations
Included in this trip are 4 nights in hand-selected, comfortable accommodations. You will be staying in Bonassola on your first night, then in Monterosso for three nights. We have carefully selected these properties for their friendliness, charm, and location so that you can enjoy every minute of your stay in the Cinque Terre.
Additional Nights
If you wish to add any additional nights to your itinerary you can easily do so, please let us know at the time of booking.
Single Rooms & Solo Walkers
This trip is based on double occupancy (two people sharing a double room). If you would like to request a twin room (same room with two separate single beds), please notify us at the time of booking so we can request this. This trip is also available to solo walkers.
Meals
Breakfast is included each morning and consists of a European-style breakfast, including coffee, tea, yogurt, granola, cold meats, a selection of cheeses, and typically for Italians; baked pastries and cakes! In some cases, a hot dish (eggs, pancakes) will be served or offered á la carte.
Lunch, dinner, snacks, and drinks are not included in this trip but free to choose from nearby shops, restaurants, bakeries, and supermarkets. We recommend finding cafés or restaurants located in the towns or along the walking route, or you can purchase snacks and a picnic lunch to bring along with you. Further details can be found within your information pack and route notes.
- 4 Nights in charming hotels
- 4 Breakfasts
- Luggage Transfer
- 3-Day Cinque Terre Card & Train Pass
- Detailed Information Pack
- Access to the Macs Adventure Smartphone App for navigation
- 24/7 telephone support from our office
- Travel to Bonassola and from Monterosso
- Travel Insurance (required)
- Lunch & Dinner, Snacks & Drinks
- Tourist taxes (if it needs to be paid locally)
- Personal Equipment
- Additional nights before, during or after the walk
- Private Transfers
When To Go
This tour is available to start anytime between April and October.
As Portofino, Portovenere and the Cinque Terre are very popular destinations, we suggest you book as soon as your plans are finalized to ensure availability for specific dates.
The springs months of April, May and June offer warm sunshine, fewer crowds and pleasant conditions. The autumn months of September and October are also a favorite time of year, boasting cooler weather and a striking landscape made up of fall colors.
July and August are also great months to go but can be very hot for walking. If booking during these months, we therefore advise you to start your walks very early in the morning to avoid the midday
Getting to the Start
The most convenient way to get to Bonassola is by flying into Genoa and then taking a train via Levanto to Bonassola (1H45M). It is also possible to fly into Pisa or Florence, then travel by train via La Spezia (both roughly 2H50M). These airports receive flights from both national and international destinations and are well-connected with public buses and/or taxis to the central train stations.
Visit Trenitalia for more information, timetables, and prices. You can either purchase the tickets at the ticket office, or you can do so online beforehand. Private transfers can be requested, please let us know if you would like to add this to your booking (additional costs apply).
Getting from the End
Your short break finishes in Monterosso which has its own central train station with trains back to Genoa via Levanto, or back to Pisa or Florence via La Spezia. A private transfer can be included in this trip instead, please let us know at the time of booking if you wish to add this option (additional costs apply). Visit Trenitalia for more information, timetables, and prices. You can either purchase the tickets at the ticket office, or you can do so online beforehand.Luggage Transfer
Your bags will be transferred from your accommodation in Bonassola to your accommodation in Monterosso as per your itinerary. We ask you to limit your luggage to one bag of up to 20 kg per person.
General Information
Please note that the reviews for this walking holiday up until December 2019 are based on our previous itinerary. As of December 2019, minor changes and improvements have been made to enhance your experience.
Equipment
Our pre-departure information pack has detailed advice and a kit list on what to take with you to Italy. This includes warm and cold weather gear, hiking boots, and lots of other useful bits and bobs.
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