Paestum and the Cilento Coast Short Break

5 Days & 4 Nights

Paestum and the Cilento Coast Short Break

The world-famous ancient Doric temples at Paestum
Step into Greek mythology and the Odyssey by walking the Path of the Sirens
Sample creamy, freshly made water buffalo mozzarella at a local organic farm
Swim in the clear, azure waters and rest on the sandy beaches of this unspoilt coastline
Soak up the atmosphere in Agropolis Old Town and taste the refreshing gelato
Characterful hotels that are ideally located for exploring on foot at a gentle pace

If you’ve visited Amalfi already or you’re looking for somewhere a bit quieter, but with the same great food, wine, and weather, then this short break is for you. The Cilento region is steeped in ancient history, legends, and is home to Paestum – where you’ll find one of the most impressive and famous ancient archaeological sites in the world. Cilento also has an abundance of natural beauty, with a pristine marine reserve and the second largest national park in Italy falling within its borders. And yet, this region is a secret haven and considerably quieter than neighbouring Amalfi. On this slow-paced walking trip, you can wander down narrow medieval streets and relax with the locals for a coffee in a quiet town square. Experience authentic fishing villages and stroll along sandy beaches; stopping to bask in the sunshine or take a refreshing dip in the Tyrrhenian Sea.

From $885.00

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Itinerary

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Day 1 Arrive at Paestum and overnight Day 2 Visit to a water buffalo farm and chance to visit Paestum Archaeological Park

This area of Cilento is well known for the production of buffalo mozzarella cheese... but forget the mozzarella you’ve tasted before, here the fresh, stringy textured, porcelain-white coloured cheese, has an extremely delicate taste that combines perfectly with local tomatoes, basil and olive oil. This morning our driver will take you to Tenuta Vannulo, a water buffalo dairy farm on a country estate, that produces organic raw–milk cheeses. You’ll join a guided tour of the “empire of the buffalo”, to see the animals, the production stages, and watch the ‘casari’ (cheese makers) at work. It is particularly fascinating to watch them skillfully plucking the mozzarella from fist-size lumps of cheese. After sampling the cheese during a light lunch you’ll be driven back to your hotel.

This afternoon you have the opportunity to explore the Paestum Archaeological Park (entrance payable locally). This is a place where myths, legends, and millennial traditions, are connected with the natural landscape and the might of the sea. It is one of the most precious archaeological sites in Italy and, according to UNESCO, of the entire world. The three Doric temples are among the best preserved in all of antiquity, and they stand grandly on the plains here with the sea behind them.

Before heading back to your hotel, in Paestum town you can quench your thirst with a ‘Cilentano’ Spritz at the characterful Bottega Cilentana bar.

Overnight Paestum

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Il Granaio dei Casabella | Bed and breakfast, Country House, Hotel

Located opposite the 'Porta Aurea', one of the four former gates into the ancient city of Paestum. This small hotel is a restored farmhouse that retains much of is rustic charm with peaceful gardens and welcoming common areas. You can fill up with a traditional Mediterranean breakfast, with lots of choices on offer. Each bedroom has its own character and features antique furniture.

Tenuta Duca Marigliano Boutiique Hotel Paestum

Tenuta Duca Marigliano Boutique Hotel | Hotel

This restored 19th century estate building retains its historic character whilst providing comfortable bedrooms decorated in a more contemporary style. It’s ideally located just 5 minutes' walk from Paestum Archaeological Park. The hotel has a bar, restaurant, garden, and spa facilities.

Day 3 Train to Agropoli and coastal walk along Punta Tresino 8.3 miles / 13.4 km

This morning you walk to Paestum train station to catch a direct train to Agropoli (fare payable locally, for approximately €2.00 per person and the journey takes around six minutes). You don’t have to worry about taking your main luggage on the train or the walk with you, as it will be picked up from your hotel and taken to Santa Maria di Castellabate.

In Agropoli, you can choose to purchase a packed lunch, and to explore the old town with its ancient castle nestled on a rocky spur above the sea, stroll along the seafront promenade, and see the fishing boats in the marina. Before reaching the harbour, you can take a small detour to the Church of Our Lady of Constantinople to admire the sea view and taste the best gelato in Agropoli at ‘Arricrià Gelateria’.

To reach the starting point of our walk you will go through the town centre and continue south to the Bay of Trentova. The bay is a great spot to take a break and have a swim in the clear blue waters. From here you walk through the lush Mediterranean landscape with its coastal views over the azure waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Walking along Punta Tresino: an extreme offshoot of Mount Stella that extends to the shore of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The name Tresino derives from the presence of the Trezeni, a Greek group who settled in the area centuries ago. Arriving in the Lago of Castellabate, you walk along its large sandy beach to reach your next destination: the delightful little fishing village of Santa Maria di Castellabate.

Le Gatte Harbour is a peaceful place to relax and unwind this evening after your walk. It gets its name as the glittering lights of the town shimmer in the sea and resemble cats’ eyes. You can also take a stroll to a popular local seafood restaurant called ‘Ristorante Cuopperia Lo Sparviero’.

Ascent/Descent: 174m/177m

Overnight Santa Maria di Castellabate

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Residenza d'epoca Olimpia | Hotel

This 17th century building was originally owned by a noble Spanish family, and still retains much of its elegance and historical features. Located in the heart of Santa Maria di Castellabate, it is just a short walk from the seafront. The roof terrace offers great view over Marina Piccola Beach.

Day 4 Path of the Sirens walk 9.1 miles / 14.7 km

Walk along the Path of the Sirens, from Santa Maria di Castellabate to its sister village of San Marco di Castellabate and beyond to Punta Licosa.

It’s said in Greek mythology, that it’s here that the Sirens – a creature that is half bird and half woman, would lure sailors to wreck their ships on the rocks through their hypnotically sweet song, but if any mortal should survive their encounter, then the Sirens would perish. So, when Ulysses in the Odyssey sailed through and lived to tell the tale, the Sirens chose to hurl themselves into the sea, and they bothered no person ever again. Licosa derives its name from the Greek 'Leucosia', who is said to have been one of these Sirens. Punta Licosa is now a pristine marine reserve, rich in archaeological finds, with jagged rocks jutting out from the water, and an ancient port submerged beneath the waves.

Along the walk you can take in the views over the island of Capri, the Amalfi Coast, and Sorrento Peninsula. You may choose to take a swim in the aquamarine shallow waters out to a little island with a lighthouse. Before beginning the walk back along the coastal path.

Today’s walk can be shortened by taking a local bus to the village of San Marco di Castellabate (about 4 kms from Santa Maria di Castellabate). Alternatively, it’s possible to extend the walk by around 5.2 kms and details of this can be found in the Macs Adventure app.

Ascent/Descent: 60m/86m

Overnight Santa Maria di Castellabate

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Residenza d'epoca Olimpia | Hotel

Day 5 Onward travel from Santa Maria di Castellabate

THIS TRIP'S CARBON SCORE

This trip has a carbon score of 15kg per person per night, meaning it’s one of our greenest trips! For comparison, a carbon count of 15kg is equivalent to 88.5 candy bars. Here at Macs, we pride ourselves on being a responsible travel company and continue to adopt, develop and innovate ways to positively impact the environment. Find out more information about how we've carbon counted our trips.

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Other Information

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Is it for me? Accommodation & Meals

Accommodations

Our Paestum and the Cilento Coast Short Break holiday includes overnight accommodation in small hotels. We specifically choose the hotels to ensure that you enjoy every minute of your stay. All offer a warm welcome to walkers, traditional hospitality and delicious local food and drink.

Details of the local hotels we normally use are detailed below. These are subject to availability, and early booking is highly recommended for June-September in particular, as this is a popular area.

We book en suite rooms as standard.

Alternate Accommodation
We will always try and use the hotels detailed in the accommodation information. Occasionally, because of limited availability we may have to accommodate you in alternative hotels which are not listed in the description. The alternative accommodation will be of the same or better standard than those described. In case of alternative accommodation needing to be booked, supplements may be payable, and we will advise you accordingly.

We will always try and accommodate you at the locations detailed in your itinerary. Very occasionally, due to limited availability, there may be an option to be accommodated at an alternative location. In the unlikely event that we must accommodate you elsewhere, we will advise you of this before confirming your booking. In this case you can change your trip dates, or we can arrange taxi transfers to and from an alternative overnight accommodation (supplement payable).

Single Rooms & Solo Walkers
This independent walking holiday is available to solo walkers for a supplement and is subject to availability. If you require single rooms within your party, we would be happy to accommodate you although there is a single room supplement payable.

Meals
Breakfast is included each morning. In Italy this is generally a light continental breakfast. Lunch and dinner are not included but are available from your hotel or nearby restaurants. Your accommodation may be able to provide a packed lunch on request and this can be booked on arrival. The food of the Cilento region is strongly influenced by local produce. Traditional specialities include cavatelli, a typical handmade pasta, with cacioricotta cheese or the ciambotta, a delicious mix of stewed vegetables.

Additional Nights
You may wish to take some extra nights along the route, either to rest or for those with plenty of energy to explore some of the other walking opportunities nearby.

Room Upgrades
At Santa Maria di Castellabate you may like to upgrade your room to a sea view. These are available on request and subject to availability for an additional supplement.

Navigation What's Included When to go

When To Go

This trip is available to book from the end of March to end of October. You can start your holiday on any date in the season. However, this tour is not available at Easter, or from the 21st July until the 21st August, as this is the hottest time of year and availability in the hotels is almost impossible to secure due to it being the Italian summer holidays.

Peak Season Availability

Early booking is recommended to secure the best choice accommodation for you throughout the peak spring and summer months. We may require some flexibility regarding your dates, accommodation and/or itinerary. We will do our best to provide a suitable alternative in line with our usual tour. In the instance that our usual accommodation is not available, a supplement for alternate accommodation may be payable, but will of course be discussed with you. We will always try our best to get you confirmed on the date you wish to travel.

Time of Year

In Autumn the landscape is made up of a gold and red pallet, so September and October are unmissable. April, May and June are normally a pleasant temperature for walking and the vegetation is particularly lush at this time of year. May is when most wildflowers are coming into bloom. July, and end of August can be very hot and therefore aren’t best suited for everyone. You will have to start early to miss the heat of the day and carry a lot of water (additional weight) with you. Although the towns and villages are buzzing at this time of year which is great, and you can take a cooling dip in the sea.

Weather and Climate

Cilento experiences cold and wet winters and scorching hot summers, making the spring and autumn months the best time for most people travelling here on a walking holiday. Rain is possible at any time of year, but infrequent outside of the winter months. May and October have an average temperature of between 20 and 25°C, so are ideal for walking. March and April are cooler (around 15-18°C) and September is hotter (25-27°C). July and August are hot (30-31°C), sunny and can be humid.

Temperatures are an average guideline and may vary from the above.

Travel & Transfers Info & FAQ

General Information

The distances and ascent/descents are approximations of the recommended routes.

Please be prepared by packing all necessary items. Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good walking boots or shoes, warm and waterproof clothes for the cooler months and lightweight clothing for summer, a day pack, sun hat, and sunscreen.

Online Documents
At Macs Adventure we care about the environment. We’re taking action to minimise the impact we have by converting the majority of our tour documentation for online delivery. On this tour, all your detailed tour information will be digitally delivered. You will have access to this documentation via “My Account” on our website and the Macs Adventure Smartphone App.

Equipment

Our pre-departure information pack has detailed advice and a packing list on what to bring. This includes walking gear, hiking boots, rain gear, day pack and other specifics.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.