Relaxed Trails of the Cinque Terre
- A relaxed hiking itinerary on the Cinque Terre, to Portofino and Portovenere
- Relish the dramatic views of Ligurian Riviera as you take easy-going trails
- Time to explore each of the villages, each with their own distinctive character
- Sit on a rooftop terrace with a glass of wine, cultivated on the surrounding terraces
- Enjoy freshly-caught seafood, pastel-hued houses, and narrow medieval streets
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive in Camogli on the Italian RivieraTake a local train from Genoa, Pisa or Florence, (depending on where you fly into) to Camogli, a delightful and picturesque seaside town situated just north of Portofino. It's a pleasure to wander the narrow stone-paved streets and take in its laid back ambience. With houses of apricot, cinnamon and amber, its easy to see why Camogli's beauty is reminder of the village's longtime maritime power and history as a thriving seaport.
This bed and breakfast, located in the small fishing village of Camogli, is the perfect location for walking on the Ligurian Riviera. Enjoy a warm welcome by your host, attentive service, comfortable rooms, and being strategically positioned only a few steps from the seaside promenade. The B&B overlooks the beach and Golfo Paradiso Natural Park of Portofino. Rooms aren’t air conditioned, but they are natural cooled by the pleasant coastal breeze.
This small family-run hotel is situated in an ideal location to appreciate the culture and natural surroundings of this seafront village nestled in a gulf fittingly named “Paradise”. It’s just a few steps from the seafront promenade. The staff pride themselves on providing an attentive service to all their guests.
With an unbeatable location overlooking the fishing harbour and in the pedestrianised centre of the village, this hotel is ideal for your stay in Camogli. Start your day with breakfast outside overlooking the fishing boats moored along the seafront. With just five guest rooms, you will be provided with an attentive and personalised service. Their cosy relaxation area has a Jacuzzi, steam bath and hydro-massage shower (additional charges apply).
You will be picked up at your Camogli accommodation and taken to Portofino, ready for your hike after the 30-minute journey. Since the hike is fairly short you can spend time in Portofino first if you wish. Cradled by a pretty piazza, this town is a magnet to the rich and famous - it's here where Richard Burton proposed to Elizabeth Taylor in a fancy local hotel! After exploring Portofino embark on your hike to Santa Margherita Ligure. First you head around the coast where there are fantastic views of the upcoming headlands, then you work your way inland and upwards on stone steps. Follow shady cobbled pathways (which you will welcome if it is hot!) above the sea with dramatic views as you pop out of the trees and reach viewpoints. Santa Margherita Ligure then comes into view with its lovely harbour. A vibrant town, its also worth an explore upon arrival. Your App tracks take you all the way to the local train station where its easy to board a train back to Camogli (a 15-minute journey).
Elevation Gain: 239m/784ft
Elevation Loss: 237m/777ft
This bed and breakfast, located in the small fishing village of Camogli, is the perfect location for walking on the Ligurian Riviera. Enjoy a warm welcome by your host, attentive service, comfortable rooms, and being strategically positioned only a few steps from the seaside promenade. The B&B overlooks the beach and Golfo Paradiso Natural Park of Portofino. Rooms aren’t air conditioned, but they are natural cooled by the pleasant coastal breeze.
This small family-run hotel is situated in an ideal location to appreciate the culture and natural surroundings of this seafront village nestled in a gulf fittingly named “Paradise”. It’s just a few steps from the seafront promenade. The staff pride themselves on providing an attentive service to all their guests.
With an unbeatable location overlooking the fishing harbour and in the pedestrianised centre of the village, this hotel is ideal for your stay in Camogli. Start your day with breakfast outside overlooking the fishing boats moored along the seafront. With just five guest rooms, you will be provided with an attentive and personalised service. Their cosy relaxation area has a Jacuzzi, steam bath and hydro-massage shower (additional charges apply).
Today you leave lovely Camogli behind and head into the heart of the Cinque Terre. An included transfer brings you into the hamlet of Montaretto and its tiny church. This hamlet is situated north and west of Bonassola and first you descend down to the hiking trail and follow it into the town. Bring a walking stick(s) today as it will assist you with the descent. Stunning views abound. You then find yourself in the delightful town of Bonassola. Here it is well worth pausing to check out the seafront and perhaps have delicious lunch in a piazza before walking onto Levanto. Here we have chosen to take you through the old railways tunnels on an easy walk, where you pop out and see the view every now and again. Levanto is also an impressive town and worth an explore before heading to the station and boarding a train to Monterosso, your next overnight destination.
Elevation Gain: 84m/275ft
Elevation Loss: 337m/1105ft
This family-run small hotel prides itself on providing a warm welcome and has lots of cosy spaces to unwind and relax in. The hotel lies in a quiet area, 100 metres from the beach and the beginning of the hiking path to Vernazza. The hotel has a garden, restaurant, Jacuzzi and four terraces to relax and enjoy the sea view from. During the warmer weather breakfast will be served outside in the lemon garden terrace.
Hotel Pasquale is a small, family-run hotel on the main street of Monterosso al Mare, in the very heart of the ancient village. It is in front of the fishermen's beach and offers 15 rooms with fabulous views of the Cinque Terre coastline. Admire the characteristic sheer cliffs overhanging the crystal-clear blue waters of the Ligurian sea.
The hotel's location allows easy access to all the areas of the town, including the walking trails.
This family-run hotel prides themselves on welcoming all guests in both a warm and cordial manner. Bedrooms are decorated in a traditional style and have air conditioning, TV, and WiFi access. The hotel has a rooftop terrace with loungers to admire the sea views from.
Take advantage of your Cinque Terre Rail Card and today discover these five ancient fishing villages which are all connected by train. Each village has their own personality, and being only a few minutes away from each other by train, it's possible to stop by as many as you like. Monterosso, you may well have already had time to explore, since this is where your overnight stays are. It's a town split in two by a tunnel and also the medieval Aurora tower. Vernazza the next village south is the perfect spot to savour some seafood specialities as its piazza and narrow streets are lined with restaurants. Take the steep steps up to Doria Castle for awe-inspiring views over the village and sea. Manarola is immersed in cliffside vineyards, Corniglia is the smallest and very quaint, and Riomaggiore, the furthest south, is situated between two hills and has a botanical garden.
This family-run small hotel prides itself on providing a warm welcome and has lots of cosy spaces to unwind and relax in. The hotel lies in a quiet area, 100 metres from the beach and the beginning of the hiking path to Vernazza. The hotel has a garden, restaurant, Jacuzzi and four terraces to relax and enjoy the sea view from. During the warmer weather breakfast will be served outside in the lemon garden terrace.
Hotel Pasquale is a small, family-run hotel on the main street of Monterosso al Mare, in the very heart of the ancient village. It is in front of the fishermen's beach and offers 15 rooms with fabulous views of the Cinque Terre coastline. Admire the characteristic sheer cliffs overhanging the crystal-clear blue waters of the Ligurian sea.
The hotel's location allows easy access to all the areas of the town, including the walking trails.
This family-run hotel prides themselves on welcoming all guests in both a warm and cordial manner. Bedrooms are decorated in a traditional style and have air conditioning, TV, and WiFi access. The hotel has a rooftop terrace with loungers to admire the sea views from.
Today use your Cinque Terre Train & Rail Pass to go to Vernazza and the start of today's hike. Although short in distance, this well-trodden section of the Azure Trail should not to be underestimated. You'll be walking up 500 stone steps, so take your time and soak in the diversity of landscapes and lush flora, including oaks, heathers and juniper.
Perhaps explore Vernazza today if you wish instead of yesterday when you can explore the other villages. The choice is yours!
Elevation Gain: 203m/666ft
Elevation Loss: 208m/682ft
This family-run small hotel prides itself on providing a warm welcome and has lots of cosy spaces to unwind and relax in. The hotel lies in a quiet area, 100 metres from the beach and the beginning of the hiking path to Vernazza. The hotel has a garden, restaurant, Jacuzzi and four terraces to relax and enjoy the sea view from. During the warmer weather breakfast will be served outside in the lemon garden terrace.
Hotel Pasquale is a small, family-run hotel on the main street of Monterosso al Mare, in the very heart of the ancient village. It is in front of the fishermen's beach and offers 15 rooms with fabulous views of the Cinque Terre coastline. Admire the characteristic sheer cliffs overhanging the crystal-clear blue waters of the Ligurian sea.
The hotel's location allows easy access to all the areas of the town, including the walking trails.
This family-run hotel prides themselves on welcoming all guests in both a warm and cordial manner. Bedrooms are decorated in a traditional style and have air conditioning, TV, and WiFi access. The hotel has a rooftop terrace with loungers to admire the sea views from.
An included transfer brings you to the town of Portovenere, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (transfer time of 1 hour and 10 minutes). Store your luggage at the hotel before taking off to explore this town. A walking tour in the app takes you to the Chiesa di San Pietro on the edge of the old town, through its delightful streets. Stroll along the coastal pathway and soak in the tremendous views. Spend time in its picturesque harbour with views of Palmeria Island across the water, where you will walk tomorrow.
Tonight dine al fresco if the weather permits on freshly-caught seafood and local pasta.
Elevation Gain: 55m/180ft
Elevation Loss: 58m/190ft
Overlooking the sea, with a view to the island of Palmaria, the Gulf of Poets and the open sea. From the two terraces of the restaurant, sample authentic Ligurian cuisine with panoramic views over the coast. The comfortable sea-facing bedrooms are furnished in a cosy modern style.
The Hotel Restaurant Belvedere was built at the end of the last century and has been completely renovated. It provides guests with a quiet stay on the sea in a very nice frame of liberty style. The rooms, with magnificent view from the balconies, indoor luxury and modern comforts, high quality service and the beautiful panoramic terrace are the distinctive characteristics of the hotel.
Situated between the old city walls and the promenade, the 16th century building of Torre Porto Venere offers a unique view. Once used for military purposes, the round-shaped building offers our guest a 360° view, quite rare in Portovenere, where houses were strategically built in rows. The recent renovation was carried out in full respect of traditional materials and colours, restoring the original splendour of this large building.
After a leisurely breakfast take a delightful 5-minute ferry ride to Palmeria Island, which you can see across the small channel of water called "Le Bocche" from Portovenere. People inhabit the island so the little ferries run all year round, but they are more common in season (usually every 30 minutes, depending on the day, with two ferry companies to choose from).
Upon arrival in Terrazzo, take a loop hike around the island that has fantastic views over the nearby smaller islands of Tino and Tinetto and towards the Italian mainland. You pass points of interest along the way, such as Forte Umberto 1 (a short detour off the trail via a little footpath). It was built last century and used as a prison until the 1950s. In the spring the wildflowers will be in abundance and there are 500 different types of flora which can be seen all-year round. Spot local birds such as the peregrine falcon or a kestrel. Goats here are also prevalent and have become quite friendly due to them being fed by visitors.
Elevation Gain: 265m/870ft
Elevation Loss: 264m/866ft
Overlooking the sea, with a view to the island of Palmaria, the Gulf of Poets and the open sea. From the two terraces of the restaurant, sample authentic Ligurian cuisine with panoramic views over the coast. The comfortable sea-facing bedrooms are furnished in a cosy modern style.
The Hotel Restaurant Belvedere was built at the end of the last century and has been completely renovated. It provides guests with a quiet stay on the sea in a very nice frame of liberty style. The rooms, with magnificent view from the balconies, indoor luxury and modern comforts, high quality service and the beautiful panoramic terrace are the distinctive characteristics of the hotel.
Situated between the old city walls and the promenade, the 16th century building of Torre Porto Venere offers a unique view. Once used for military purposes, the round-shaped building offers our guest a 360° view, quite rare in Portovenere, where houses were strategically built in rows. The recent renovation was carried out in full respect of traditional materials and colours, restoring the original splendour of this large building.
Today is the day you say Ciao to Italia! You will be picked up at your accommodation in Portovenere and taken to La Spezia Train Station, where you are free to travel onto your departure city.
Other Information
Is it for me?At Macs Adventure we have different trip types, Classic, Slower Adventures, Pilgrimages, In Style and Discovery. This tour is the epitome of a Slower Adventure, with relaxed walks and plenty of time for cultural immersion and sightseeing. It's rated easy to moderate as the walks are fairly short with not too much elevation gain and loss. Coastal walks with fantastic views, freshly-caught seafood and the distinctive local culture of this region of Italy are what will be in store for you on this unforgettable trip!
Slower Adventures | Where walking and cycling meet easy-going exploring, our Slower Adventures are the perfect combination. Most days are filled with picturesque journeys with some free time to dive into the destination and experience the people, local food and culture as you go.
Multi Centre Walking | With a mix of loop and point-to-point walks stay 2 or 3 nights in one place which offers the chance to slow down and really explore a destination.
Solo Travellers, Families with Teens, Groups > 10
The minimum age for this tour is: 9 Years
This tour is graded Easy to Moderate and the hikes are anywhere between 2 to 6 miles (3-8 km) in length. Since this is a Slower Adventure trip style, we have made every effort to ensure that the walks and hikes are fairly short which gives you more time to explore the villages and creates a more relaxed pace. However, even though the mileage is short, the terrain, at times, can involve steps and significant elevation gain and loss (up to almost 900 feet of gain and 1,000 feet of loss on some days - refer to the daily itinerary for details). We have tried to limit the elevation gain/loss as much as possible, but in this region of Italy is quite hilly and it's not possible to completely avoid steep terrain. At times, you will have to negotiate typical Mediterranean terrain which can be rocky, but this is minimal overall.
As there are stone steps and ups and downs, it is recommended you to do a bit of training before your trip, at least a few weeks before you depart. If you are a frequent walker and comfortable with some hills, you will have no trouble doing this trip. And even if you are not, if you take your time, you will be successful!
Included in this trip are hand-selected, charming accommodations. We’ve carefully chosen properties so that you can enjoy every minute of this trip on the Italian Riviera and Cinque Terre.
Additional Nights
It’s easy to request an extra night at any location during this itinerary or at the beginning or end. Please notify us when booking should you wish to add extra nights.
Single Rooms & Solo Walkers
If separate rooms are required, a single supplement is payable.This trip is also available to solo walkers but a Solo Traveler Supplement will need to paid.
Meals
Breakfast is included each morning and consists of a traditional European-style breakfast ranging from coffee, tea, yoghurt, granola, meat, cheese, and baked goods. Sometimes, a hot dish (eggs and pancakes) will be served or offered á la carte.
Lunches and dinners are not included in this trip. We recommend finding cafés or restaurants in the towns or along the walking route or purchasing snacks and a picnic lunch to bring along on the walks if you wish from local supermarkets and markets.
At times the trails will be waymarked (usually a white and red sign) but generally the walks on this tour are not reliably or consistently signposted (except for the section from Vernazza to Monterosso where you will be walking on the Cinque Terre Trail). However navigation is straightforward using the Macs Adventure App which has maps, GPS tracks and daily route information. Simply download the GPS tracks for offline use and follow the route on your phone with the assurance that navigation on this tour will be made simple. You will find more information on downloading the app in your Macs Adventure Account.
- Overnights in charming and hand-picked hotels
- Daily Breakfasts
- Transfers as outlined in the itinerary
- Transfer from Portovenere to La Spezia for onward travel
- 3-Day Cinque Terre Train and Trails Card
- Luggage Transfers
- Access to maps, GPX tracks and daily route information with the Macs Adventure Smartphone App
- 24/7 Emergency Telephone Support
- Travel Insurance
- Travel to Camogli and from La Spezia
- Lunches, Dinners, Drinks and Snacks
- Train travel from Santa Margherita di Ligure to Camogli
- Ferry to and from Palmeria Island
- Personal Equipment
- Tourist Taxes (charged locally at hotels)
- Additional Nights, before during or after the tour
- Single Room Supplement
- Solo Traveler Supplement
This tour is available to start anytime between mid-March and October.
As Portofino, Portovenere, and the Cinque Terre are very popular destinations, we suggest booking in advance to ensure availability for specific dates.
In Camogli there are two big festivals that happen annually. These are great times to visit to see the event, but do mean that you have to book early to get the accommodation booking as space fills up fast, also the accommodation prices may be higher, and there will be more people in the village and possibly on the trail too at this time. The festivals are:
Sagra del Pesce - always the 2nd Sunday in May.
Festa Stella Maris - always the 1st Sunday in August.
The spring months of mid-March, April, May and June offer warm sunshine, fewer crowds, and pleasant walking conditions and is when wildflowers are coming into bloom. The autumn months of September and October are also a favorable time of year, boasting cooler weather and a striking landscape made up of autumnal colours. July and August are good months to go but can be very hot for walking and therefore aren’t best suited for everyone. You will have to start early to miss the heat of the day, carry a lot of water (additional weight) with you and wear a hat. Although the towns and villages are buzzing at this time of year which is great to see, and you can take a cooling dip in the sea.
This trip begins in Camogli, Italy. For the most convenient method of travel, we recommended flying into Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport (GOA) and taking the direct train to Camogli. There are typically no direct flights from North America to Genoa, so you’ll most likely connect in a European hub. From the Genoa airport, there are multiple options to get to the Brignole Train Station: taxi; shuttle bus (Volabus); or public bus. Details can be found on the Genoa Airport website.
From Genoa’s Brignole station, there are frequent direct trains to Camogli - San Fruttuoso Station. Visit Trenitalia for times, prices and booking. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket office or online prior to departure. Total journey time is about 1 hour.
It is also possible to fly into Pisa (PSA) and Florence (FLR). Both have train connections to Camogli. Visit Trenitalia for times, prices and booking.
A private transfer from Genoa, Pisa or Florence to Camogli can be requested. Please let us know at the time of booking if you would like to add this option (additional costs apply).
A transfer from your accommodation in Portovenere to La Spezia Train Station is included (about a 30 minute journey). La Spezia Train Station has departures to Genoa, Pisa and Florence, or other onward destinations in Italy. Visit Trenitalia for times, prices and bookings.
On this tour when your luggage is transferred to the next accommodation, you will also be in the same vehicle. From Camogli to the beginning of your walk on Day 3, the taxi will drop you off ready to begin your walk and will then take your luggage onto Monterosso. On Day 6, a transfer brings you from Monterosso to Portovenere and again you will need to bring your luggage with you. We ask you to limit your luggage to one suitcase/bag of up to 20kg/44lbs per person. This luggage restriction can be a challenge, especially as airlines generally have limits that are higher. However, these limits are there for a reason and we must respect these rules which are usually due to Health & Safety reasons of luggage transfer company employees.
You will have to take local trains at times on this itinerary to get from A to B. Trains in this area of Italy are mostly reliable and frequent, which makes process relatively easy. When you do have to take public transportation, the details will be in your app as part of the daily walk description, and also in your information pack.
Your information pack has a detailed equipment list which includes standard walking gear such as good shoes, sun hat and a day pack.
It is strongly recommended that you purchase travel insurance for your trip.
Since this area of Italy is very popular we recommend that you try to book as far in advance as possible. Some months are quieter, like April and October, so not as much notice is needed for these times of the year.
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