Cinque Terre Getaway

Our trip starts in Santa Margherita Ligure, where we spend two nights at the three-star Hotel Jolanda. Our first two walks take us up on isolated cliffside paths with stunning views over the Golfo di Tigullio. We'll see the 12th century Abbey of San Fruttuoso nestled below us in a blue bay; and we end up at the brightly painted harbor of Portofino, which now shelters the gleaming yachts of the rich and famous. Our physical exercise will be rewarded each night with an excellent meal of fresh seafood and pasta.

Monterosso al Mare will host us for the next three nights. The largest of the "Cinque Terre" (literally "five lands"), it is a delightful mix of old and new, offering fine cuisine, good shopping, and even a sandy beach! From Monterosso we walk through the other Cinque Terre villages, which are all connected by ancient walking paths. If you are tired of walking, you can hop on any of the trains or ferries that link the  towns. Our last day of walking takes us to the beautiful town of Portovenere. Spread out beneath a massive Genovese fortress built in the 15th century to ward off raiding Turkish corsairs, Portovenere was originally a Roman outpost, dramatically situated between the cliffs and the blue waters of the Mediterranean. The trip ends in Monterosso, so you have the choice to stay on and enjoy a relaxing beach holiday or carry on to your next destination in Italy.

(Luggage is transfered by van. 2 nights Santa Margherita Ligure, 3 nights Monterosso al Mare, where trip ends.)


Day 1 - Sunday: Arrive in Santa Margherita and transfer to our hotel on your own. Santa Margherita, known for its orange blossoms and beachfront promenade, is a lovely coastal town on the Ligurian Sea approximately twenty miles southeast of Genoa. Please plan to arrive early in the day, as you will be meeting your trip leader and traveling companions at 2:30 p.m. for a warm-up hike to Portofino. A formal group orientation will be held this evening before dinner. Overnight in Santa Margherita for the next two nights. Our pick-up time of 14:30 means that you can depart Rome or Milan this morning and arrive in Santa Margherita in time for the hike. If you wish to arrive a day early please let us know and we can book and extra night for you in Santa Margherita. Hotel and Dinner included.


Day 2 - Monday: After breakfast we begin our first full day of hiking along the dramatic seaside cliffs of the Ligurian coast, from Camogli to Portofino. Sights include the 13th-century Abbey of San Fruttuoso, nestled below us in a glittering bay, and the pastel-colored houses ringing the harbour in Portofino. Our route serves as the perfect scenic introduction to this marvelous region. Tonight is a "free night" dinner, so you can do as you like this evening. You may want to head into Portofino to dine at one of the many chic waterfront restaurants frequented by the owners of the yachts moored in the harbour, or maybe you'd prefer a pizza in a neighbourhood restaurant in Santa Margherita. The choice is yours. Hotel and breakfast included.


Day 3 - Tuesday: We transfer by train this morning to the village of Framura. From here we hike through the woods and along terraces to Levanto, where we stop for lunch. We then continue on to Monterosso al Mare, one of the five villages that make up the famed "Cinque Terre." It also has the best beach in the area (with sand!) so you can enjoy a refreshing swim after your hike. Monterosso's brightly painted houses and bustling village life create a charming base for our explorations. We stay at a lovely, family-run three-star hotel. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.


Day 4 - Wednesday: Today's hike takes us along the ancient footpath joining the villages of the Cinque Terre: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The whole area has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site as well as a protected natural park, in an effort to preserve the ancient traditions that have been carried on here for centuries. We will walk among the dry-stone walls and steep terraces that allowed for the cultivation of grapes, olives, chestnuts, and even mulberry trees for silk! The path is well marked, so you can go at your own pace today and stop to  explore the towns as they go. Indeed, if you are tired of walking you can relax in town and then simply take the train or ferry to the next town or back to Monterosso. Tonight is a "free night" dinner so you can indulge in something special or just have a night off. Hotel and breakfast included.


Day 5 - Thursday: Today we have a glorious walk out of the Cinque Terre park over to the former Roman outpost of Portovenere. We climb up to a medieval church, through majestic pine forests, past some of the last remaining cork trees, before a final descent on cliffside trails to the Genovese fortress and into Portovenere. The town and surrounding islands were elected a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997 for their beauty and historical importance. You will have time to explore the cobbled streets and narrow alleys of this picturesque seaside town before catching the late afternoon ferry back to Monterosso, a scenic trip that allows you to see all of the villages from the sea. Final night dinner at one of Liguria's finest restaurants -- a casual place with superb food and an awesome wine list. Overnight Monterosso al Mare. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.


Day 6 - Friday: Today you can enjoy a leisurely breakfast as the trip has officially ended. Make your way independently to the Monterosso train station to catch trains to your next destination. However, many of our travelers ask us to book them extra nights in Monterosso to extend their holiday by a few days. This we gladly do, but please let us know well in advance. Breakfast included.

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See all our tours by date: TOUR CALENDAR 2010

The walks in the Cinque Terre, though not long in terms of distance, can be strenuous at times as we ascend or descend mountain paths or a series of old stairways that have been used for years to link the villages of the region. We have designed the trip so that there is always some free time in the late afternoon so you can relax, read, or have a dip in the sea. Breakfast is included every day, and dinners reflect the excellent traditional food of the region. Daily distance between 8 and 14 kms.


Useful Links -
City of Portofino:  website in English from the gem of the Italian Riviera
Gulf of Tigullio: some background on this park around Portofino
Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre:  basic information on the park and villages
UNESCO World Heritage Site:  check out all the wonderful places in Italy!

General Information

Qualifications: This trip is rated moderate with some challenging uphills. Each day's walk starts at sea level and climbs as high as 500 metres (1,500 feet) before returning to sea level. This means there are some long sustained uphills and downhills. Note also that people who suffer from severe vertigo may be affected on some stretches of the trail as we often have wide-open vistas over the sea. Trip Cost Includes: All accommodations (2 nights Santa Margherita, 3 nights Monterosso al Mare; both 3-star hotels); 5 breakfasts and 3 dinners; bilingual guide or guides; all luggage transfers; scheduled train and boat transfers as indicated in the itinerary. Getting there (this will redirect you to our "Getting to the Trip" page) Booking: e-mail us to receive a booking contract (or use the "Reservation" page).  Insurance: We highly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance. We recommend "Travel Guard" to our American clients, just click on the logo below, while Canadian residents can click here.  Australian, New Zealander, and British travelers, please consult your insurance brokers. We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime!