Cinque Terre & The Riviera
Introduction
Coastal-Walking.png){kind=icon}
Architecture.png){kind=icon}
Photography.png){kind=icon}
Wine-Region.png){kind=icon}
mediterranean.png){kind=icon}
The ancient trade routes of the Roman Empire are our territory for this unique Walk through the World Heritage Site of the Cinque Terre or Five Lands. Setting off from the medieval village of Portovenere, we trek cliff-top footpaths overlooking the Mediterranean and picturesque harbor towns of the Italian Riviera.
Passing through olive groves, pungent pine forests and quiet mountain pastures, we discover the towering cliffs of the Portofino National Park, a 1,200 year-old monastery and a giant vineyard amphitheatre at Volastra.
Enjoy a taste of the high-life at Portofino as we explore the prettily-painted old harbor and admire the yachts.
Walk Summary
| Dates | |
| Trip | 7 days, 6 nights |
| Terrain |  Walk Rating: Energetic. Coastal trails, mule tracks, well defined paths and many stone steps. Paths can be rocky. 10-12 miles walking per day. |
| Price |
Walk begins in Portovenere, with arrival at La Spezia Rail Station and ends in Camogli, with departure from Santa Margherita Ligure Rail Station.
Walk Itinerary
Sunday
Rendezvous with The Wayfarers in Portovenere, a medieval harbor village, for a Welcome Dinner and Introductory Talk.
Monday
Wooded tracks lead us from a tiny hilltop village to an easy walk along the Cinque Terre Peninsula beside the shining Gulf of La Spezia. We hike to Riomaggiore where we have lunch. Our afternoon walk takes us via the “Via dell’amore” to Manarola, where we board the ferry to Monterosso and continue by train to our seaside hotel in Sestri Levante.
Tuesday
We explore the hilltop village of Volastra where locals still tend the steeply terraced vineyards that form a giant amphitheater overlooking the sea. Seated in the shady garden of a trattoria, we enjoy a leisurely lunch before hiking the coastal path to the lovely port town of Vernazza and continuing to Sestri Levante by train.
Wednesday
After a short drive, we hike an ancient mountain trail through forests and pastures. We marvel at the outstanding views of the sea in one direction and forests and mountains in the other. We lunch on an elegant terrace overlooking the sparkling Ligurian Sea and descend to Rapallo by cable car, and on to our seaside hotel for dinner.
Thursday
Our trail leads through oak and chestnut forests along an ancient route to the charming village of Portofino. We enjoy our lunch in a quaint little restaurant which serves tasty spagetti with pesto, prepared in the traditional Genovese way, in a small piazza very close to the harbor. After lunch, we explore the old harbor, wander around the tiny streets with their yachting boutiques and art galleries, and walk to the lighthouse at Punta Portofino, before boarding a ferry for the voyage back across the bay.
Friday
We walk to Punta Chiappa, where we board a boat to take us past the towering cliffs of the Portofino National Park to the 1,200 year-old monastery of San Fruttuoso, accessible only by sea or on foot. We climb the many steps to join well-worn by-ways known to the monks of old and wind our way through olive groves and pungent pine forests, high above the sea. We return to Camogli for our Farewell Dinner.
Saturday
The Wayfarers transfer you to Santa Margherita Ligure Rail Station and see you safely on your way.
This itinerary represents a typical Walk. We prepare itineraries well in advance of the trip and therefore we reserve the right to make changes due to weather, local events or other circumstances - but always to improve the experience of our guests.
Hotels
To see the complete list of hotels, please login or register.
Via Garibaldi 5
19025 Portovenere
T: +39 (0)187-792-610
F: +39 (0)187-790-661
W: www.portovenerehotel.it
An ancient former Franciscan monastary built in the 16th century, the Grand Hotel Portovenere is located by the sea opposite Palmaria Island in the historical center of of Portovenere. It is one the most romantic spots on the Italian Riviera surounded by enchanting views of the medieval village and colourful tower-houses. The hotel’s first-class Restaurant "Il Convento", with a great panorama terrace at the sea, serves typical local and international cuisine including freshly caught fish from the sea nearby.
All bedrooms are decorated individually, comfortably and elegantly and have private bathroom, hair dryer, air conditioning, minibar and TV with satellite channels. A state of the art Spa designed according to the lastest criteria of “Wellness” was recently added offering therapeutic treatments as well as a fitness centre, sauna, Turkish bath and whirlpool.
Via N. Cuneo, 34
16032 Camogli
Portofino
T: +39 (0)185-724-1
F: +39 (0)185-772-796
E: cenobio@cenobio.it
W: www.cenobio.it
In the quaint fishing village of Camogli, stands one of the most charming hotels in Liguria. Its story began in 1565 when a family of aristocratic Dogi, which governed a great part of Italy, decided to build a villa as their retreat. Many of the frequent visitors were Cardinals and Priests, which inspired the Dogi to build a beautiful little chapel at the villa which still exists. Many years later the property was bought by the noble family of Emilio De Ferrari who transformed the estate into a park and hotel. Views, which are nothing short of spectacular, can now be enjoyed from the hotel’s private beach, terrace bar and restaurant.
Other facilities include a health club, tennis courts and an outdoor seawater swimming pool with sun terrace. Bedrooms are tastefully decorated with period furnishings and air conditioning plus private bathroom, hairdryer, satellite TV and mini bar.
This hotel list is a provided as an example. We may use different hotels of the same quality and style on specific trips. The Wayfarers will notify confirmed travelers of any changes to the hotels.
Photo Gallery
Travel Information
Before & After Your Walk:
- Have a few days in the lap of luxury in Monte Carlo and then take the coastal train to the Wayfarers' Walk.
- Spend a day or two in Genoa with its famous harbor , the birthplace of Christopher Columbus, and one of the four powerful maritime Republics in the Middle Ages. Many fine buildings in Genoa from the 16th and 17th centuries have been beautifully preserved. Only 7km from Genoa is the satellite town of Nervi, one of Italy's oldest seaside resorts and home to some magnificent museums.
Weather:
May, June and September are mild and very pleasant in this area. The average temperature in the day rises to around 73-76ºF (23-25ºC) with possible daytime peaks up to 82-86ºF (28-30°C). Average night-time temperatures are around 50 to 63ºF (13-17ºC) so you may need a sweater or light jacket in the evenings. This area is encircled on the North by high mountains and so is protected from cooler winds. However, when the southerly Libeccio (the southwest wind) or the Scirocco blow towards the coast, it can be a little fresher with an occasional rain storm. Rainfall can occur at any time, but particularly in September, so you need to bring good quality, light rain protection on all walks.
To see more Travel Information and a list of our recommended tips please register or sign in. Once you confirm a booking for this walk, as a registered website member, you will be able to access detailed Joining Instructions including exact arrival and departure points and times as part of the Travel Information.
FAQs
Have questions? Can't see the answers, it maybe someone else has already asked! To see a full list of FAQs please register or sign in.
-
Are there any hidden costs?
Our Vacations do not include the cost of air or rail fares to and from the destination or tips for your walk leader and manager. -
How large are the Groups?
Our maximum group size is 16, but groups average between 8-12 people. -
Will I feel welcome as a single traveler?
Yes! Our walks are the perfect environment of comfortable camaraderie for the single traveler. -
Can you accomodate special diets?
Yes! -
How physically fit do I have to be to do a Wayfarers Walk?
If you are in good health and reasonably fit you will be comfortable participating in a walk.
Ask a question
Please do not hesitate to ask us a question about this walk.
Reading List
NONFICTION: Enchanted Liguria: Celebration of the Culture Alison Harris
What's Next?
At this point we would like to thank you for looking at our website, we hope you will have seen a little of the places we walk to, hotels we stay in and that we have answered some of your questions.
For more information contact our team who are waiting for your questions. Alternatively we suggest you choose one of the following:
 |
Register Online Join us on our no obligation, no hassle website. The benefits include viewing full Hotel lists, FAQ's, and Walk Reviews from previous walkers, offering a world of extra information about Cinque Terre & The Riviera. |
 |
Save this Walk By registering you can 'save this walk' to your Wayfarers account, allowing you to share your vacation ideas with friends and family before making any commitments, you can also save walks to your favorite websites such as Facebook and Windows Live! |
 |
Ask a question Take part in our online FAQ's, we are delighted to receive and share feedback about our walks and website with others. This is your website and we welcome your contribution to improving it. |
As always with The Wayfarers, there is plenty to see and explore on this website, we love to hear from any Wayfarers and look forward to tempting you to join us on the trail!
Loading menu