What’s included

Here you have list about what it is included in the Cinque Terre Tour:

• Accommodations for 7 days and 6 nights at our favorite beautiful hotels
• Full time experienced guide(s) who are with you throughout the trip, handle behind-the-scenes logistics and are there to help with anything from haggling for a rug to buying a tube of toothpaste
• Support vehicle(s)
• Admissions to tastings, historic sites and other scheduled events as noted in the detailed daily itinerary.
• Gratuities for hotels, meals and baggage
• Trip literature
• All transportation during the trip
• All breakfasts , lunch and dinners

Itinerary Notes

Sometimes changes to the itinerary are necessary due to the weather or special situations This can happen with little notice. If you’re flexible and have a sense of humour, you’re bound to have a fun and relaxing trip across this beautiful part of the world.

DAY 1:

Today is the arrival day in Santa Margherita de Ligure, we all meet in the lobby 2 o’clock after a little intro talk and some presentation , we start our first walk throughout the Natural Park of Portofino via Nozarego, the walk highlights the eastern side of the Portofino Peninsula, facing the Tiullio Gulf.

From the bustling seaside promenade of Santa Margherita, you ascend gently along an old pilgrims trail to Nozarego and to the hamlet of Gave with its restored chapel of San Girolamo. The path then follows the “valley of mills,” with its many streams and small summer houses, where olives, chestnuts, and corn were ground. Reaching the Mulino del Gassetta you can stop for a drink or a snack in this restored mill and view its original grinding stone and wine press.

Next on the route is Olmi, the walk’s highest point at 885 feet From here you begin a long descent into Portofino, passing by the chapel of Saint Sebastiano with more splendid views. Portofino, once a small fishing village and now a well known luxury yacht harbor, captivates with its many pastel colored houses, the church of Saint George on the cliff, Castello Brown, and the light house at the tip. From Portofino you can choose to return to Santa Margherita by ferry or public bus to Santa Margherita.

At 7 pm we meet for the aperitive and official intro talk with more information about how the week is going to unfold and the highlights of the trip.

DAY 2:

After the capuccino and focaccia and all the beautiful things for breakfast in the Gulf of Paradise. A very short train ride (approximately 5 minutes) take us from Santa Margherita di Ligure to the fishing port town of Camogli, where you head out on a steep brick path to reach one of the park’s main gates in the tiny hamlet of San Rocco one of the best vantage points in the area,with stunning views of the coast and distant mountains.

From there, you descend a panoramic walkway through lush gardens and elegant villas to the seaside at Punta Chiappa, a unique geological formation jutting into the water. You can find a scenic picnic spot not far from fishermen’s nets,or wait for a great seaside trattoria, and take a dip in the amazing water next to the 12th century Abbey of San Fruttuoso,and then returning to Portofino by boat or if you would like some more adventure then we can walk all the way to Portofino and then catch the boat to Santa Margherita.

Time for gelato and get ready for the aperitive and dinner in a local restaurant near by the hotel.

DAY 3:

Today after our breakfast we are moving in to the official 5 terre walks. A short train ride take us to Levanto, a walled town originally built by the Romans.The 10th century church steeple once served as a watchtower to warn the village of marauding pirates. The scenic coastal track leads us to the spectacular look-out at Punta Mesco where we see the five village life.

Once we are in Monterosso we can enjoy a gelato or a cold drink while the others can take a refreshing dip from Monterosso’s sandy beach. Hotel in Monterosso and dinner for two nights.

DAY 4:

The hike today takes us along the footpath that has linked the villages of the Cinque Terre for a over thousand years. We walk to splendid Vernaza and then on to Corniglia and Manarola via the high route for spectacular views. The last of the cinque terre is Riomaggiore and “strada dell amore” you can feel all the love around as a gift and you can decide if you want to go back to Monterosso by train or by ferry. You will have time to explore the villages and been more adventures today and even use some of your Italian vocabulary trying to order your gelato, pizza,focaccia…or capuccino!

Probably today will be the busiest day during the whole trip, enjoy the hike, relax and soak up the atmosphere, but if you have had enough hiking and you are happy to kick back, you can simply catch a local train back to Monterosso at your leisure. Another incredible dinner is waiting for us.

DAY 5:

Lets say bye bye to Monterosso and hike to Portovenere, starting from Riomaggiore, the last of the Cinque Terre Villages. Our walk takes us past a medieval church, through scented pine forests, and finally down past the Genovese fortress that protected Portovenere from marauding corsair pirates and their rival naval republic, Pisa. Dramatic cliffs plunge into the blue waters of the Mediterranean in a setting so beautiful that Byron, Shelly, and D.H. Lawrence fell to its charms.

We are staying here for the last two nights on tour, you will have time to meander through the
village’s narrow pedestrian streets , or if you prefer coming with us to take a refreshing dip where Lord Byron got some of his inspirations….Amazing!!!

DAY 6:

After another wonderful breakfast we are going for a real adventure to explore the “Palmaria Island” by private boat (weather permitting) exploring first the “grotte” and then the rest of the island by foot.

Not many travelers have the chance to explore this magnificent island and see the beautiful Portovenere from the other side , completely different perspective. In the afternoon we can enjoy are free time to buy the last souvenirs back in Portovenere, visit the castle or even to visit one of the most charming cemeteries ever. Let’s meet for the apperitive in the “piazza” and start our farewell dinner and share all the happy moments during the week. We keep in touch for the next adventure together…

DAY 7:

The tour ends after breakfast this morning. Independent departure from the hotel to the train station and an easy train ride to the airports of Pisa, Milan or Genoa. In case you need it we can provide a private transportation to the train station in la Spezzia (half an hour from our hotel).

Travel Information & Recomendations

MOST CONVINIENT AIRPORTS

Genoa’s Cristoforo Colombo Airport (GOA), is the closet airport to the starting point of the tour but requieres connections from the U.S.
aeroportodigenova.com

Pisa’s Galileo Galilei Airport (PSA)is the closest airport to the end of the tour.
Pisa-airport.com

Milan’s Malpensa Airport (MXP) is the closet major international airport with non stop service from many U.S. cities.
Milan-mxp.com

Please refer to the Italian Govermment Tourist Office website, enit.it , for additional information about Italian airports and transportation to and from the airports. You may also wish to visit the Italian Tourism Official Website at,
italia.it

GETTING TO THE STARTING POINT

Once you arrive by train to Santa Marguerita di Ligure, taxis are readily avaliable at the train station, you may take a taxi to your hotel or rather walk down hill and its really about 5 minutes by foot.

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!

Cinque Terre Tour Map