Cinque Terre &; the Portofino Peninsula | Walking in Liguria – CIN3

Walking between coloured fishing villages and terraced vineyards

Grade
Average Walking Time
from 5 to 6 hours each day
Days
7 days
Activity
Holiday Type
Starting from
€ 490

Walking between coloured fishing villages of the Cinque Terre and terraced vineyards near Portofino

Liguria is a beautiful coastal region in Northern Italy. It is protected from the northern winds by a continuous protective backbone of high mountains, from the peaks of the Maritime Alps to the Apennines.

That’s why Liguria is famed for its exceptionally mild weather all year round and why it is the perfect place, despite the uneven terrain, for the flourishing of lush flora including the typical shrubs of the Mediterranean maquis, and also the tall trees that are a typical feature of Alpine flora. Its capital city Genova ‘La Superba’ has ruled the Mediterranean for centuries, but for hikers the area is most known because of the stunning Cinque Terre.

The area of the ‘Cinque Terre’ gets its name from the five picturesque villages of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore. The area, now a National Park, is a unique part of Italy. For over a thousand years people have lived in this dramatic landscape, slowly altering its features and cultivating the steep hillsides that lead down to rocky shores. An extensive network of ancient mule tracks – today used as footpaths- take you through an extraordinary landscape of terraces, built by hand with stones and earth.

But the Region of Liguria has more to offer: the nearby small towns of Portovenere, and the wonderful island just in front of it, at the entrance of the ‘Gulf of Poets’ and the lively Levanto, a charming medieval town with a broad beach.

And of course there is also the famed Peninsula of Portofino, not only known for the colourful Portofino itself, resort for the Italian jet-set, but also for the abbey of San Fruttuoso, located in an isolated inlet of this beautiful coastline, and wonderful Camogli. Walking here is an unforgettable experience!

This tour includes all these highlights: through the extensive footpath network of the area you walk from village to village, between forest and vineyards, through a spectacular terraced landscape overlooking the sea. You also have the time to visit the historic towns of Levanto, Portovenere and of course the five charming villages which make up the ‘Cinque Terre’, little gems of colourful houses in a green landscape.

Please note: this is a moderately easy tour which is suitable for those who have some experience with walking and a good general physical condition. Most of the walks are on good paths, some of them just recently restored by the local authorities. Part of the path is waymarked. Elsewhere it is necessary to follow the route notes provided together with the maps.

Tour Highlights

  • Walk the famous ‘Sentiero dell’Amore’, full of poetry and romance
  • Explore the hidden Cinque Terre, along the less crowded paths
  • Walk across the magical Portofino Peninsula, with beautiful villages and wonderful nature

Average walking times:  approx. from 5 to 6 hours each day.