Cinque Terre Hiking

Cinque Terre Hiking Itinerary:

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• Day 1 Arrive in Santa Margherita and stretch your legs during a warm-up hike offering dramatic views of the sparkling Ligurian Sea.

  Your trip begins today in Santa Margherita, Italy. 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 which will take us up and over the hill to Portofino. Our start time of 2:30 p.m. allows you to depart Rome or Milan this morning and arrive in Santa Margherita in time for the hike. A formal group orientation will be held this evening during dinner. Overnight in Santa Margherita for the next two nights. Hotel & dinner included.
  
  Hiking: 2 hours; Terrain: steep trail sections and stairs.

• Day 2 Set out on a full-day hike along the seaside cliffs of the Italian Riviera to colorful Portofino.

  This morning we have a short train transfer to the town of Camogli from where we set off for a full day hike along the seaside cliffs of the Italian Riviera. Weather permitting, we descend to the 13th –century Abbey of San Fruttuoso where we enjoy lunch and a swim at this exquisite beach and bay that is only accessible by foot or by boat. Afterwards we take a boat back to Santa Margherita. If the sea is too rough for the boat, we continue our hike by staying high up on a scenic ridge with magnificent views that alternate between the sea and the coastal mountain range whose flank is dotted with villages and hamlets. Our route serves as the perfect scenic introduction to this marvelous region. Breakfast and dinner included.
  
  Hiking: 5.5 hours; Terrain: rolling as well as some steep trail sections.

• Day 3 We hike between three of the five villages of the Cinque Terre: Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.

  A transfer by train this morning brings us to the village of Corniglia, the middle village of the famed "Cinque Terre" villages. Our hike takes us along the high route to Manarola with breathtaking views over the Cinque Terre and through the ancient village of Volastra where we enjoy our picnic lunch. After lunch we will hike back down to the seaside village of Manarola where we pick up the famed footpath, Via Dell'Amore which will take us to Riomaggiore, the southernmost village of the "Cinque Terre" villages. The path is well marked, so you can go at your own pace, enjoy the breathtaking views and have time to explore the villages. Today's walk ends in Riomaggiore. We will make our way either by boat (if the weather permits) or by train to Levanto, where we spend the next 2 nights. Breakfast and dinner included.
  
  Hiking: 3 hours; Terrain: some long, steep trail sections (45 minutes continuous uphill) as well as some steep stair sections.

• Day 4 Walk from Levanto to Vernazza with spectacular views of the entire Cinque Terre coast. An Italian pesto making demonstration finishes off the day.

  We leave Levanto on foot today and walk via Monterosso to Vernazza. The walk takes us gradually up and over a peninsula, rewarding us first with fine views over Levanto's medieval walls and tiled roofs, and eventually the whole stretch of the Cinque Terre coast is laid out before us. We'll arrive in Monterosso mid-day with plenty of time to eat lunch and explore this little village before continuing on to Vernazza, one of the most photographed villages in the Cinque Terre. We return to Levanto by train. Once back in Levanto you can enjoy a swim at the sandy beach or relax in the villa's garden, or wander through the quaint streets to find a pleasant cafe where you can watch the world go by. Before dinner we enjoy a casual wine tasting and pesto making demonstration. We dine independently tonight giving us the opportunity to choose from a variety of authentic local trattorias and cafes. Breakfast included.
  
  Hiking: 4.5 hours; Terrain: some long, steep trail sections (45 minutes continuous uphill) and some rolling terrain.

• Day 5 Beginning in Riomaggiore, hike through chestnut and pine forests and past a 16th-century naval fortress en route to lovely Portovenere.

  We begin the day with a short train transfer to Riomaggiore, the starting point of our hike to Portovenere. Our route takes us through majestic pine and chestnut forests, we hike past cork trees, a medieval sanctuary, and finally to a 16th-century Genovese naval fortress that once protected Portovenere from marauding corsair pirates. In late afternoon, we check into our hotel and have some free time to explore the cobbled streets of this picturesque seaside village. Dramatic cliffs plunge into the blue waters of the Mediterranean in a setting so beautiful that Byron, Shelley and D.H. Lawrence succumbed to its charms. Overnight in Portovenere. Breakfast and dinner included.
  
  Hiking: 6 hours; Terrain: rolling as well as some steep trail sections.

• Day 6 Hike on the island of Palmaria, a short boat ride from Portovenere. Free time this afternoon to enjoy a swim or relax in a local café.

  Our final day starts with a boat ride around the nearby island of Palmaria and smaller islands of Tino and Tinetto. Landing on Palmaria, we walk around the island on a wooded path passing Napoleonic-era forts and an ancient marble quarry which for centuries provided the rock for La Spezia's grand Palazzi. We'll return to Portovenere mid-day and have some free time before dinner to explore or go for a swim in the "Poet's Grotto". Tonight, we'll drink a toast celebrating new friendships before enjoying dinner together at one of the lively restaurants in town. Overnight in Portovenere. Breakfast and dinner included.
  
  Hiking: 2-3 hours; Terrain: short steep trail sections.

• Day 7 Arrivederci to our guides and traveling companions as our adventure ends in La Spezia this morning.

  After breakfast, our adventure ends with a private transfer to the La Spezia train station, arriving La Spezia at approximately 9:45 a.m. Please do not schedule rail departures prior to 10 a.m. Breakfast included.

Although we do our best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.

Please check with us before purchasing your airline tickets to ensure your trip has the necessary minimum number of participants required to operate. 

If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single supplement noted on the trip itinerary. If you wish to share accommodations, we will assign you a roommate if one is available. If a roommate cannot be found, you will be asked to pay a reduced single fee, which is half of the full single supplement. Please be advised that there are a limited number of single rooms available on most departures.

Hotel accommodations with private baths; meals as noted in the daily itinerary; guide/leadership; luggage transportation; all transportation including trains, boats and buses as per the itinerary; group transfer from Portovenere to La Spezia train station at trip's end.

Air transportation to Italy; transfer to hotel in Santa Margherita and from La Spezia to departure airport; entrance to museums, theaters, visitor centers; 5 lunches and 1 dinner; gratuities; alcoholic beverages and other items of a personal nature.

This trip is rated Moderate [3]. Some prior hiking experience is beneficial and all participants should plan on engaging in a regular exercise regimen beginning at least 2-3 months prior to departure. As many of the hikes include long ascents and descents along stone stairs, stair climbing is an excellent way to prepare for this adventure in addition to walking, hiking and/or running. A typical dayhike will average 4-9 miles in length with potentially warm weather and some steep terrain as we hike from seaside villages up stone paths into the surrounding hillsides and back down again.  On most days, trip members will have the option to shorten their hikes by taking local train/ferry service between villages instead of walking.

In May and June, the climate is generally sunny and warm with daytime temperatures in the 80s and evening temperatures dropping 10-20 degrees. Rain showers are a possibility but typically do not last longer than a few hours. September and October weather is similar, but temperatures can be slightly cooler with fewer daylight hours.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. Try to bring only what is necessary—this will help you and the field staff.

Gear Checklist

Things to Consider

• Please remember to always pack essential items such as your passport, money, eyewear, a change of clothing, hiking boots and medications in your carry-on baggage, in case your luggage is delayed.
• Cotton is wonderful in warm weather. However, once it becomes wet, it will drain your body heat. Bring wool or synthetics such as Capilene®, MTS® and Thermax®.
• Always test your layers before a trip. Your outer layer should fit easily over the inside ones without binding and bunching up.
• Make sure boots are broken-in. Bring moleskin for foot treatment. Thin liner socks worn under regular hiking socks may minimize the risk of blisters. The liner sock should be synthetic, not cotton. Test your sock combination before you go on the trip.
• The restaurants have a very nice, pleasant atmosphere, but are not “stuffy”. You will feel quite comfortable in casual clothes for these meals. We suggest bringing slacks, shorts that are mid-thigh or longer, skirts, summer dresses, etc. in fabrics that are easy to wash and wear.
• Many participants mention the value of having trekking poles on this trip to alleviate stress on their knees on the extended sets of stairs—especially coming down. Based on this common feedback, we highly recommend bringing trekking poles.