| Cinque Terre Walk details |
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Departures 2008 :
May 11
June 1 & 22
August 24
September 7 & 21
October 12 | Duration: 7 Days/6 Nights
Departing from: Hotel Jolanda, Santa Margherita Ligure at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Day 1
Tour finishes: La Spezia trains station at 10:00 on Day 7
Discounted price for booking direct: $2,899 USD per person based on double occupancy. Single supplement: $350 USD. |  |
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Hike around Palmaria Island
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That's Amore!
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Explore the backstreets of Vernazza
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Lovely Manarola!
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Pick up some fresh produce
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High trails lead to spectacular views
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The sweet kick of Lemoncello
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See why Lord Byron loved Portovenere
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Cinque Terre Walk |
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Cinque Terre Walk Itinerary
Preview - Our trip starts in Santa Margherita Ligure, where we spend two nights at the three-star Hotel Jolanda. The first two days of walks are along isolated cliff-side paths that provide us with stunning views over the Golfo di Tigullio. Sights include the 12th century Abbey of San Fruttuoso, nestled below us in a blue bay, and the pastel-coloured houses of Portofino which gaze out upon the gleaming yachts of the rich and famous. Our day's exercise will be rewarded each night with an excellent meal of fresh seafood.
Riomaggiore will be our home for the next two nights, one of the five "Cinque Terre" villages and part of the UNESCO World Heritage site. Relax into village life and enjoy the town's colorfully painted boats, narrow alleyways, and lively cafes. From Riomaggiore we walk the ancient footpath connecting all of the Cinque Terre villages. If you are tired of walking, you can hop on any of the trains or ferries that link the towns.
Our last two nights are in the charming town of Portovenere. Tucked beneath a massive Genovese fortress built in the 15th century to ward off Turkish corsairs, Portovenere was originally a Roman outpost, and you can still watch the sunset from atop the ruins of the former Temple to Venus. Its dramatic cliffs and glittering blue bay may tempt you to have a swim in the "Poet's Grotto," once frequented by Byron and Shelly. Our last day begins with a short boat ride around the island of Palmaria, and then a walk around the island on a wooded trail. That night we say our good-byes in a lively seafood restaurant along the marina. The trip ends on Saturday with a private transfer to the train station in La Spezia for rail connections to other destinations.
Day 1 - Sunday: Arrive in Santa Margherita and transfer to our hotel on your own. Santa Margherita, known for its orange blossoms and beach-front 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. 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 an 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 dramatic seaside cliffs, from Camogli to Portofino. Sights include the 13th century Abbey of San Fruttuoso, nestled below us in a glittering blue bay, and the pastel-colored houses ringing the harbor in Portofino. Our route serves as the perfect scenic introduction to this marvelous region. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 3 - Tuesday: We transfer by train this morning to the resort town of Levanto, where we'll buy picnic supplies and start off on our walk to Monterosso, the first of the famed "Cinque Terre" villages. After a shady walk through a pine forest, we exit along a coastal track and descend back down to the sea with the five villages spread out before us. Have a swim or a cold drink in Monterosso, then we take a short train ride to Riomaggiore, our home for the next two nights. Riomaggiore's brightly painted houses and bustling village life create a charming base for our explorations. Tonight we enjoy the region's wine and "folklore" with our host Giorgio at the Ca' dei Duxi, and then have a "free night" dinner -- so you can eat wherever you wish. Hotel and breakfast included. Dinner not included.
Day 4 - Wednesday: Today's hike takes us along the ancient footpath joining the five villages of the Cinque Terre: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and finally back to Riomaggiore. Enjoy the breathtaking views and colorful history of the villages, and sample their fresh pesto and delicious focaccia. The path is well marked, so you can go at your own pace and take your time exploring the villages. Indeed, if you have had enough hiking and find yourself happily lost in a sunny piazza overlooking the sea, you can simply catch a local train back to Riomaggiore at your leisure. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included
Day 5 - Thursday: Today we say farewell to Riomaggiore and hike to Portovenere. Our walk takes us past a medieval sanctuary, through majestic pine forests, and finally down past the Genoese fortress that protected Portovenere from marauding corsair pirates. We check into our hotel in late afternoon and have some free time to explore the cobbled streets and narrow alleys of this picturesque seaside village. Dramatic cliffs plunge into the blue waters of the Mediterranean in a setting so beautiful that Byron, Shelly, and D.H. Lawrence all fell to its charms. Tonight we eat together in the hotel (either the Grand or the Paradiso depending on the departure). Overnight in Portovenere. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 6 - Friday: Our final day starts with a boat ride around Palmaria Island to the smaller islands of Tino and Tinetto. Both islands and Portovenere itself were elected UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1997 for their beauty and historical importance. We then walk around the island on a wooded path, passing marble quarries, a neolithic cave, and abandoned 19th century fortifications. We'll return to Portovenere mid-afternoon 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 to a lovely week together, then have dinner at one of the lively restaurants along the marina. Overnight in Portovenere. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included
Day 7 - Saturday: After breakfast, the tour ends with a private transfer to the La Spezia train station, arriving around 9:45 a.m. Please do not schedule rail departures prior to 10:00 a.m. Breakfast included.
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
San Fruttuoso: interesting site on this beautiful abbey
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
Note on Itinerary: Although we do our best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.
Qualifications: This trip is rated moderate with some challenging uphills. Please note that 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. Some prior hiking experience is beneficial but anyone in good physical condition will have no problems with the walk. We generally walk between 8-12 kms a day (5-8 miles), which translates into about 3-5 hours of walking more or less equally divided between morning and afternoon. This may sound like a lot, but there are lots of opportunities for breaks to take pictures, enjoy a cappuccino, or simply stop and admire the view. However, a regular conditioning program consisting of walking, running, and/or hiking plus a daily stretching regimen is recommended, beginning at least 3 months prior to departure. We strongly recommend your training include some hill climbs, this will get you in shape and ensure that you are able to enjoy fully all that this wonderful trip has to offer. Please note 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, 2 nights Riomaggiore, 2 nights Portovenere, three and four star hotels); 6 breakfasts and 5 dinners; bilingual guide or guides; all luggage transfers; scheduled train and boat transfers as indicated in the itinerary, including final transfer to La Spezia.
Not Included: Round-trip airfare; airport/hotel transfers; lunches; travel insurance; gratuities; alcoholic beverages and items of a personal nature.
Trip Cancellation Insurance: Should you have to cancel your trip because of illness, injury or death to you or a family member, trip-cancellation insurance protects most of your deposits and payment for both air and land cost. We highly recommend the purchase of Trip-Cancellation Insurance. If you wish, you can purchase this insurance through Customwalks Ltd when you book your trip. Contact us for more details.
Weather: 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. Some rainfall is possible on any of the departures requiring participants to arrive equipped with appropriate raingear.
Getting there (this will redirect you to our "Getting to the Trip" page)
General Information: This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the CustomWalks Ltd. reservation information and trip agreement. Please read this information carefully and e-mail us (or use the "Contact Us" page) if you have any questions. We highly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance which you can do through CustomWalks Ltd or by clicking on the logo below (another window will open up on your screen).
We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited. Send us an email or fax to reserve your trip. Full trip details including detailed pre-departure information, train timetables, and a gear list are sent upon receipt of deposit.
Come join us!
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