Walking the Cinque Terre & Portofino - Central Based

Sestri Levante

Individual arrival in Sestri Levante, the starting point of your self-guided walking in the Cinque Terre and Portofino.
Here the places not to be missed during your vacation.
Dinner and overnight in Sestri Levante.

Trek from Monterosso to Corniglia via Vernazza

8,5km, +380m -380m

Immediately after breakfast you will reach Monterosso station by train. Today's stage of the self-guided walking in Cinque Terre and Portofino will start from here and will take you to Corniglia passing through Vernazza: a hiking path that will allow you to visit 3 of the renowned locations of the Cinque, five, Terre.
From Monterosso, the largest of the Cinque Terre villages, a characteristic stairway will take you among olive groves surrounded by unique views and vineyards overlooking the sea, through a track immersed in nature. You will reach Vernazza through a descent that will give you a view of the village from above, and of the Doria Castle that stands out behind it. You will walk through its small alleys until you reach the protected harbor, dominated by the clock tower where a tiny paradisiacal beach will make you want a refreshing swim.
The second part of today's Cinque Terre self-guided walking, from Vernaglia to Corniglia, continues uphill once again. You will reach the panoramic hill of Punta Palma and the small hamlet of Prevo, continuing along easier paths surrounded by cultivated fields and flowery meadows. You arrive in the heart of the ancient and characteristic medieval village of Corniglia overlooking the Ligurian Sea and then reach the panoramic terrace of Santa Maria.
The train at the end of the day will take you to Sestri Levante to enjoy a well-deserved dinner and rest.

Trek from Riomaggiore to Portovenere

13km, +640m -640m

A short train ride will take you to the picturesque village of Riomaggiore to walk one of the most beautiful trails in the Cinque Terre. It is a path that runs along the sea, through villages, overlooks scenic cliffs and offers enchanting views.
From here the path also known as "La Via Grande" will start, an ancient road connecting the town to the Sanctuary of Nostra Signora di Montenero, along a route characterized by "creuze" (the typical Ligurian alleys that cross the terraces) and dotted with votive shrines dedicated to the Madonna. You will continue along a stretch of the self-guided walking in the Cinque Terre that will be at high altitude up to the village of Campiglia, then descend to the sea until you reach the enchanting Portovenere. Here, once you have crossed the Porta del Borgo, the ancient access to the ancient core of the 12th century, you will walk through narrow and steep streets. You can reach the suggestive spur that houses the Church of San Pietro, built in 1277 in typical Genoese Gothic style, and then visit the Mater Nature statue near the famous cave dedicated to Lord Byron.
The town of Portovenere does not have a train station and therefore you can choose to continue by boat or bus to La Spezia and then take the train back to Sestri Levante.
Dinner included and overnight stay.

Good-bye Sestri Levante!

After breakfast, end of services.

If you are passionate about scenic walks on the coast, take a look at our tours on the Amalfi coast.

Tour programme variations
Due to organizational reasons, weather conditions or provisions issued by local authorities, the itinerary may be subject to some changes before and/or during the holiday.
Along the way you may find temporary deviations (for example road works) which cannot be foreseen; in this case each walker can decide autonomously how to deal with these stretches.