Cinque Terre and Portovenere 4-day hiking trip

I’d like to invite you to discover one of the most beautiful destinations in Italy, the Cinque Terre, with this great 4-day hiking trip. The Cinque Terre -meaning Five Lands in Italian- is a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera in Liguria region, nearby Genoa and next to Tuscany.

The Cinque Terre comprises five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Corniglia, Vernazza, Riomaggiore and Manarola. The villages, together with the coastline and the surrounding hillsides are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and they are part of the Cinque Terre National Park.

For hundreds of years, inhabitants of this land have built terraces on the steep, rugged terrain, right up to the cliffs overlooking the beautiful Mediterranean Sea. It is the unique landscape of the Cinque Terre that makes it so special. Cinque Terre is a very special hiking area in Italy, with the most charming colorfull villages and stunning steep vineyards terraces. And finally, it offers an amazing mediterranean atmosphere and sea views.

I propose you 4 different hikes during these days. The first one takes us from Levanto to Monterosso. On the second day, we will take the azzurro (blue) trail, hiking over the seashore between Monterosso and Corniglia, and also visiting Riomaggiore.We will hike through amazing vineyard terraces right above the Meditteranean Sea, from Corniglia to Manarola, on the third day.

Finally, on the fourth day we will also discover the very famous location of Portovenere, another impressive village closeby, also clasified as UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Portovenere you can choose between a sporty or an easy hike. You can check out the day-by-day itinerary below.

It is highly recommended to visit Cinque Terre in fall or spring, from April to June, and from September to October, as summer is usually too hot and crowded.

I am an experienced guide and I have been guiding groups in this area for more than 14 years, coming from the French Riviera nearby where I live. I will take you to enjoy a wine tasting, to meet the local people and I will give you advice on how to get the best local Ligurian gastronomy. I can also give you a choice of good hotels or B&B to enjoy your stay.

Levanto is one of the best places to stay in the Cinque Terre area. This charming little town, easy to reach by car or train, is the last village right before Cinque Terre when you come from Genoa.

Please note this hiking program can be modified and shorten, depending on your physical condition, skills and things you’d like to discover. We can make it sportier or easier, according to your level and wishes. Also note train transportation is available in every village, so we can pick up a train anytime to go back to the hotel.

This hiking programme wouldn’t be difficult for a regular hiker, but it may be hard for a beginner with no training, as it includes many steps up and down and some narrow trails sometimes.

Don’t miss out on this great hiking trip. Send me a request, book your trip and come discover the fascinating Cinque Terre in Italy.  You may also want to check out other hiking tours I also guide around the French riviera, Provence and Southern Alps.