hikers relaxing at Cinque Terre with view of Punta Mesco
hikers relaxing at Cinque Terre with view of Punta Mesco

Cinque Terre, Monterosso to Bonassola

Level
2
Distance
55 km
Duration
7 days | 6 nights
period
Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
price from
€ 688
CO2 footprint
84 Kg/person
  1. Italy
  2.  | 
  3. Self-Guided
  4.  | 
  5. Tourcode ITSW010

This trip takes you in the magical atmosphere of colorful Cinque Terre and the villages around them: you may ask yourself if they deserve their popularity and the answer is yes, they do. 

Be ready to walk along coastal paths covered in widlflowers, maritime pine and juniper-scented forests, gorgeous vineyards and panoramic views on the sea: a constant travel companion, showing a different side with every day of walking. 

At the end of the path you'll find colorful, lively villages, churches surrounded by oleanders and secular trees, squares filled with voices and light, tiny restaurants offering freshly caught fish .

Highlights

  • Enjoy the boundless view on the sea of Liguria from the Punta Mesco peak;
  • Admire the terraced hills covered with olive groves, vineyards and lemon trees;
  • Bath in the sea of the Monterosso beach, or reach the following villages to enjoy more savage, less crowded beaches.

Itinerary

Day 1

Monterosso

Monterosso

Today you can prepare for your travel enjoying the fresh, crisp seaside breeze, or relaxing with a little walk in the beautiful historic centre of Monterosso: go up to the Torre Aurora for a unique view on the sea, or admire the Giant, the enormous stone man sitting on the rocks. Try the anchovies for dinner: they're a local speciality.

Day 2

From Monterosso to Colle di Gritta, 9 km

From Monterosso to Colle di Gritta, 9 km

Your first day of travel will lead you to a more internal area, through a varied landscape: you will walk along the Cappuccini Church, a Unesco heritage site (together with the Cinque Terre), then  proceeding your walk accompanied by the scent of sea pines and Juniper, whose berries grow in the bushes along your path. Once arrived at Punta Mesco, concede yourself a rest a little among the Agave plants, before going back to Monterosso, descending a series of captivating old stone footpaths.

Distance: 9 km

Elevation gain: +690/-690 m

Day 3

You can choose between two options for this day

You can choose between two options for this day
  • From Soviore to Monterosso 10 km

The itinerary starts from the Soviore Monastery: before beginning your walk, enter its door to admire the beautiful frescoed vault. After a brief stretch of asphalted road, you will descend through a panoramic path to the Madonna di Reggio Sanctuary, with its beautiful stone façade surrounded by secular trees. From here you will continue to Vernazza: don't miss the panoramic view from the Santa Margherita church, before going back to Monterosso following the Coastal Road.

Distance: 10 km

Elevation gain: +643/-1098 m

  • From Corniglia to Manarola 11 km

From Monterosso you can reach Corniglia with a brief train ride: the most adventurous ones will face its 380 steps, before setting off for Riomaggiore. Here you will be able to take a little break, wandering through the typical colorful houses, and you will discover that local specialities are based on rice, and not on fish. From Riomaggiore you can go back to Monterosso by train, but we suggest to continue along the Coastal road to Manarola, even just for a glass of Sciacchetrà.

Distance: 11 km

Elevation gain: +742/-361 m

Day 4

From Riomaggiore to Porto Venere, 17 km

From Riomaggiore to Porto Venere, 17 km

Let yourselves be inspired by this wonderful walk, following the path of the English writers Shelley and Byron: a path through the woods will lead you to the La Spezia Gulf, where you will enjoy a breath-taking view on the coast and islands. From this point you will descend through occasioally steep foothpaths until entering the door of Porto Venere, dominated by the beautiful castle.

Distance: 17 km

Elevation gain: +723/-744 m

Day 5

From Monterosso to Bonassola, 10 km

From Monterosso to Bonassola, 10 km

Today you will follow the coastline from Monterosso to Levanto, the painters' paradise, through one of the most enchanting paths of the Cinque Terre.  Levanto will enchant you with its wonderful position, in the centre of a charming valley surrounded by green hills and uncontaminated nature: you will be able to admire the Sant'Andrea Church façade, surrounded by Olivander trees. Then, walk through the carruggi and savour the delicious herbs ravioli with pesto for lunch. From this point you will continue towards Bonassola, through olive groves and lemon trees.

Distance: 10 km

Elevation gain: +770/-774 m

Day 6

From Bonassola to Deiva Marina, 12,5 km

From Bonassola to Deiva Marina, 12,5 km

Your last day of walk will lead you to discover the hills surrounding Bonassola, through a panoramic route offering wonderful views on the northern Liguria coast. If the weather is good we suggest to stop for a bath in Framura, before continuing towards Deiva Marina, where you will be able to enjoy an ice cream wandering in the historic centre admiring the well preserved Control Towers, built during the Genoa domination.

Distance: 12,5 km

Elevation gain: +657/-643 m

Day 7

Bonassola

Bonassola

The service ends after breakfast.

Details

Is this for me?


This great trip is perfect for those who have never been to Cinque Terre but would like to explore them in a more active way. You should consider that the trip includes some challenging ascents and descents: choose it if you are fit and not a vertigo sufferer, as the hikes include some exposed sections. The unique views on the Cinque Terre gulf are well worth the effort! 

Included


What is included

  • 6 Nights in double room in **/*** hotels , B&B and agriturismi with breakfast
  • Cinque Terre Card for Cinque Terre National Park, valid for 2 days
  • luggage transportation from hotel to hotel
  • maps and detailed description of the itinerary in digital form, app
  • Medical and luggage travel insurance
  • 24h phone assistance

What is not included 

  • Transfers to the starting location and from the arriving location of the tour
  • lunches and dinners, if not otherwise stated
  • visits and entrance fees - tips
  • personal expense
  • possible sojourn taxes
  • everything that is not mentioned in the "What is included" section.

Optional Services

These services can be added to the ones included in the base price of the tour:

  • Single room supplement
  • cancellation insurance
  • Transfers to reach the starting location or to leave the arriving location of the tour, which will be quoted on request.
  • travel documentation in printed form (maps and detailed description of the itinerary), shipped to the first hotel

Accommodation


Hotel Marina Monterosso
Hotel Marina - Monterosso

Hotel Marina*** lies in a quiet area, 100 meters from the sea. Rooms are beautifully decorated, spacious and well finished with free Wifi, air-conditioning/heated, TV, telephone. Breakfast is very good and various and the staff is welcoming and helpful.

https://www.hotelmarina5terre.it/

Hotel Villa Belvedere - Bonassola
Hotel Villa Belvedere - Bonassola

Hotel Villa Belvedere is located on a hill overlooking the blue bay of Bonassola and has a big garden. Rooms overlooking the sea and the surroundings and are furnished in a simple way, clean but not very soundproofed. Accommodations have heating, telephone, TV, Free Wifi, ceiling fan. Breakfast is good and various.

https://bonassolahotelvillabelvedere.com/

When to travel


Throughout the Liguria region you can expect temperatures between 10° and 25°C in spring and autumn and they can reach 35°C in July and August. Mornings can be chilly but they quickly warm up as the day goes by. Showers are common inearly spring and from September on and throughout the autumn, although not every day and they tend to be either short and intense or prolonged but light. Because you are by the sea, the sea breeze tends to make the long summer days less hot.

What to bring


Clothing and other items
You will need your regular walking/cycling gear, including some sort of reflective garment. For the evenings, smart outdoor style trousers (or shorts) are invaluable, as are quick-dry t-shirts. These can be washed easily and will dry overnight and still look good for sightseeing or having a drink in town.

Take as little as possible to avoid potentially lugging a heavy suitcase up three flights of stairs at the end of the day. Please be aware that laundromats (“Laverie”) are not common in rural areas, so plan to do handwashing of small items.

Lightweight walking shoes/ trainers
For wearing around towns & villages. They can also be a back-up pair.

Socks & underwear
Take only good quality socks with quick-dry and insulating qualities. Road test them before you go on the trip. Take a suitable quantity of underwear as washing facilities are limited.

Warm jacket, hat, gloves
Bring a fleece, Polartec or warm layers for the evenings especially in spring or autumn; be sure it is totally suitable for your needs.
A fleece jacket which blocks the wind (Wind-stopper) is the most preferable. In the summer months a lightweight jacket is suitable for evenings.
If you are cycling/walking in mountainous or coastal areas, even in the height of summer, the weather can change very quickly and unexpectedly and you should be prepared for fog, mist, rain, snow or hail at any time. Always take an extra layer with you, as well as a warm hat and gloves.

Waterproof jacket & trousers
If you are caught in heavy rain, with good waterproof clothing you should remain dry. Remember that most garments will lose their properties over time. Few will remain waterproof for more than five years and many deteriorate in three years or less. We recommend a rain jacket with a good hood and collar and waterproof or thermal walking/cycling trousers or tights.

Dress code
In general, you should wear suitable clothing when entering a church (in many places, it is considered unacceptable to go inside wearing shorts or a tank-top). We suggest that women carry a shawl to cover up bear shoulders or low-cut tops. It also comes in handy when your shoulders get sunburned!

It is considered inappropriate for men to go without a shirt / T-shirt (other than at the beach).

Trekking poles (adjustable)
Highly recommended. A pair works best, depending on what you are comfortable with. If you suffer from back or knee pain this should be considered essential. Remember to practise walking with your pole(s) on different types of terrain in the months preceding your trip.

Walking boots
The importance of good footwear cannot be stressed enough. Your boots should be sturdy and of good enough quality to handle all types of terrain. Lightweight boots, (cordura/leather boots) which have Gore-Tex or sympatex water-proofing are most suitable for this trip. They should provide good ankle protection and be well broken in. Waxing leather boots regularly prolongs their life.

Walking tops & trousers
We recommend walking trousers and shorts and quick-dry wicking t-shirts. These can be washed easily and will dry overnight and still look good for sightseeing or having a drink in town. Wicking T-shirts are fast drying, keep moisture away from your skin and are available at outdoor stores. You should also bring one pair of loose-fitting trousers to wear in cities and for evenings out, etc. Shorts or zip-off trousers are useful in warmer weather.

Practical info

How to arrive


Nearly all trains from Genoa go directly to Monterosso, only sometimes you need to change either in Sestri Levante or la Spezia (approximately 1.5 to 2 hours).

From Pisa airport (PSA), you have to change at Pisa Centrale, and again at La Spezia for a local train that stops in Monterosso al Mare (approximately 2 hours).

On departure, you can easily reach the aiports of Pisa (PSA), Genova (GOA) and Florence (FLR) from Bonassola.

Train timetables available on www.trenitalia.com.

Mobile App


Use the SloWays APP for iOS and Android smart phones in combination with the written documentation provided.

The App has the detailed tracks and maps that you can use offline and without roaming. Thanks to the phone’s internal GPS, you can check your exact position on the map, so you always know exactly where you are. It also helps you self-navigate you way while travelling. More information on how to use the App inside the roadbook documents.

The navigation features include:

  • Offline navigation. Mobile data not required after initial download
  • Accurate GPS tracks
  • Autorotation of the maps
  • Daily route summary and elevation chart
  • Panorama of the track and at street level
  • Alarm and vibration that alerts you in case you go off track.
  • Emergency SMS button with position coordinates
  • Possibility to record and take georeferenced photos of problems on route alerting fellow travelers
  • Hotel information
  • Points of interest along the way
  • Historical background

Wanderlust Nominee Best Specialist Tour Operator 2023
Wanderlust
Nominee Best Specialist Tour Operator 2023
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Touroperating
S-Cape Countryside Travels srl
Borgo Allegri 16R
50122 Firenze FI
P. IVA 05227330486

 
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Touroperating S-Cape Countryside Travels srl Borgo Allegri 16R 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
VAT Nr 05227330486

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