Italy: Cinque Terre

Experienced, friendly and knowledgeable guides

All transportation on the tour

All accommodations while on tour, including comfortable hotels in coastal settings, all private baths

All meals included except one lunch and one dinner; alcoholic beverages not included

Walk Ratings:

Moderate terrain with challenging sections

3 to 5 miles of walking per day with elevation gain and loss of 1300 feet maximum

We have included optional transport by boat and train to reduce the level of difficulty from our original Hiker’s Cinque Terre as well as modified the daily mileage. Some days include ascents ranging from 30 to 45 minutes, beginning with 10 to 20 minutes of steep stair climbing on ancient, stone steps; a walking stick is recommended. You will be ascending, descending, or walking on rolling, rocky terrain daily. If you suffer from vertigo or fear of heights this may not be an appropriate trip for you.

DAY 1
Arrival in Santa Margherita Ligure; Nozarego to Portofino; 2 miles, easy to moderate
After meeting at your first hotel, a brief bus ride takes you to the village of Nozarego, from whose charming sanctuary you set off on an afternoon walk through olive groves and chestnut forest to the seaside resort of Portofino. This picturesque village, nestled into a cove between hills, was rediscovered by the jet set shortly after World War II. Where once only fishing boats docked in the deep-green inlet, now yachts arrive from around the world. You may choose to relax at a café in the main piazza, overlooking the boats and sipping a cappuccino or enjoying a gelato (ice cream). There is time to explore the small streets and browse the town’s boutiques and shops. For stunning sea views, you can walk to the lighthouse at Punta del Capo. You return to Santa Margherita by ferry and enjoy an exquisite welcome dinner of fresh local seafood accompanied by regional pasta dishes.
Hotel Jolanda, Santa Margherita Ligure

DAY 2
Ruta to San Fruttuoso; 3 miles, moderate. Additional options: San Fruttuoso to San Rocco or Camogli; 3-4.5 miles, moderate to challenging
After a breakfast of coffee, bread, cheese, yogurt, and fruit you transfer by bus to the tiny and picturesque village of Ruta, at which point you enter the National Park of Portofino for a morning walk along rolling terrain with radiant views. A slight ascent soon levels out as you proceed to Semaforo Nuovo (new lighthouse). You continue along a dirt path down to the hamlet of San Fruttuoso and visit its 10th-century medieval abbey built by the Benedictines of Monte Cassino.
This secluded haven, which can only be reached on foot or by boat, is picturesquely situated in a small, rocky cove.
After lunch, you can choose to return to Santa Margherita by boat, or to continue on foot to the charming villages of San Rocco and Camogli. This evening you reunite for a dinner of typical Ligurian specialties at a fine seaside restaurant.
Hotel Jolanda, Santa Margherita Ligure

DAY 3
Levanto to Monterosso al Mare; 3.5 miles, moderate to challenging. Elevation gain and loss of 1,300 feet
This morning a one-hour train ride brings you to the splendid seaside resort of Levanto, with breathtaking sea views along the way. On arrival, you enjoy a visit of the town, followed by lunch. The afternoon walk involves a rigorous climb along an ancient trade route; passing through olive groves, terraced vineyards, and pine forests. After stopping for a magnificent view of Monterosso al Mare (the first of the Cinque Terre villages and also the day’s final destination), you begin a steep, 40- minute descent down large stone steps. You arrive at your hotel and later stroll to dinner at a lively, local restaurant. Bountiful seafood antipasti, fresh herbs, colorful produce, local fish, and pesto dominate the cuisine in this region.
Hotel Palme, Monterosso al Mare

DAY 4
Cinque Terre: Monterosso to Vernazza; 2.5 miles, moderate with challenging sections. Elevation gain and loss of approximately 700 feet
“The Five Lands” of the Cinque Terre are Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore; five, small, remote fishing villages strung along the coast northwest of La Spezia. They are linked by boat, rail, and footpath, allowing you to customize your walking experience over the next two days. Today’s scheduled walk, and arguably the most spectacular, begins in Monterosso, and continues along a well-established footpath that winds through terraced vineyards, while offering views of the Ligurian Sea. You reach Vernazza in time for lunch, and then in the afternoon you are free to explore the village, or additional Cinque Terre villages by train, boat, or on foot.
While Monterosso is the largest and most developed of the towns, Vernazza, with its pink slate-roofed houses and picturesque piazzas, has the best-equipped port. Corniglia is the highest of the Cinque Terre villages, perched more than 300 feet above the sea on a promontory. The cozy, classic seaside town of Manarola is the center of Cinque Terre’s wine production. The Via dell’Amore (Road of Love) connects Manarola to Riomaggiore, the southernmost of the Cinque Terre towns.
Dinner this evening is at your leisure; your guide(s) will provide suggestions from among the many dining experiences available in Monterosso al Mare.
Hotel Palme, Monterosso al Mare

DAY 5
Vernazza to Corniglia; 2.5 miles, moderate with challenging sections; elevation gain and loss of 700 feet. Corniglia to Manarola to Riomaggiore; 3.5 miles, easy to moderate. Transfer to Portovenere
Today’s exploration includes more of the picturesque “Five Lands” and culminates along the spectacular Golfo dei Poeti (Gulf of Poets). The trail traverses rolling terrain and pine tree forests. The gulf is so named because many poets, including Dante, Petrarch, Byron, and Shelley, have sung its praises—even the boats in the harbor sport romantic names inspired by these poets.
Your final destination, Portovenere, is a Roman-Byzantine town, where you view both the sea and the nearby Apuan Mountains. The town paints a colorful canvas against the azure sea with its orange and yellow houses tumbling down the hillside. Perched high on a rocky cape overlooking the sea is San Pietro, a 13th-century Gothic church. Its black- and white-striped exterior has made it a landmark recognizable from far out at sea. This evening you embark on a short boat ride to the island of Palmaria—just off the coast of Portovenere—for a magical alfresco dinner, overlooking the Gulf of the Poets.
Grand Hotel Portovenere, Portovenere

DAY 6
Isola Palmaria, 3.5 miles, easy to moderate
After breakfast, you begin the day’s adventure with a return boat trip to the island of Palmaria. This beautiful island, declared a Natural Regional Park, has a network of walking paths with stunning viewpoints of its dramatic cliffs and nearby Tino Island. The air is perfumed by luxuriant Mediterranean vegetation such as sage, juniper, and myrtle. You may also pass an abandoned quarry of black and gold marble or one of the caves where Paleolithic evidence was discovered in the 19th century. Time permitting, you may tour the meticulously restored 19th-century fortress of Umberto I, which now houses a museum dedicated to the oceanography and undersea archeology of the Mediterranean.
You return to Portovenere for lunch, followed by an optional walking tour of the town, whose highlights include the churches of San Pietro and San Lorenzo and the Genovese Doria Castle. This evening’s farewell dinner offers fresh, local specialties and a breathtaking view of the gulf.
Grand Hotel Portovenere, Portovenere

DAY 7
Arrivederci!
After a leisurely breakfast, you are driven to La Spezia train station for connecting trains to your next destination.

Itinerary Changes: Please bear in mind that this is a typical itinerary, and the actual walks and sites may vary due to season, special events, or weather. We reserve the right to alter the itinerary since tour arrangements are made up to a year in advance, and unforeseen circumstances that mandate change may arise. Itinerary changes are made to improve the tour and your experience.

 

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
9/19/2010 - 9/25/2010	$3,698
9/25/2010 - 10/1/2010	$3,698
10/10/2010 - 10/16/2010	$3,698
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

Strolling and shopping the fashionable resort of Portofino

Medieval towns with architectural wonders - abbeys, churches, and castles

Quaint pastel-colored fishing villages

Boat trips to island walks

Charming small hotels and restored monastery accommodations

All tour prices are per person, in US dollars, based on double occupancy.

As arrangements are confirmed at least a year in advance, the tour price is subject to change. Reserve early to guarantee the best available price.

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