Qualifications: This trip is rated moderate with some challenging climbs. Each day s walk starts at

The Ligurian coast is one of the most spectacular in all of Italy. From the elegance of the Italian Riviera to the natural wonders of the Cinque Terre, it has everything we love about Italy:  beauty, rental car places in union station washington dc style, colorful villages, fabulous trails, and good food and wine. We begin in the town of Santa Margherita and spend two days exploring the Gulf of Tigullio , a rocky promontory that contains not only a 12th century monastery but also the world-famous elegance of Portofino. From there we move to Monterosso, our base for exploring the famed five villages known as the Cinque Terre. A decade ago they were classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site for their vast series of rock walls, built into the cliffside centuries ago for the terracing of the countryside. Our tour ends in the enchanting town of Portovenere, which was founded by the Romans and dedicated to the goddess of Love (= Venere/Venus). It was in Genoese rental car places in union station washington dc hands for four centuries before eventually bestowing its charms to travelers the world over. The trip ends with a private transfer to the train station in La Spezia. (Luggage is transfered by van. 2 nights Santa Margherita Ligure, 2 nights Monterosso, and 2 nights Portovenere.
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 rental car places in union station washington dc plan to arrive early in the day, as you will be meeting your trip leader and traveling companions rental car places in union station washington dc at 2:30 p.m. for a 2 hour warm-up hike to Portofino. If you wish to arrive a day early please let us know and we can book an extra night for you at our trip hotel, the Hotel Jolanda or Hotel Tiguilio. Hotel and dinner included.
Day 2 Monday: After breakfast rental car places in union station washington dc we begin our first full day of hiking along dramatic seaside cliffs, from Camogli to Portofino. Along the way enjoy a swim and look back onto the 13th century Abbey of San Fruttuoso . Our hike ends amongst the pastel-colored houses and gleaming super-yachts which decorate the harbor of Portofino.  Overnight Santa Margherita. Hotel, rental car places in union station washington dc breakfast and dinner included.
Day 3 Tuesday: We transfer by train this morning and start our walk in Levanto, once a walled town and major stronghold of the Genoese. We walk from there to Monterosso, the first of the famed Cinque Terre villages. The walk takes us gradually up and over a promontory, rewarding us first with fine views over Levanto s medieval walls and tiled roofs, and eventually offers exceptional views over all five of the Cinque Terre. We arrive rental car places in union station washington dc in Monterosso around lunch time and have time to explore the backstreets and shops of this delightful village. From here, we walk to Vernazza, many people s favorite of the five towns. Return to Monterosso by by train or ferry and relax in town or maybe take a swim at the sandy beach. Tonight we have a pesto-making demonstration followed by dinner. Overnight in Monterosso at the newly-renovated Hotel Margherita . Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 4 Wednesday:  We have a short train ride this morning back to Vernazza to continue our walk along the coast. Our first stop is Corniglia, perched high on a rocky promontory with sweeping views along the coast. From there we take the high trail to Manarola, cutting through a shady pine forest rental car places in union station washington dc and then vast terraced vineyards. Stop for a gelato in Manarola, or even a swim if the weather is nice, and then return to Monterosso by train or ferry (we may also walk to the last town, Riomaggiore, along the Via dell Amore, but the trail has been closed for a few years due to landslides). Tonight we have a free night dinner, so you are free to dine as you wish. Overnight Monterosso. Hotel and breakfast included. Dinner rental car places in union station washington dc not included.
Day 5 Thursday: We have a gorgeous walk today to the historical town of Portovenere . Our walk takes us past a medieval sanctuary and finally down past the Genoese fortress that once protected the town from marauding corsair rental car places in union station washington dc pirates. We check into our hotel in the 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. Check into your hotel overlooking the sea, the Paradiso, and then meet again for dinner together on the town. Overnight Portovenere. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 6 Friday: Our final day starts with a boat ride around Palmaria rental car places in union station washington dc 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 Napoleonic and WWII fortifications.  We ll return to Portovenere mid-afternoon and have some free time before dinner to explore the village or go for a swim in the Poet s Grotto. Tonight we ll drink a toast to our lovely week together, then enjoy a final dinner together. Overnight rental car places in union station washington dc Portovenere. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
The walks in the Cinque Terre, though not long in terms of distance, can be strenuous at times as we ascend and descend steep paths or stone stairways that have been used for years to link the villages of the region. We have designed the trip so that there is always some free time in the late afternoon so you can relax, rental car places in union station washington dc read, or have a dip in the sea. Breakfast is included every day, and dinners reflect the excellent traditional food of the region. Daily distance between 8 and 14 kms.
Qualifications: This trip is rated moderate with some challenging climbs. Each day s walk starts at sea level and climbs as high as 500 meters (1,500 feet) before returning to sea level. This means there are some long sustained uphills and downhills. Note also that people who suffer from severe vertigo may be affected rental car places in union station washington dc on some stretches of the trail as we often have wide-open vistas over the sea. Trip Cost Includes: All accommodations in superior 3 star properties (2 nights Santa Margherita, 2 nights Monterosso, 2 nights Portovenere); 6 breakfasts and 5 dinners; bilingual guide or guides; all luggage transfers; scheduled train and boat transfers as indicated in the itinerary, and final transfer to La Spezia train station. Getting there (this will redirect you to our Getting to the Trip page) Booking: e-mail us to receive a booking rental car places in union station washington dc contract (or use the Reservation rental car places in union station washington dc page). Insurance: We highly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance. We recommend Travel Guard to our North American clients, just click on the logo below. Australian, New Zealander, and British rental car places in union station washington dc travelers, please consult your insurance brokers.