Parco Nazionale della Cinque Terre

Recommended: Early Spring

Introduction to the Cinque Terre and the Ligurian Coast

Hiking the Cinque Terre and Ligurian Coast

29                    Cinque Terre; Portovenere to Riomaggiore

Hike from the pastel village of Portovenere along towering sea cliffs to the first village of the Cinque Terre

Distance: 13.5 km (8.4 miles)

Time: 5-6 hours

Elevation: Sea Level to 515 meters (1690 feet)

Difficulty: Moderate

Time to Visit: Year Round (avoid mid-day in summer)

Cinque Terre from Portovenere

San Pietro in Portovenere from the cliff side                                                                View back towards Portovenere

30                                Cinque Terre; Riomaggiore to Vernazza

Hike from the first village of the Cinque Terre to the fourth, along spectacular rugged sea cliffs.

Distance: 9.8 km (6 miles)

Time: 4-5 hours

Elevation: Sea Level to 300 meters (984 feet)

Difficulty: Moderate

Time to Visit: Any Time (avoid mid-day in summer)

Vernazza below the Cinque Terre trail                                                        View of the Cinque Terre from Vernazza tower

Descending into Vernazza                                                                        Corniglia from the Cinque Terre trail  

31                                Cinque Terre; Vernazza to Lévanto

Hike from the fourth village of the Cinque Terre over the promontory of Punta Mesca to the village of Lévanto.

Distance: 12.1 km (7.5 miles)

Elevation: Sea Level to 150 meters (492 feet)

Difficulty: Moderate

Time to Visit: Any Time (avoid mid-day in summer)

Recommended: Early Spring

Monterosso from Punta Mesco                                                            Linda and Maile on the Lévanto Trail

       The Ligurian Coast including the Portofino Promontory in the distance                                            Descending into Lévanto

28                        Montemarcello – Monte Murlo Loop

Loop hike from the village of Montemarcello along sea cliffs to the summit of Monte Murlo

Distance:

            Tellaro Option: 9 km (5.6 miles)

            Ameglia Option: 10.5 km (6.5 miles)

Elevation: 280 – 361 m (918 – 1184 ft)

Park: Parco Naturale Regionale di Montemarcello-Magra

Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Time to Visit: Year Round

The Versilia coast from Monte Murlo                                                                                The village of Tellaro

32            Amphitheater of Monte Moneglia

A loop hike from the coast to the summit of Monte Moneglia: A lesson in fire regeneration

Distance: 7.6 km (4.7 miles)

Elevation: Sea Level – 520 m (1705 ft)

Hiking Time: 4 hours

Park: L’Area Protetta di Liguria

Difficulty: Moderate

Time to Visit: September through June (avoid heat of summer)

Resprouting Chestnut                                     Regeneration in the scorched pine forest                                    Layered cliffs of Moneglia

33                                            Promontory of Portofino

Hike along the high cliffs of the Portofino Coast to an isolated cove

Distance: 8 km (5 miles)

Elevation: Sea Level – 250 m (820 ft)

Hiking Time: 4 hours

Park: Parco Naturale di Portofino

Difficulty: Moderate

Time to Visit: Year Round (avoid mid-day in summer)

                    Macchia cliffs of the Portofino Promontory                                                                            Portofino Cliffs