Discover the magic of Italy’s Ligurian coast on an unforgettable women’s hiking adventure through Portofino and the iconic Cinque Terre. This journey invites you to slow down, savor Mediterranean beauty, and explore pastel-colored fishing villages perched along dramatic sea cliffs. From charming seaside Camogli to the postcard-perfect towns of Monterosso, Vernazza, and Manarola, each day blends scenic coastal trails with delicious food, rich culture, and time to simply breathe it all in.
You’ll wander ancient pathways lined with terraced vineyards, climb to panoramic viewpoints, and dip into hidden coves and quiet beaches. Coastal trains and ferries connect the region’s most picturesque spots, allowing you to experience each village from a new perspective. Throughout the trip, there’s room for both adventure and relaxation—leisurely lunches overlooking the sea, sunset strolls, or a gelato break in a lively piazza.
Designed for women who crave connection, challenge, and beauty in equal measure, this journey is the perfect blend of hiking, culture, and coastal charm. Whether you’re seeking meaningful time with like-minded travelers or a personal reset powered by nature, the Cinque Terre offers an experience you’ll want to return to again and again.
This trip offers a moderate level of physical activity, with daily hikes ranging from coastal cliffside paths to stone staircases and terraced vineyard trails. Expect 4–11 miles of walking most days, including steady ascents and descents, uneven terrain, and occasional narrow sections with stunning sea views. While the pace is relaxed and allows plenty of time for breaks, travelers should feel comfortable being on their feet for several hours and navigating varied terrain. With the right preparation, the hikes are rewarding, energizing, and accessible to most active women looking for an engaging outdoor adventure.
May in the Cinque Terre and Portofino region is one of the most beautiful times to visit, with mild, comfortably warm spring weather and longer daylight hours. Temperatures typically range from the low 60s to mid-70s°F (16–24°C), perfect for hiking without the intense heat of summer. Expect plenty of sunshine, blooming wildflowers along the trails, and refreshing sea breezes, though light rain showers are still possible. Overall, it’s an ideal month for active travelers who want pleasant temperatures and vibrant coastal scenery.
All the excursions listed in the itinerary are included. Bring cash/credit cards for purchasing souvenirs, additional snacks/meals, alcoholic drinks, extra activities, and other items. You can either order Euros from your bank at home or use an ATM on arrival in Italy to get some cash. Exchanging USD to Euros at the airport or at a bank in Italy is not always easy and doesn't give the best exchange rates.
All gratuities are included with the exception of those for your Chicas Abroad tour leader. Tipping the Chicas Abroad tour leader is optional and not included in the price of your adventure.
● The Chicas Abroad Tour Leader(s) works hard to ensure a seamless adventure for you and tips are optional, but customary.
● If you have more than one tour leader on your adventure, gratuities may be given to one tour leader and the team will divide the tips.
● Typical tips $30-40/day
A custom packing list will be emailed out a few months prior to departure.
Hotels, guesthouses, and B&Bs throughout the Cinque Terre. All rooms are double occupancy with 2 beds. If you'd like a single room, there is an option to purchase the single supplement at check out.
Airport transportation from Genoa to Camogli on May 1, ferries, and bus/van transport provided throughout the trip. You will need to pay for your own airport transfer on May 8 (we can help arrange).
Your luggage will be transferred each time we move hotels so you only have to carry a daypack on the hikes between towns.
Generous tips are provided for all LOCAL guides and drivers. Tips for the Chicas Abroad tour leader are optional and at your discretion.
7 breakfasts and 2 dinners included. We can accommodate dietary restrictions.
All excursions mentioned in itinerary.
We provide amazing swag items to our guests to enjoy during and after your adventure!
Guests must book their own international flights to arrive in Genoa (GOA) on May 1st by 3pm (if you want to join the group transfer) and depart at anytime on May 8 (no group transfer included).
Travel insurance is highly recommend to cover any unforeseen events. Chicas Abroad will provide you with a link to our recommended carrier upon booking, but you may choose any carrier.
Alcoholic drinks are at your own expense.
Your Chicas Abroad tour leader works countless hours before and during the trip to ensure a seamless experience so you can adventure more and worry less! $30-40 per day is typical and much appreciated
Souvenirs and other personal purchases are not included.
Your Chicas Abroad tour leader will meet you in Genoa to travel together as a group to our starting point in Camogli. Please plan to arrive in Genoa by 3:00pm. Alternatively, if you'd like to fly into Milan or other airports, you can make your own arrangements (train, bus, car) to meet up with the group in Camogli.
Arrive in the laid-back seaside village of Camogli, your first taste of the Italian Riviera. Colorful houses tumble toward the sea, fishing boats bob in the harbor, and the promenade is lined with cafés perfect for your first espresso or aperol spritz. After checking into your cozy hotel, you’ll have time to wander the cobblestone lanes, dip your toes in the water, or simply sit and soak in that “I’m really in Italy” feeling.
This evening we will have a Welcome Dinner with the group to kick off our adventure in the Cinque Terre!
Accommodation: Hotel/Guesthouse/B&B in Camogli
Meals Included: Welcome Dinner
After an included breakfast, you’ll set off with a short transfer up to the hilltop church of San Rocco, where your hike begins with sweeping views over the Ligurian Sea. From here, you follow forested paths and coastal trails down to the tiny cove of San Fruttuoso, home to an 11th-century abbey tucked between emerald hills and bright blue water. This first hike of the day is approximately 4 miles.
From here, you can choose to continue on foot for an additional 6 miles or hop a local ferry around the headland to glamorous Portofino, where pastel houses frame a perfect crescent harbor. Browse boutiques, grab a gelato, or climb up to the lighthouse or Castello Brown for panoramic views, before returning by boat to peaceful Camogli.
Activities: Hiking 4-10 miles
Accommodation: Hotel/Guesthouse/B&B in Camogli
Meals Included: Breakfast
Fuel up with breakfast, then transfer along the coast to Deiva Marina, a quieter seaside town fringed by sandy beach and green hills. Your 3 mile morning hike winds up into the dramatic ridgeline above the sea, offering wide-open views over the northern Ligurian coast as you make your way toward Bonassola. You can choose to shorten the walk by stopping in the sleepy hamlet of Framura for lunch and catching a train back to Bonassola.
Those deciding to continue hiking from Framura to Bonassola will enjoy 7 more miles of picturesque views.
End the day with a refreshing dip in Bonassola’s turquoise bay or a spritz at a seafront bar before boarding the train into the Cinque Terre and your new home base, Monterosso al Mare. Settle into your hotel and enjoy the evening in this lively village.
Activities: Hiking 4 -11 miles, Swimming
Accommodation: Hotel/Guesthouse/B&B in Monterosso
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today’s adventure starts with a quick local train back to Bonassola , then a gorgeous walk along a converted old railway line now transformed into a flat, easy coastal path of approximately 3 miels with tunnels, bridges, and constant sea views. From the charming town of Levanto, you can choose to relax on the sandy beach or continue up onto mountain paths for a more challenging, view-filled hike back to Monterosso of approximately 7 miles).
As you crest the ridge at Punta Mesco, you’re rewarded with sweeping vistas of the Cinque Terre villages strung along the coastline, before descending through olive groves to the beach at Monterosso—perfect for a post-hike swim. Prefer a slower day? Linger in Monterosso’s cafés, shops, and beach instead.
Activities: Hiking 3-10 miles
Accommodation: Hotel/Guesthouse/B&B in Monterosso
Meals Included: Breakfast
With your Cinque Terre Train & Trails Card in hand, you’ll hop on the coastal train after breakfast and glide to Manarola, often considered the most photogenic of the five villages. Think colorful homes clinging to the cliffs, terraced vineyards above, and waves crashing below. Spend time exploring the backstreets and harbor, then choose your hiking adventure.
Take a longer walk of approximately 4 miles up toward Corniglia for big sea views, or challenge yourself on the steeper (1 mile, but much more challenging), more technical trail between Manarola and Riomaggiore, where stone steps and high vantage points reward you with incredible panoramas of the coastline. If you’d rather skip the steeps, you can always use your rail card to village-hop by train instead. In the evening, return to Monterosso for al fresco dinner and maybe some local seafood.
Activities: Hiking 1 mile or 4 miles
Accommodation: Hotel/Guesthouse/B&B in Monterosso
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, you’ll train up to Corniglia, the quietest of the five villages, perched high above the sea. Wander its lanes and terraces before stepping onto one of the most iconic trails in the Cinque Terre, linking Corniglia to Vernazza and onward to Monterosso. The path undulates along the hillside with constant sea views, terraced vineyards, and postcard-perfect glimpses of villages appearing around bends. This first hike is approximately 3 miles.
In Vernazza, arguably the most photographed of all, fishing boats rock in the tiny harbor beneath pastel buildings and ancient watchtowers. You can linger here and catch the train back or continue on foot along the panoramic trail (approximately 5 miles) to Monterosso. Celebrate your hiking day with a well-earned gelato or an aperitivo in the piazza.
Activities: Hiking 3-8 miles
Accommodation: Hotel/Guesthouse/B&B in Monterosso
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your last full hiking day is a showstopper. After breakfast, take the train to Riomaggiore and climb out of the Cinque Terre toward the high ridge trail leading to Portovenere. This is a longer hike with rewarding elevation and incredible views over the Gulf of Poets, passing through Colle del Telegrafo and the tiny hamlet of Campiglia before descending to the sea.
Arrive in storybook Portovenere, a UNESCO-listed gem where striped Gothic churches, ancient walls, and rows of tall, colorful houses guard the harbor. Explore the Church of St. Peter perched dramatically on a rocky point, wander the narrow streets, or simply sit on the waterfront with a glass of local wine. If you prefer not to hike, you can often opt for a ferry from Riomaggiore instead.
Tonight we will finish out the trip with a Farewell Dinner to celebrate our accomplishments!
Activities: Hiking 8 miles
Accommodation: Hotel/Guesthouse/B&B in Portovenere
Meals Included: Breakfast & Farewell Dinner
Enjoy a final breakfast overlooking the sea before saying goodbye to Portovenere and this spectacular slice of the Italian Riviera. Depending on your onward travel, you might squeeze in a last wander through the harbor, a short boat ride, or a quiet coffee with a view.
From Portovenere, local buses or taxis connect you to La Spezia for onward trains to Genoa, Pisa, Florence, or beyond. We can help you with making arrangements for onward transfer via bus/train/car to your next destination.
Meals Included: Breakfast
