Today, in the midst of the throng of shops, restaurants and tourists, it's hard to imagine the Cinque Terre (which means "Five Lands") as sleepy fishing villages. The old-world charm can still be felt, however, and the stunning Ligurian coastline hasn't changed. Although farming has largely been replaced by tourism, excellent white wine is still produced in the area, as evidenced by the terraced vineyards. If you're lucky you may see one of the ingenious little trams used to harvest the grapes.

It's no surprise that the Parco Nazionale delle Cinque Terre is a Unesco World Environmental and Cultural Heritage site. It's also a a Nature Sanctuary, with many delightful trails. If you love to hike we have an itinerary that includes the trail from Vernazza to Corniglia.

We recommend you take the ferry to travel between the villages. Frankly the view from the sea is better than being in town! If the ferry isn't running due to rough seas or bad weather you can take the train or we'll take you by car. Note that cars aren't permitted in the villages, and the route you'll take on foot from where we can park is quite steep in most places.

The schedule gives you time to sit down for lunch, which is a key component of this tour! There are gobs of good restaurants, and of course seafood takes centre stage. Your driver can help you with recommendations.

CINQUE TERRE OTHER COSTS
• The ferry (from Portovenere to Vernazza, "one way with stops") costs approx. 30 Euro pp for those 12 yrs of age and up, 15 Euro for children 6-11. The fee is to be paid directly in cash at the ferry kiosk. The ferry is subject to sea and weather conditions, and cannot be pre-booked.
• A local guide who can accompany you on foot is available for an additional 320 Euro (must be arranged in advance).

IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE
• The Cinque Terre is NOT WELL-SUITED for anyone in a wheelchair or with mobility issues. Our Easy Cinque Terre itinerary is recommended for these situations, available from both Livorno and La Spezia.
• The Via dell'Amore is still closed with no known reopening date.
• If the ferry is not running you can travel between the villages by local train, which costs a few Euro (out of pocket expense).
• Your driver-guide will not accompany through the villages; they must take the vehicle to meet you at the other end.
• The conditions and availability of certain features are ever-changing in the Cinque Terre and we reserve the right to make changes to your itinerary based on the situation on the day of your service, or to substitute a different service in the event of severe storm warnings.