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Culinary and Cultural Flavors of the Cinque Terre

(This tour requires a minimum of 2 people, and a maximum of 12)

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Priced From
$4,298 USD *
(For One Person, Double Occupancy)
* Plus taxes. Tours sold on an availability basis.
7 days | 6 nights

Discovering the Cinque Terre
Monterosso, Levanto, Bonassola, and the Enchanting Portovenere

Discover the flavors of the Cinque Terre while staying at a charming hotel located right in the heart of the largest of the five villages, Monterosso al Mare. Situated near olive groves and vineyards and numerous coastal hiking trails, this region makes a perfect location for both an adventurous and relaxing culinary holiday. Located at the northern entrance of picturesque coastal villages of the Cinque Terre, here you will find yourself in a land full of green olive groves and steep vineyards, only a few steps away from the beautiful Ligurian sea. Your week will be filled with great food, cooking classes, guided village tours, and a cruise to enchanting Portovenere.
Small Group Friendly
Itinerary Accommodations Map FAQ Testimonials
VACATION HIGHLIGHTS
Please note: Tour inclusions can change depending upon seasonality and weather conditions.
6 Nights Monterosso Accommodations
Breakfast Buffet Each Morning
Full Day, Private Guided
Hop-on Hop-off Ferry Tickets
Cinque Terre Train Pass
Roundtrip Train Tickets Monterosso-Bonassola
Hands-On Pesto Cooking Class
Vineyard Tour and Wine Experience
1 Lunch, 2 Dinners
Round-Trip Transfers for all Activities
24-Hour Local Support During Tour
While our tours are designed as soft adventure experiences, walking, climbing stairs, and in rare cases mild hiking may be required. If you have mobility issues, you should speak with one of our culinary travel specialists to determine if this tour is appropriate for your situation.
AVAILABLE DATES
Based on Availability, late March through late October.
SAMPLE ITINERARY
Please note: Actual itineraries are subject to change due to seasonality.
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Day 1
Welcome to Cinque Terre | Multi-Course Tasting Dinner
Monterosso al Mare is the largest, and oldest of the five villages in the Cinque Terre, and part of the region of Liguria. Along the Italian Riviera you will soak in the vistas of five beautiful seaside villages that make up the Cinque Terre National Park, famous for its villas overlooking the sea, colorful houses, and its narrow roads. On your day of arrival, check into your hotel and enjoy a multi-course tasting dinner at a nearby restaurant. Benvenuto!
Day 2
Breakfast Buffet
Enjoy a rich, traditional breakfast buffet that is sure to prepare you for the events of the day.
Private, Guided Discover Cinque Terre Tour
After the rich breakfast buffet, you will meet at the hotel with your private English-speaking local guide to start an amazing tour of the Cinque Terre villages. Between train rides, you'll be charmed by the picturesque fishing villages and explore them with an insider's touch. With your local expert guide you'll understand why the Cinque Terre villages have been celebrated by writers and poets, and described as "a paradise on earth!" You'll visit Riomaggiore with its church and stunning castle, you'll walk among the famous terraced vineyards of Manarola, the picturesque Vernazza and Monterosso, with a romantic walk to the capuchin cloister.
Day 3
Breakfast Buffet
Enjoy a rich, traditional breakfast buffet that is sure to prepare you for the events of the day.
Discovering Portovenere | Islands of the Poet's Gulf | Panoramic Boat Tour
After breakfast, reach Levanto on your own with a short train ride (about 24 min – Cinque Terre train day pass is included). From here, you'll reach Portovenere and the beautiful islands of the Poets Gulf with a panoramic trip by boat. You'll discover breathtaking landscapes naturally architected by mother nature and mankind together over time. You'll admire the impressive cliffs, grottos, and fortresses of this beautiful stretch of coastline loved by poets and writers such as Byron and Shelley. You will disembark in the amazing village of Portovenere, still surrounded by Medieval walls. Here you will have time to explore the village on your own. In the afternoon, you'll go back to Levanto by ferry, and from there you'll go back to Monterosso by train. Dinner on your own this evening, with our suggestions.
Day 4
Breakfast Buffet | Lunch
Enjoy a rich, traditional breakfast buffet that is sure to prepare you for the events of the day. This afternoon you will enjoy local specialties at the conclusion of your cooking class.
Secrets of the Perfect Pesto Cooking Class
Our culinary expert will welcome you in a cozy location, just above the village of Monterosso, with a short train ride (Cinque Terre train day pass is included). Today, you will experience the authentic side of Cinque Terre! Here you will learn to prepare pesto, as tradition dictates, with mortar and pestle! You will be engulfed by the scent of basil leaves pounded in the mortar, but don't worry, in the end you will enjoy a delicious dish of Troffie (a local pasta specialty) with pesto accompanied by wine - from the Cinque Terre, of course. In the afternoon, you will have lunch and then head back to Monterosso by private transfer. Dinner on your own this evening, with our suggestions.
Day 5
Breakfast Buffet
Enjoy a rich, traditional breakfast buffet that is sure to prepare you for the events of the day. This afternoon you will enjoy local wines and appetizers.
Guided Cinque Terre Wine Tour | Bonassola
Today you will reach Bonassola on your own via a 10-minute train ride where you'll be warmly welcomed by a local vintner to enjoy a special wine experience (train tickets are included). Here you will discover the most authentic side of Cinque Terre! Cinque Terre exist thanks to the incredible efforts in past times to create the unique terraced vineyards that shape this exceptional landscape. That's why visiting these amazing vineyards overlooking the sea is to understand the real soul of Cinque Terre. And today a well-known local producer will welcome you in his vineyard and tell you the story behind his heroic wine. After admiring the breathtaking panorama, you will visit the ancient cellar and taste the most typical Cinque Terre wines, among which are the Sciacchetrà, paired with traditional appetizers.
Day 6
Breakfast Buffet | Farewell Dinner
Enjoy a rich, traditional breakfast buffet that is sure to prepare you for the events of the day. This evening you will enjoy local specialties in a beautiful restaurant near Monterosso.
Day of Exploration | Farewell Dinner
Spend the day exploring on your own. We suggest taking a train to Bonassola, just a few minutes away, a lovely village with a beautiful beach known for its colorful pebbles. If you prefer a more active day, you can try a kayak tour departing from Monterosso (not included in the price) or hike one of the panoramic trails like the one that links Levanto with Monterosso. In the evening, a great experience awaits you. You will enjoy a special farewell dinner at a wine estate just above the village of Monterosso. You will have a delicious dinner surrounded by an amphitheater of vineyards where you will taste local specialties paired with a selection fo local wines.
Day 7
Breakfast Buffet | Check-Out and Departure
In the morning before you depart, enjoy another wonderful breakfast buffet. Time flies when you're having so much fun, but alas…it is time to check out and depart this delicious, "Edible Destination." Arrivederci!
Bonassola, ItalyLevanto, ItalyMonterosso, ItalyPortovenere, Italy
Emanuela, Thanks! And many, many more thanks for your assistance in making our trip to Liguria so filled with wonderful experiences and memories. The friendly and knowledgeable guides of Paola and Serena provided enriching and practical information for Liguria and specifically the Cinque Terre villages. Their personalities provided Julie and I both joy and laughter during our walks and nautical experiences. Some of the highlights were the cooking experiences. Making and baking of focaccia with Daniele at his restaurant, La Sciamadda in Sestri was hilarious. He converted me to a lover of fresh anchovies in lemon and oil. The risotto with mussels and shrimp that we made with the tutelage of Silvia, the owner and chef of the Osteria della Corte is a remarkable experience and meal. They both were so gracious with their time and coaching. Emanuela, you made us feel like royalty throughout our trip. Your continual communication and detailed information insured our fantastic holiday. Thank you, a thousand times.
Ron and Julie - June 2022
Winner
OUTSTANDING
CULINARY TRAVEL
Category
Member of ASTA Member of ATTA Member of GSTC