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How should I plan my hiking/boat day trip to Cinque Terre?

How should I plan my hiking/boat day trip to Cinque Terre?

Old Jun 14th, 2013, 11:09 AM
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How should I plan my hiking/boat day trip to Cinque Terre?

Hello again to all my Fodor's friends. I need your advice once again for an upcoming trip to Italy. I'll be staying in Barga for a few days and want to take a day trip to Cinque Terre. I want to both hike and take a ferry in CT, parking my car somewhere to facilitate that. I don't know if all the trails are open now but I'm thinking that if I start early enough, I can park in Lerici or La Spezia or Portoverere (advice happily considered), take a ferry to ?, hike up the coast and then take the ferry back down to where I've parked. I'd rather do the hiking in the early part of the day so as to stay cool and be able to eat lunch before the restaurants close for siesta. Do you think this is doable? What is the least confusing way to manage my day?
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Old Jun 14th, 2013, 11:26 AM
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From Barga I would get an early start, on a nice day, and plan to catch the 0930 ferry from Lerici---or later from Portovenere. Ferry the entire length to Monterosso---see Monterosso---hike to Vernazza for lunch and catch the ferry again to Portovenere. Leave at least 2 hours for Portovenere.
Pick a good day or the ferries will not run.
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Old Jun 14th, 2013, 11:47 AM
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Check the status of the Cinque Terre trails before you depart. By this month all of the main trails between villages are supposed to be open except the Via dell'Amore between Riomaggiore and Manarola, but slides can happen suddenly and close trails without much warning.
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Old Jun 14th, 2013, 05:46 PM
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Or park in Levanto Just outside ct.Take boat to Riomaggiore and hike back to Monterossa, then couple minute train trip to Levanto. If you do it in A.M. the sun wiil be at your back while hiking. If you do it in the afternoon - reverse the trip so you are not hiking into sun.
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Old Jun 14th, 2013, 07:25 PM
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You can park right in Monterosso in the new parking lots made by filling in part of the sea and hike from there and then take the train back.
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Old Jun 14th, 2013, 08:16 PM
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I would take the train to Corniglia early morning and hike up the hill on the road or find the stairs to the center of town. Perhaps catch an early lunch in town and hike the trail to Vernazza. You will enter mid-town, after about 2 hours, near the train station. Continue to hike up the hill just a bit past the post office and reward yourself with a cannoli at Il Pirata dell Cinque Terra and meet the Cannoli Brothers. Double reward! It's a short walk and looks like it is at the end of the town. After your treat, walk down to the water and find out when the ferry to Monterosso al Mare will arrive and purchase a ticket. In your spare time, either get a drink or enjoy the dock scene. If you still have time after the ferry, walk around Monterosso especially if you've parked in the new parking lots that PalenQ suggested. Always check the status of the trails!
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Old Jun 15th, 2013, 04:16 AM
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Take the train from La Spezia. Skip the boat. The only legal trail open is from Monterosso to Vernazza. The views from this trail are fab. You can get off at other stops on the train. Manarola is worth a visit for sure. Some people told us they hiked other trails but it is at your own risk as the mudslides did a lot of damage that still aren't fixed.
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Old Jun 15th, 2013, 01:11 PM
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flpab, why do you say I should skip the boat? Why would the train be better?
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Old Jun 17th, 2013, 08:09 AM
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. I want to both hike and take a ferry in CT, parking my car somewhere to facilitate that.>

Since the only trail open, according to flpab, is Monterosso to Vernazza (also one of the best segments with Vernazza IMO being the nicest of all 5 towns, why not just park in Monterosso?
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Old Jun 17th, 2013, 08:30 AM
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According to the official website of the Cinque Terre, the Corniglia-Vernazza trail has re-opened:

http://www.parconazionale5terre.it/s...sp?id_lingue=2


Manarola-Corngilia is supposed to re-open this month (June 2013) but is still listed as closed.
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Old Jun 17th, 2013, 06:04 PM
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I'm paying close attention to everyone's advice and as I expected there are a few different suggestions. When I arrive I'll certainly double check the trail closures and certainly park accordingly, but I do like the idea of hiking in the morning with the sun against my back. Now I'm curious about being told to take the train back to my car instead of the boat. Why?
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Old Jun 18th, 2013, 05:57 AM
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The train is faster and may come more often. We enjoyed the ferry for the unique views and had been recommended to us. We were in the area for 3 days not as day trippers.
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Old Jun 18th, 2013, 06:20 AM
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You cant really plan on taking the boat as it is highly dependent on the weather. We were there for 5 days in May in 2010 and the boats didnt run any day due to waves even though we had sunny weather they entire time.
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Old Jun 18th, 2013, 06:55 AM
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Oh, I see. That means I will have to check the ferry schedules as well because I enjoy taking ferries whenever possible. I'm really looking forward to views from all sides of CT but if I'm forced to, the train probably always has a few empty seats. Thank you all.
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Old Jun 18th, 2013, 06:56 AM
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The trains have no reserved seating and were PACKED when we were there most of the day. It is only a few minutes in between towns so you will likely just jump on and stand until the next town...
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Old Jun 19th, 2013, 10:33 AM
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I'll keep that in mind, stand near the door and watch my pocket IF there is a need. Again, I'm hooked on ferries!
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Old Sep 4th, 2013, 07:01 AM
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Just to let you know how it worked out - We drove to La Spezia, parked outside the train station, bought a round trip train ticket for 10 Euro at the Cinque Terre Tourist office at the southern end of the train station. We hopped off the train at Riomaggiore and took the ferry (don't remember the cost, but not much) up the coast, stopping at each of the CT villages, finally getting off in Monterroso. The ferry trip was glorious - sunny, beautiful scenery, sea breezes. After walking around Monterroso a bit and finding it way too touristy, we took the train to Corniglia which we liked much better - charming, small, beautiful location. Then we returned to La Spezia via the train. Given the abysmal state of the Italian train we took - filthy interiors - and the fact that the only scenery you see from the train is the inside of tunnels, I can't figure out why anyone would opt for the train over the ferry. The ferry was comfortable and offered fantastic scenery, operated continuously...I wish we'd taken it round trip.
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Old Sep 4th, 2013, 08:02 AM
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Hi jahlie,

Thanks for coming back to let us know how this portion of your trip worked out. Sounds like you had a wonderful day!

DH & I are considering a day trip to the Cinque Terre (from Lucca) and like you, taking the ferry along the coast. Just working out the logistics.

Re: parking in La Spezia - Was there a parking lot or on-street parking just outside the train station where you left your car for the day?
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Old Sep 9th, 2013, 06:20 AM
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Hi 2010 - There is a parking lot under the train station but it was full when we arrived. We found a parking space on the street a couple of blocks away and put in a day's worth of parking money. Have fun, and don't forget to talk to the CT Tourist info people at the train station. They are friendly and helpful. Have fun!
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Old Sep 9th, 2013, 07:30 AM
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Thanks, jahlie! This info is helpful!
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