Cinque Terre is Insta-famous for its colourful, photogenic towns, overlooking the Mediterranean sea. But it’s also known for the hikes that connect the five towns within the National Park. So I figured that as this was my second time to this gorge coastal paradise, I really oughta try out a spot of hiking.
Well, these hikes vary in difficulty and length, but as we were staying in Levanto, we decided to do the Levanto to Monterosso hike. Here’s everything you need to know about this trail, as well as some top tips for hiking Cinque Terre in general, playa.
Hiking Levanto To Monterosso
The hiking route from Levanto to Monterosso covers 7km and should take 2 hours 30 minutes to complete. And according to prior research is one of the “easy” routes.
Well it wasn’t that easy, pal.
The route starts near the beach front of Levanto by some arches facing the sea, with an old signpost for Monterosso. And from here the first half an hour is pretty gruelling. It’s lots of steps up to a steep incline that is really hard on the ol’ calves.
I admit I had to take a break during this part and lots of OAPs overtook me… In my defence, most of them had those hiking stick things, so they were clearly pros, okay?
But when you get to the top, you get beaut views of Levanto and the surrounding mountains.
The main section of the hike goes up and down at various points, along dirt tracks and at one point through a wooded area. So it’s definitely a varied route.
And it’s signposted just with painted lines on the rocks – a red and white stripe – but is fairly easy to navigate. You can’t really get lost on this one.
And the best part? We saw so many dogs. YES.
It seems this route is one that locals do, so there are less tourists. presumably because Levanto isn’t technically in Cinque Terre, so maybe tourists prefer the ones between the towns.
Then there’s a section that is quite difficult. It involves literally climbing over rocks.
Can I just remind you they call this an easy route…
It’s not that it’s super difficult or anything but some of the rocks can be loose so you need to be careful with your step. Plus, there are some really big rocks you need to get over, you have to kinda lunge to get up on them. But hey, it makes the hiking trail a lot more interesting, huh?
Just before the last stretch, the trail opens up to a bloody glorious view of Cinque Terre.
Because of the vantage point you can see several of the towns along the coast, nestled in amongst the green mountains and vineyards. The closest being the end of the trail – Monterosso. This view definitely made the hike worth it, buddy.
If you’re doing this trail, make sure you take a beat here and soak up the view. I saw some people stopping to eat packed lunches here which I think is a pretty cool idea.
Then the last part is all downhill! Which you would think would be easy but again it’s quite hard on your calves and ankles. But maybe that’s just because I’m a wuss.
However, it’s a beaut zigzag down to the beach where you can reward yourself with a glass of rose at Il Gigante. Which is exactly what I did, pal.
Overall I found this route challenging, but I’m not exactly the fittest of gals. And it definitely paid off with the epic views and lovely route. But I do think there are a few things to bear in mind before you embark on the Cinque Terre hikes…
Top Tips For Hiking Cinque Terre
1) Bring plenty of water. Josh and I bought a 500ml bottle of water each before we headed out, but it wasn’t nearly enough. Especially in the heat. I reckon you need at least a litre each for this hike IMHO.
2) Wear the right footwear. My new KEEN Terradora Ethos shoes were perfect for this hike and I don’t think I could have done it in regular trainers without getting major blisters. (Read my review over here)
3) Wear gym gear. I wore a dress which wasn’t the most practical of outfit choices. Josh wore skinny jeans, LOL. If I did it again I would definitely go for shorts and a vest, babes.
4) Watch the weather. I noticed that there was a bit of mud of our route even though it had been a couple of days since it rained. So I think it’s a good idea to make note of whether it has rained or not – slippery paths aren’t fun.
5) Take medical supplies. Not like a massive first aid kit, but whilst we were hiking the trail I suddenly thought, what happens if I sprain an ankle or something? It’s not like there’s anywhere to stop… So I think it might be a good idea to just take a few plasters and maybe one of those stretchy bandage tubes in case the worst happens.
6) Wear sun cream. Even in April. Even in October. Just wear sun cream, okay?
7) Finally, enjoy it! I think when you’re hiking sometimes you get hung up on the destination, but it’s about the journey! Wow, that sounds like a Pinterest quote, doesn’t it?
Anyway, that was my experience of hiking, at least a part, of Cinque Terre. And I’d definitely recommend it, because you end up seeing more of the national park and those gorgeous views. Would recommend, pal.
Have you hiked Cinque Terre? What did you think?
Let me know in the comments below or find me over on Twitter and Instagram, babes.
