We’d like to hike from town to town on our next trip to Italy. We’d also like to stay in a couple of the towns . What is the best way to do this with luggage- carry on but more than we can hike with.
Posted by
SE Pennsylvania
3285 posts
The villages are minutes apart by train.
No need to hike with luggage, or even to stay in more than one place.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
18177 posts
I'll agree with Liz. There's only 7 miles between the Northernmost village (Monterosso) and the Southernmost (Riomaggiore) so not worth changing hotels if wanting to hike between them. Hike from one end to another, then take the train back. You could also break it up over a couple of days if wanting to hang out for a longer time in the villages.
There! That solves your luggage problem. :O)
I will note that you should spend some time with the park's website, if you haven't already, so you get a handle on the trail system (there are MANY trails) and understand that one leg of the most-traveled "Blue Path" (Sentiero Azzurro) is still closed between Corniglia and Manarola to damage incurred some years ago. There is a different route around it but it's longer and more strenuous.
Another leg of the "Blue", between Manarola and Riomaggiore, requires a timed-entry reservation. That last leg is known as the Via dell'Amore, and it underwent a lot of work over a handful of years. Because it's the easiest of the 4 sections of "Blue", it's also the most walked, thus the reservation system. To hike ANY section of the Sentiero Azzurro requires a park pass.
Apologies if you knew all this already!
The Park's website: https://www.parconazionale5terre.it/Eindex.php
Another useful site; https://www.cinqueterre.eu.com/en/