Compare Highlights of Panama by Apple Vacations vs Cinque Terre Magnifica Hiking Tour by Tourissimo
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
| Trip |
2 | Disappointing
|
5 | Excellent
|
| Duration | 7 days | 7 days |
| Price From | Check price | $ 3,995 |
| Price Per Day | Check price | $ 571 |
| Highlights |
|
|
| Trip Style | Group tour | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
| Physical Level |
|
|
| Travel Themes |
|
|
| Countries Visited | ||
| Cities and Attractions |
|
|
| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
|
|
| Meals Included |
|
6 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches and 6 Dinners |
| Description |
Upon arrival in Panama, your will be met at the airport by a Gamboa Tours DMC* Representative holding and Apple Vacations sign. Your Representative will guide you to your transfer. |
The cluster of seaside villages known as Cinque Terre (Five Lands) burst onto the active travel scene no more than 15 years ago and has become one of the most visited destinations in Italy. All villages were built on the same principle, with a castle erected on top of the mountain by the feudal families who originally ruled over the Cinque Terre and which served to defend the village against the Saracen invaders and pirates coming from the sea. Lack of open space created the characteristic tall, narrow houses. This is a perfect setting for a Magnifica hiking tour! Cinque Terre has some of the best coastal hiking in all of Mediterranean and UNESCO recognized its beauty and uniqueness in 1997, listing it in the registry of World Heritage Sites. But don't expect large crowds and souvenir shops. Cinque Terre has managed to maintain its authenticity despite its popularity, and Beppe and Federica will take you behind the scenes and off the beaten path in many of the villages and places we visit. The tour also includes Portofino, which is not part of Cinque Terre but is worth the visit for its picturesque harbor and interesting history. Colorful, timeless fishing villages dot our hikes among olive trees, vineyards and fragrant flowers. Cinque Terre is also a great destination for lovers of food and wine, a place where farmers have been battling with the steep terrain for hundreds of years, creating small patches of cultivable land on terraces held up by dry stone walls. Down below, a deep blue sea and crashing waves will leave you in awe with each step. |
Day 1: A Gamboa Tours Representative will meet you at the airport upon arrival and guide you to your shared transfer to Crowne Plaza (or similar standard hotel), where you will stay for 2 nights. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
Day 2: After breakfast, you will enjoy the half-day city tour. During this tour, you will visit the most interesting places in Panama City including: Casco Antiguo-the oldest sector of modern Panama City, founded in 1673 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Panama City is a beautiful, colorful and vibrant city built in 1519 by Pedro Arias Davila, a Spanish Govenor, who made it the capital of the Republic of Panama. It is considered one of the most important cities in the Americas. Miraflores Locks/Panama Canal-this classic experience brings you to the very best that Panama has to offer. Observe the magnificent Miraflores Locks and most likely witness their operation. (Breakfast included)
Day 3: Transfer from Panama City to Gamboa Rainforest Resort. Monkey Island Boat Tour-Take a boat tour through the Panama Canal into secret waterways to find hidden islands where Capuchin and Howler monkeys can be seen leaping in the trees above. This Panama Canal tour provides a unique opportunity for viewing wild monkeys in their natural habitat. Other animals you might spot on this tour includes two and three-toed sloths, crocodiles, and turtles that are native to Gatun Lake. The boat ride passes through the Panama Canal, giving you the chance to spot huge container ships during their passage across the world. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Overnight at Gamboa Rainforest Resort. (Inclusive Plan–all meals & drinks included)
Day 4: After breakfast, enjoy a guided transfer to an Embera Community in the Chagres River. Embera Indigenous Tour–This trip is truly paradise found in its purest form! The enchanting journey takes you deep into the dense jungles of Chagres where the Emberá Indians have lived for centuries. The adventure begins with a one-hour ride up the river in dugout canoes, the Emberá traditional, hand carved boats. (Inclusive Plan–all meals & drinks included).
Day 5: Enjoy breakfast at Gamboa Resort then a transfer to The Westin Playa Bonita. Rest of day at your leisure (Inclusive Plan–all meals & drinks included).
Days 6 & 7: Days at leisure to relax at the beach (Inclusive Plan–all meals & drinks included).
Day 8: Transfer from The Westin Playa Bonita to airport (breakfast included).
Day 1: Santa Margherita
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Laurin (alternative Hotel Metropole)
Terrain: Rolling
Hike: 1 Hr
Your guide will meet you at the Malpensa Airport (Milan) for a transfer to Santa Margherita Ligure. After checking in at our hotel we will make our way to Portofino's picturesque waterfront, home of the rich and famous, where you can do some shopping or enjoy a gelato with a view. We will gather just before dinner for an overview of the tour while holding a glass of local white wine to welcome the week ahead. The dining room at our restaurant will afford a characteristic view of the gulf of Santa Margherita.
Day 2: Santa Margherita
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Laurin (alternative Hotel Metropole)
Terrain: Rolling
Hike: 3 Hrs
Today’s hike through the Parco Naturale Regionale di Portofino is not technically part of Cinque Terre but offers equally spectacular coastal hiking with views of quaint fishing harbors on quiet trails with few people. We’ll visit the San Fruttuoso Abbey, located on the shores of a deep-set cove and only reachable by boat or on foot. After lunch we’ll take a boat to Camogli, a quiet, colorful fishing village. Along the way we will introduce you to a local specialty: the focaccia Ligure, the often imitated local flatbread that is one of the signature dishes of the region, and perhaps, the best trail food you’ll ever come across! And, don’t forget to have a cappuccino in each village you are hiking. You deserve it!
Day 3: Levanto
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Terrain: Rolling
Hike:3 Hrs
We will start our hike this morning in Levanto, the gateway to Cinque Terre and an interesting town with many delightful painted villas. We will follow the trail to Monterosso, the first village of the Cinque Terre. Along the way, we’ll stop at Punta Mesco to enjoy the stunning view. Our lunch spot is by the beach where there will be plenty of time to relax. After a short ride back to Levanto by private boat, you can spend some time strolling around the interesting historical center. A glass of Cinque Terre DOC wine is part of the protocol before a typical Ligurian dinner at one of our favorite trattorias.
Day 4: Levanto
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Park Hotel Argento
Terrain: Hilly
Hike:3 Hrs
Monterosso is the largest of the 5 villages, and is the starting point of today’s beautiful hike that is filled with stunning scenery, including lemon orchards and lush vegetation. Monterosso is also known for its anchovies (Slow Food presidia) and for its tasty lemons and the two combined make one of the local mouthwatering delicacies. We’ll take advantage of the beautiful view by stopping for lunch and wine tasting on the hills, just before descending to charming and colorful harbor in the cliffside town of Vernazza. From Vernazza we'll make our way back to Levanto by private boat where you'll be able to look back on the shore and see the morning’s hike from a new perspective.
Day 5: Portovenere
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Terrain: Hilly
Hike: 3 Hrs
Tourissimo takes you off of the beaten path today with a hike that affords breathtaking views. Starting in Riomaggiore, we’ll make our way up to the Santuario di Montenero where you can take in all five villages at once! From there we’ll keep climbing (up a stairway of about 2000 steps!) to Campiglia. Campiglia is nestled across the Cinque Terre sea and the Gulf of La Spezia and on a clear day you can see the island of Corsica and the Ligurian Alps. Back in Portovenere, we’ll have a wine tasting with an explanation of the unique local production by a local winemaker. Afterwards, you will be free to spend some time discovering this vibrant village where its narrow streets often lead to fantastic views of vineyards, on one side, and of the sea, on the other.
Hotel: Relais Le Ville
Day 6: Portovenere
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Terrain: Hilly
Hike: 3 Hrs
Our last hike starts in Campiglia and reaches Portovenere, the southernmost village on the peninsula. Portovenere is a beautiful and lively village with an impressive fortress that faces out to sea. We’ll discover its port and the Church of St. Peter during a stunning descent before reaching our hotel again. Our celebration dinner is at the hotel’s restaurant with a fantastic, open view of the Gulf of La Spezia. The perfect ending of Cinque Terre Magnifica Tour!
Hotel: Relais Le Ville
Day 7:: Portovenere
Meals: Breakfast
Terrain: Departure
Hike: None
After breakfast you will be transferred to the Airport or to La Spezia Train Station. Guides can help you with your travel plans to make sure you will have a safe trip home.
