Porto Venere & Palmaria Island Tour

The tour of Porto Venere and Palmaria Island has as its main area of operation the one located in the western part of the Gulf of Poets of La Spezia, where the homonymous locations that will be visited are located.
During the day of the tour you will have the opportunity to discover this corner of our region considered a UNESCO heritage site and characterized by lush nature, natural inlets such as the Blue Grotto and the Byron Grotto as well as historical monuments such as the Doria Castle.
By choosing this tour you will have the opportunity to experience a day of serenity and tranquility with moments of both leisure on land through the streets of the town and the promontory that enjoys a breathtaking view of the sea and relaxation and exploration on board our boats with refreshment stops to taste the dishes of our tradition.

Itinerary

The tour takes place throughout the day, between 10:30 and 17:30.

Sailing along the Gulf of Tigullio, we will pass in front of the towns of Santa Margherita Ligure, Rapallo, Zoagli and Chiavari. Once we reach Sestri Levante we will continue to Punta Mesco where we will stop for a swim in the Rocce Rosse area, so called for the particular color of the rocks overlooking the sea and which are perfect for snorkeling.

We start again from the Rocce Rosse area and enter the Cinque Terre National Park. Crossing the Marine Protected Area, our eyes will be surprised by the green terraced hills cultivated with vineyards and olive trees that suddenly slope down to the blue sea. We will discover the naturalistic and landscape beauties of the entire Cinque Terre complex, sailing along the towns of Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore with the possibility of making short stops to take splendid photographs of the surrounding panorama before resuming navigation towards Porto Venere.

Arrival in the Gulf of Poets of La Spezia where you can decide to take a break for an inviting lunch in one of the restaurants located in the town of Porto Venere or on the Island of Palmaria located in front of the small village. The local cuisine, rich in delicacies of the Ligurian tradition, will allow you to enjoy the unique flavors of our area.
After the refreshment break, your skipper will take you to discover the Island of Palmaria, letting you admire particular corners and unique views of their kind, also giving you the chance to take a refreshing swim in its waters.

Return to Portofino with the possibility of a last relaxing swim in the waters of the Gulf of Tigullio.

Return to Portofino with the sure memory of a splendid day spent in one of the most suggestive settings of the Ligurian Riviera.

Points of interest and activities

Porto Venere

You discover

Palmaria Island

You discover

Catering

Cesare Charter Portofino - Porto Venere Tour, Ligurian Cuisine

You discover

Bathing and Snorkeling

Cesare Charter Portofino - Porto Venere Tour, swimming and snorkeling

You discover

Boats

Sins III

Vices

Terms and Conditions

The details of the tour are the result of our knowledge and experience in this type of activity, but it is important to specify that we are at your disposal to agree on any changes to meet your needs in terms of times or stops to be made. To this we also add the possibility of reaching you to start the day in any accessible port between the towns of La Spezia and Genoa, in order to best accommodate your needs with the aim of facilitating your experience.

All vessels are equipped with all the necessary equipment required by the navigation code and are also subject to periodic inspections by authorised bodies.

Snorkeling

Restaurant

Points of Interest

Photo Gallery

Porto Venere

The town of Porto Venere stands at the southern end of a peninsula that forms the western shore of the Gulf of La Spezia, also known as the “Gulf of Poets”. Beyond the narrow stretch of sea are Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto which, together with Porto Venere and the Cinque Terre, have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1997.

The beaches, the crystal clear water and the rapid depths of the Ligurian Sea make the area much loved. Ancient houses and churches, hidden caves, the Doria castle and the characteristic streets complete the charm of the village, once only fishermen and today a photographic destination for tourists from all over the world.

Palmaria Island

Palmaria Island, the largest of the La Spezia archipelago with 1.89 km², is located in front of Porto Venere, separated by the Strait of Bocche. Together with Tino and Tinetto it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage.

On the island there are still military fortifications, bunkers from the Second World War and artillery positions now surrounded by Mediterranean vegetation. The side towards the gulf is green, the one towards the sea has high cliffs with famous caves such as the Blue Grotto (which can be visited by boat) and the Grotta dei Colombi, which can only be reached by descending from the cliff.

Catering

Cesare Charter Portofino - Cinque Terre Tour, Ligurian Cuisine

Ligurian cuisine is made up of traditional dishes that make use of ingredients linked both to local production (such as preboggion , a mixture of wild herbs) and to imports from areas with which these lands have had frequent contact over the centuries, such as Sardinian pecorino cheese, which is one of the ingredients of pesto.

For its history, roots and above all the elements that compose it, it can be said that Ligurian cuisine is one of the best expressions of Mediterranean cuisine, a cuisine that is in some ways poor and made of simple, common and cheap foods, but which has become imitated and sought after thanks to its unique traditions and preparations.

If we want to summarise the main elements of this cuisine we can bring it all back to:

Wild herbs and garden products (marjoram, sage, rosemary, onions, potatoes, basil, etc.)
Early fruits from the fields and woods (basil, beefsteak tomatoes, mushrooms, truffles, dried fruit, etc.)
Olive oil
Flour products (focaccia, farinata, savoury pies, etc.)
Dry and fresh pasta
Sea fish and game

The combination of these elements has given life to famous specialties such as pesto, pansotti with walnut sauce, focaccia with Recco cheese, torta pasqualina and farinata.

Bathing and Snorkeling

Cesare Charter Portofino - Cinque Terre Tour, swimming and snorkeling

Liguria has been in first place for the number of Blue Flags for years, an important recognition awarded to seaside tourist resorts that respect criteria relating to sustainable management of the territory. In 2020, 32 beaches and 14 landing places were included in this prestigious list.

This recognizes the region's leading role in the national tourism panorama, guaranteeing landscape quality and services.

The combination of these aspects constitutes the strong point of our land, which must be appreciated, enjoyed and safeguarded at the same time.

Our mission is to share with tourists the most beautiful and uncontaminated corners of the coast, allowing stops for a relaxing dip or a snorkeling excursion to discover the wonders of the underwater world.