Trekking Panoramici
Vernazza - Corniglia (Cinque terre)
Italy - Liguria - La Spezia
One of the most beautiful trails that Liguria gives us.
The Blue Trail, along this stage runs along the sea giving you truly sensational emotions and views.
3.6 Km
Difficulty Medium
How to get there
To get to the Cinque Terre the only possible solution is to use the train.
The train leaves from La Spezia and terminates in Levanto, crossing all of the Cinque Terre.
The Sentiero Azzurro (Blue Trail) that we describe to you in this article is for a fee.
Our advice is to buy the “Cinque Terre Card” which gives you access to both the trail and the train (valid for the entire day). The card can be purchased online (official website here) or at the La Spezia station from which we recommend you depart. Alternatively, you can purchase access to the trail only just before its entrance.
For this trail it is mandatory to use shoes suitable for hiking.
The route
The route of our GPX will take you from Vernazza station to Corniglia station.
The second leg of the route is a bit different than the first leg we told you about here.
In this second stage you will start from Vernazza, which is right on the sea, and you will arrive in Corniglia, which is instead on a promontory overlooking the sea. This means that by taking the route in this direction you will be facing a mostly uphill path, vice versa you will have more downhill.
Walking the path in either direction is indifferent. We tackled it starting right from Vernazza.
The entrance to the trail from Vernazza is slightly articulated and not very signposted. You may feel that you have taken a wrong turn, but don’t worry because by following our GPX you will never get lost!
When you arrive at the trail entrance, you will say goodbye to Vernazza to begin a slight climb that soon after will start to get steeper and steeper. This climb made up of steps will accompany you until almost halfway through the trail.
Fatigue begins to set in, but just turn your gaze toward the sea to forget every drop of sweat. The view from here is quite a sight.
Past the first half of the trail you will begin to encounter downhill sections, followed by uphill sections.
You will encounter small, slightly more difficult and steep sections, but nothing to worry about. The trail is well maintained and provided with protection where needed.
Arriving around the end of the trail you will see a pay-as-you-go rest stop where you can buy fresh fruit or drinks. Take advantage of it to take a break and recover your energy.
In the distance you will see Corniglia getting closer and closer. The path in the last stretch becomes increasingly flat and urban.
When you arrive at your destination you will be able to admire Corniglia’s belvedere and wander through its narrow streets where you can buy some souvenirs or take a greedy break with a good ice cream.
Tips
The Blue Trail is definitely not one of those treks suitable for less trained people, but at the same time you don’t have to be an experienced hiker.
Our advice is not to miss this wonder at all. For us it remains one of the most beautiful trails that Italy gives us.
The view that gives directly to the sea is something sensational.
The best time to tackle the trail is spring or summer.
However, try to avoid days that are too muggy. It gets hot along the trail and there are no drinking fountains or refreshment stations.
Remember to bring a hat to protect you from the sun and some sunscreen.
If you enjoyed this trail, we recommend you also check out the first leg (HERE)!
