Portofino by canoe

Visit the promontory of Portofino by canoe is a truly unmissable experience, because it allows you to discover all the most fascinating details. The main destinations of a kayaking trip or in stand up paddle in the protected marine area are Camogli , San Fruttuoso and Warns , over obviously a Portofino and all the spectacular nature in the middle. However, the coast deserves a paid even beyond the Park of Portofino, both towards Genoa and to Chiavari.
Here under the map of this part of Liguria and the description of the canoe itineraries along the coast. Write to us at info@wildrips.net or visit www.catchiavari.it For info and bookings of trips organized in kayak or in sup.
An advice on How to visit This section of Coasta Ligure: In addition to the normal kayak also the canoe and the inflatable SUP are excellent solutions: it can in fact be paid in a direction from a train station to another, thus damaging the canoe and returning back comfortably by train (obviously you can do the same with a rigid kayak, but one of the group must Returning by train to take the car on whose roof to load canoes). Attention because the distances on the map are in a straight line, while it is normal (indeed, very recommended) follow with the kayaking or with the stand up paddle the sinuosities of the Ligurian coast with its bays and its rocks.

Genoa Nervi - Camogli
This first longest route offers continuous surprises. The sea bars of Genoa Nervi are an enjoyable starting point (or arrival: for those traveling with canoeing/inflatable sup inflatable, the station of Genoa Nervi, overlooking the rocks, is very convenient). Then, pause east, meet cliffs, pine forests, houses and small castles overlooking the sea. In short, despite being a canoe trip in nature, there is no lack of architectural ideas!
before arriving in Camogli, some typically Ligurian countries meet as Bogliasco and Sori . Arrived at Recco , you can eat a piece of cheese focaccia or continue in kayaks up to the beautiful Camogli (in this stretch, between a cliff and the other, it opens Even a pretty deep cave).

By Camogli you have to visit the marina and then pay along the castle and the beach at whose shoulders raise the typical Ligurian palaces.
For those looking for a canoeist itinerary full of interests of interest, which go beyond the beauty of the landscape, This quiet kayak trip of a dozen km (plus the inevitable zig-zag) from Genoa Nervi to Camogli is a great solution.

Camogli - San Fruttuoso
with the splendid view of Camogli in the heart (or in the camera), you can then pay under the promontory of Portofino, admiring the clear sea, the cliffs and the Mediterranean scrub . There are some fishermen's houses and a tiny marina with a few boats and some fishing net before arriving at the rocky Punta Chiappa . From here the coast becomes if possible even more impressive: with the kayak and the sup are touching walls of conglomerate high hundreds of meters. We lose sight of Camogli and you only have a nature in front of him. In the first deep bay that includes ( Cala dell'Oro ) the entry to all the boats included cano and stand up paddle is prohibited (it is the area of ​​the Portofino Park with larger limitations).
It is cut by one head to another and the next bay is met, that of San Fruttuoso. Here you can dive above the Christ of the Abissi , the famous statue resting on the bottom of the sea. On clear sea days - Fortunately, frequent - a mask is enough to admire it and no diving experts. The Christ of the Abissi is located about 10 meters deep, on the right side of the bay (looking at San Fruttuoso).
Obviously, the beach on which the Abbey of San Fruttuoso is worth a stop. At this point you can continue in kayaks towards Portofino or, if you are tired, deflate the canoe or the inflatable paddle stand up and embark on a ferry to Camogli or Santa Margherita Ligure. Prices start at 8 euros each. If there is no full inflatable canoes travel for free and must be accompanied with affectionate attention.

San Fruttuoso - Santa Margherita Ligure
Payment towards Portofino, after San Fruttuoso are rushed to cliffs of conglomerate and maritime pines that lean on the sea. At one point we can see the first villas and the church of Portofino: here some tunnels excavated in the rock cross the mountain; The narrow entries can be noted by the canoe, in the cliff a few meters above sea level. However, these incredible galleries cannot be crossed on foot, because private.
we then pass under the lighthouse of Portofino, in an impressive position. By canoe, you can enter the Bay of Portofino and moor directly in the famous Piazzetta . Even with the sup, paying attention to the waves of the boats.

It is not the ideal place to eat an ice cream at the bar - the risk is to be brushed - but focacceria and take-away ice cream parlor have at the bottom of honest prices, considering that in stores for a shirt they spend three hundred euros.
Taking up the kayak, follow the coast, also touching paramin up to Santa Margherita Ligure . This itinerary is less savage than that between Camogli and Portofino but still splendid and very interesting. Santa Margherita Ligure is also a great place of landing, with the station a stone's throw from the sea for canoe owners or stand up paddle inflatable.

Santa Margherita Ligure - Chiavari
This stretch of coast can appear at the beginning very built, yet it offers really superb corners.
Santa Margherita Ligure is a well-known town to tourism, But already coming with canoeing at Prelo It seems to be in another world: it is a small beach at the bottom of a bay on which features characteristic houses and the park of the luxurious villa of the Knights of Malta. Someone at the bar, after a few glasses of too much, could tell you that prelo is not Ligurian territory and not even Italian ... it's not just like that, but only the idea fascinates.
After Prelo you will encounter the country of san Michele di Pagana , picturesquely positioned at the bottom of a wooded bake. With the kayak it is also advisable to jump Rapallo , really too cemented, and cut the gulf to the cliffs that rise immediately after the city. Here the nature returns Mistress.

The stretch of coast between Rapallo and Zoagli is in fact a pleasant alternation of rocky walls and splendid cottages overlooking the sea.
The beach of Zoagli can be a good landing for a break, an icy beer , pesto trofie, a cigar and a whiskey (or even for healthier alternatives). Proceeding towards Chiavari, the coast offers a natural environment made of peaked cliffs and Mediterranean scrub. They meet a small beach and numerous rocks before arriving at the Group of Sale , where a wide beach only reachable by sea is surrounded by rocky walls and maritime pines.
The latest paddles lead to Chiavari , where you can choose one of the beaches or the port (convenient for the station) as a point of arrival.
In conclusion ...
All these routes along the Liguria coast of Levante deserve in-depth visits. Obviously, a good canoeist with a fast kayak could paddle from nerves to Chiavari on a sporting day soooo intense, but you would lose the possibility of exploring with calm bays, countries, cliffs and beaches. The canoe and stand up paddle are the ideal means for admiring the beauty and peculiarities of every single inlet, so the advice is to do more stops to enjoy places with joyful calm.
A good idea is to spend a few days of More in the area: in case, Click here to compare the hotels and find the cheapest accommodation. To spend less you must obviously move to the hinterland.
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You can find many other images (at higher resolution) of all canoe trips in Liguria in this photo gallery: