LIGURIA BY KAYAK

Kayaking is one of the best ways to enjoy the sea and the coasts from close.
In Liguria, the Italian Riviera, there are some unforgettable itineraries by kayak that allow appreciating one of the most beautiful coastlines in the world (check out the USEFUL LINKS for more amazing coasts, for example Tuscany).
We paddled along the Ligurian coast, and in particular the eastern portion of the Italian Riviera, rock by rock, beach by beach, under colorful cliffs to charming small towns like Portofino and the Cinque Terre. So, in the following web pages we present photos, information, distances and highlights. We hope to be an inspiration for you, because traveling by kayak is really one of the most exciting activities for a beach holiday or a weekend at sea.
If you are interested in renting kayaks or a guide to take you on these routes in Liguria, contact us here: info@wildtrips.net.

Portofino peninsula by kayak Paddling along his stretch of coast you can admire from a kayak (and there isn't a better point of view) some of the most beautiful towns in Liguria such as Camogli and Santa Margherita Ligure; moreover, you'll discover the nature and the cliffs of the Park of Portofino, the Abbey of San Fruttuoso (with the famous Christ of the Abyss statue), and of course Portofino town, where you can moor between the mega-yachts.

Also the coast nearby is special: between Camogli and Genoa there are fascinating towns and villas overlooking the sea; between Santa Margherita Ligure and Chiavari, you meet cliffs, some secluse beaches and the quaint Zoagli.

Sestri Levante, Moneglia, Framura, Levanto by kayak This part of the coast of Liguria is less famous than Portofino and the Cinque Terre, but it is just as amazing and it is particularly great for those traveling by kayak as the sea is crystal clear here. You'll meet the old Ligurian houses on the sea of Sestri Levante and Bonassola and a lot of wilderness; there are beaches reachable only by sea and spectacular rocks where you can have a break with the kayak and enjoy the sun and the view. The pine trees are the background of gray and red cliffs with peculiar shapes. And, in addition, there are some small caves in which to venture by kayak.

The Cinque Terre and Portovenere by kayak There isn't in Liguria (and maybe not even the rest of the world), a more impressive stretch of coast. Lots of highlights for a kayaker: the wild coast between Levanto and Monterosso, the picturesque villages of the Cinque Terre (Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore), the red cliffs of Tramonti and the Ligurian houses and the abbey of the spectacular Portovenere.

Once in Portovenere, you can circumnavigate by kayak Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto, three wild and spectacular islets just off the Ligurian coast.

Lerici and Tellaro by kayak
By kayak from the river Magra to San Terenzo, Lerici and along the wonderful Tellaro (which has nothing to envy to the Five Lands). A truly amazing stretch of coast, with some of the most beautiful caves in the Ligurian Sea, not to mention the beaches and the cliffs.

For the western part of the Italian Riviera, and in particular Finale Ligure, Noli and Bergeggi, click here!!

It is a very good idea to spend more days in Liguria, so you could click here to find the best offers for accomodation.

The best of the best
Finally, this is my personal list of the top 5 kayak trips that can be taken in one day (10-12 kms, excluding deviations) in the eastern part of the Italian Riviera. A selection is really difficult! But I tried:
1) Riomaggiore - Portovenere, described at the Cinque Terre webpage.
2) Framura - Monterosso, the description of which is divided between the pages on kayaking from Tigullio Levanto and kayaking to the Cinque Terre.
3) Camogli - Portofino, described on the webpage kayak at Portofino.
4) Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto, the three islands described in the page about kayaking at the Cinque Terre.
5) Sestri Levante - Moneglia, about which you can read here: Sestri to Levanto by kayak.

You will notice that this ranking covers about half of the coastline between Genoa and Portovenere, and it incredibly neglects the coast of the Cinque Terre between Riomaggiore and Monterosso... In short, the beauty contest between kayaking itineraries in Liguria is really hard-fought!
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You can find more photos (with higher resolution) of all the kayaking trips in Liguria in this photogallery: