Cinque Terre boat tour from Monterosso: All five villages

A 9.20m boat, five villages, bathing stops and Ligurian food on the water

A 3-hour boat tour departing from Monterosso al Mare circles all five Cinque Terre villages with a live guide in English or Italian, stopping to swim and snorkel in the sea between each one. The boat carries a cabin, toilet, captain and stewardess. Sangria and fresh fruit greet you on board, focaccia with pesto is served mid-tour, and limoncino finishes the return to Monterosso. The route hugs the cliffs and terraced vineyards that UNESCO protects, seen from the water instead of the crowded hiking trails.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cinque Terre boat tour highlights

• Depart from Monterosso al Mare port
• View Monterosso's beach and Statue of the Giant
• Navigate to Corniglia village
• Navigate to Vernazza village
• Navigate to Corniglia village
• Navigate to Manarola village
• Navigate to Riomaggiore village

The experience

The boat leaves Monterosso's port and immediately opens onto the village's golden beach and the Statue of the Giant rising from the bay. From there, the navigation follows the coast past Vernazzo (the most photographed of the five, with brightly colored houses stacked on the cliff and reflected in the water), then Corniglia, perched higher and more remote on its own stretch of rock. Each stop is a different angle on the same terraced landscape that has shaped this coast for centuries.

Bathing and snorkeling stops break up the route, letting you cool off in the crystal clear water between villages. A platter of Ligurian focaccia with pesto and stracchino arrives during one of these pauses. Soft music plays throughout, drinks stay available, and the boat's cabin and toilet mean you're not exposed to the sun the whole time. The stewardess keeps the atmosphere relaxed and convivial rather than rushed.

Manarola and Riomaggiore close out the tour: Manarola famous for the strip of land where the most iconic photographs of Cinque Terre originate, Riomaggiore the southernmost village where colorful houses cascade to a small working port. Sweet Ligurian pastries and limoncino are served as the boat heads back to Monterosso, finishing the afternoon on the water rather than on foot.

What’s included

• Sangria and fresh fruit on boarding.
• focaccia with pesto and stracchino during the tour.
• sweet Ligurian pastries and limoncino on the return.
• bottled water and soft drinks throughout.
• snorkeling masks and breathing tubes.
• cabin and toilet access.
• live guide in English or Italian.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except FridayDepartures at 10:00 and 13:30Last departure this season: 31 Oct

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (19 to 60 years) · Senior (61 and older) · Youth (13 to 18 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Blue Waves Boat

Is this one for you?Three hours on the water leaves room to walk Monterosso's beach and village before or after, but not enough to hike between the villages on foot. Choose this tour if you want to see all five villages and swim in the sea without the steep terrain of the coastal trails.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 18 years); Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's included to eat and drink on the Cinque Terre boat tour?

Sangria and fresh fruit or fruit salad greet you when you board; focaccia with pesto and stracchino is served during a mid-tour stop; and sweet Ligurian pastries with limoncino arrive on the return to Monterosso. Bottled water and soft drinks are available throughout.

Can I swim and snorkel during the tour?

Yes, the tour includes bathing and snorkeling stops between the villages. You'll have time in the water at more than one point along the route, and snorkeling masks and breathing tubes are provided.

What makes Vernazzo different from the other four villages?

Vernazzo is the most iconic and most photographed of the five, with brightly colored houses climbing the cliff and reflected in the bay's waters. The bell tower stands over a small natural harbor where fishing nets and boats still work, giving it a more active maritime character than the others.

Is the boat covered, or will I be in the sun the whole time?

The 9.20m boat has a cabin and toilet on board, so you're not exposed for the entire 3 hours. You can move between the open deck and the sheltered cabin depending on the sun and your preference.

How long is the tour, and does it fit into a half-day in Cinque Terre?

The tour runs 3 hours from departure to return to Monterosso. That leaves time in the morning or afternoon to explore Monterosso itself (its beach, alleys and the Statue of the Giant) before or after the boat departs.