Cinque Terre olive grove tour: Wine & oil tasting

Climb a thousand-year-old trade route to taste oil where it's made

A guided hike through Cinque Terre's terraced olive groves and up the mule track to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Reggio, with a stop at a working farm to taste Ligurian DOP extra virgin olive oil and local wine. The walk takes about three and a half hours, includes a refreshment with focaccia, and covers roughly an hour of climbing to 330 meters elevation with views of the coast and dry-stone walls that hold the terraces in place.

Step-by-step itinerary

Hike and tasting in Cinque Terre

• Meet local guide Alessandro
• Walk ancient mule track to Sanctuary
• Visit olive grove and ponies
• Enjoy focaccia, olive oil, and wine
• Descend back towards the country

The experience

The tour starts in Vernazzo with Alessandro, a local licensed hiking guide who leads you onto the ancient mule track that once connected the five villages. The path climbs steadily for about an hour toward the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Reggio, a shrine that sits above every Cinque Terre village and anchors the spiritual life of the region. As you climb, the terraced landscape opens up: kilometers of dry-stone walls holding olives and grapes on slopes that would otherwise be too steep to farm. The sanctuary itself sits at 330 meters, shaded by a monumental cypress (the oldest in Liguria) and a sprawling leccio oak.

Just below the sanctuary, you stop at Azienda Agricola la Bottega, a recently restored olive grove where the farm produces Ligure DOP extra virgin olive oil. The farm keeps two ponies as mascots, and you'll have a chance to visit them before settling under a pear tree for the tasting. There you'll sample the farm's own extra virgin olive oil, a glass of DOC 5 Terre wine, and typical Ligurian focaccia. A half-liter bottle of water is provided for the descent, which retraces the mule track back down to Vernazzo.

What’s included

• A local licensed hiking guide who speaks English or Spanish.
• entry to the working olive farm.
• a tasting of Ligure DOP extra virgin olive oil, DOC 5 Terre wine, and Ligurian focaccia.
• a half-liter bottle of water per person.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00 and 13:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (14 and older) · Child (2 to 13 years)

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

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

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Alessandro

Is this one for you?This is a shared group tour with a fixed route and pace set by the guide, so it suits anyone who wants the history and landscape explained as you walk rather than discovering it alone. The three-and-a-half-hour commitment and steady climbing mean it works best for people comfortable with moderate hiking. Those with serious walking problems or poor cardiovascular health should choose a different tour.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 13 years).

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.

How steep is the climb to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di Reggio?

The mule track climbs for about an hour to reach the sanctuary at 330 meters elevation. It's a steady uphill walk on a historic trail, but the path is established and the guide sets the pace.

What exactly do you taste at the olive farm?

You'll taste the farm's own Ligure DOP extra virgin olive oil and a glass of DOC 5 Terre wine, both served with typical Ligurian focaccia. The tasting happens in the shade of a pear tree overlooking the grove.

What's included in the tour price?

The guide, entry to the olive farm, the wine and oil tasting with focaccia, and a half-liter bottle of water are all included. You'll need to bring your own hiking shoes, which are mandatory to participate.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs for three and a half hours total, including the walk through Vernazzo, the climb to the sanctuary, the farm visit and tasting, and the descent back down.