Cinque Terre & Portovenere Boat Tour: Sunset Aperitif

The villages look entirely different from the water, lit gold at the hour when everyone else has left.

A 2.5-hour boat tour from La Spezia along the Gulf of Poets, passing Portovenere's clifftop Church of St. Peter and the stacked villages of Riomaggiore and Manarola, with a stop in a quiet bay for local wine and aperitivo as the sun sets. A skipper and live guide in English, Spanish, Italian or French are included. The boat returns at dusk.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Portovenere30m
2. Riomaggiore1h

Coastal cruise and aperitif

• Depart from La Spezia
• Cruise to Portovenere and admire Church of St. Peter
• Continue to Riomaggiore, view colorful houses
• Stop at Manarola for aperitif and local wine
• Return at sunset along the coastline

The experience

The tour departs La Spezia and heads toward Portovenere first, where the Church of St. Peter rises directly above the water and the village's colored houses stack against the cliffs. From the boat, the view opens up in a way the land-side paths never quite manage. The route then continues toward Cinque Terre, passing Riomaggiore with its vertical houses in vivid colors that seem to grow straight from the rock, and then Manarola, where the harbor is small enough to feel intimate even from offshore.

Partway through, the boat anchors in a quiet bay where you stay aboard to relax with an aperitivo of local wine, prosecco and small plates. This is the heart of the tour: the moment the pace drops and the light begins to shift. The return journey happens as the sun sets, turning the coastline gold and casting the villages in the soft color they're known for. The whole experience runs approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

A skipper handles the boat and a guide travels with the group, speaking English, Spanish, Italian or French depending on the booking. The fuel cost of 300€ is separate from the tour price.

What’s included

• Skipper and live guide in English, Spanish, Italian or French.
• wine, prosecco and local aperitivo with small plates during the bay stop.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Meeting point is inside Porto Mirabello, after the gas station for boats you'll see a sing indicating the name of the company "AMG Boat Experiences"”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h 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 6 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by AMG Boat Experiences

Is this one for you?The boat stays afloat the entire time. There's no walking, no climbing and no early start required. Book this if you want the Cinque Terre villages on your itinerary but prefer to see them from the water rather than hiking the coastal paths.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Italian.

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 24h before the start.

What's the Church of St. Peter in Portovenere, and why does it matter?

The Church of St. Peter sits on a rocky promontory overlooking the sea at Portovenere, making it the visual landmark of the village. From the boat, it frames the entire composition of the town and the coastline, and it's the first major stop on the route.

What villages do I actually see on this tour?

You pass Portovenere, Riomaggiore and Manarola by boat. Portovenere is the first stop with the Church of St. Peter. Riomaggiore and Manarola are the two villages of Cinque Terre you view from the water. The boat does not dock at the villages themselves.

Does the tour really end at sunset, or is that just the name?

The return to La Spezia happens at sunset, so the timing of the tour is built around the light at the end of the day. The 2.5-hour duration means departure is timed so the boat arrives back as dusk falls.

What's included in the aperitivo stop?

The aperitivo includes local wine, prosecco and small plates of local products, served aboard during the bay stop. A skipper and guide are included throughout the tour.