Hiking Punta Manara

Punta Manara is one of those places that locals cherish with silent pride. A promontory that separates Sestri Levante from Riva Trigoso, where the Mediterranean scrub meets the sky and the view extends from the Cinque Terre to Portofino, and on the clearest days, up to Corsica and the Alps.

Guided hiking in Punta Manara is a journey of approximately 4 hours along well-marked paths within the Special Conservation Area. The trail is for expert hikers: with its 5.83 km and 270 meters of altitude difference, it is accessible to anyone who wants to walk, with a good level of mobility and training.

We start from the Stai Fuori base in Riva Trigoso. The environmental hiking guide — GAE — introduces the route and then we begin to climb. The path crosses the Mediterranean scrub: mastic, heather, myrtle, cistus and strawberry trees. The scents change with every curve, especially on sunny mornings when the resin warmed by the heat fills the air.

As you go up, the panorama opens up. First you see the Baia dell’Oro from above, then the gulf of Sestri Levante, then the crests of the mountains that separate the coast from the hinterland. The guide stops at the most significant points to talk about the geology of the coast, the history of the area, the plant and animal species that populate this protected area.

The most awaited moment arrives at the end: a tasting of typical local products. Focaccia, oil, cheeses, wine — the flavor of Levante after having traveled it on foot.

Trekking to Punta Manara is available all year round. In spring the wild flowers color the meadows, in summer the sea breeze accompanies the climb, in autumn the colors of the scrub change, in winter the clear air offers the longest views. Every season is the right one.