Portofino Itineraries: Day Charters and Multi-Day Routes

Portofino sits at the heart of the Riviera di Levante’s finest cruising ground. Within 30 nautical miles you have the Cinque Terre to the south-east, Genoa to the north-west, and a string of coastal gems – Camogli, Sestri Levante, San Fruttuoso – in between. The passages are short, the scenery changes with every headland, and the anchorages reward lingering. The routes below are designed to be combined: the 3-day and 4-day itineraries cover different stretches and can be stitched together into a 7-day grand Portofino and Riviera di Levante charter.

Day Charter Routes

Portofino Peninsula: Harbour, Abbey and Marine Park

Begin the day in Portofino harbour with a morning coffee on the Piazzetta as the village wakes. Walk to Castello Brown for the harbour panorama, then browse the boutiques along the quay. By late morning, cruise around the headland to San Fruttuoso (3 nautical miles). Anchor in the cove, swim, and visit the 10th-century Benedictine abbey and Doria watchtower. Dive (or snorkel) to the Cristo degli Abissi at 12 metres depth. Lunch on the aft deck in the shadow of the abbey. Afternoon at Paraggi Bay for a swim on the only sandy beach near Portofino, then return to the harbour for an evening aperitivo on the Piazzetta as the sunset light turns the pastel houses to gold.

Portofino to Sestri Levante: Bay of Silence

Depart Portofino and cruise 8 nautical miles south-east along the dramatic Levante coastline, passing Santa Margherita Ligure, Rapallo and Chiavari. Each headland reveals a new stretch of cliff, cove and terraced hillside. Arrive at Sestri Levante by late morning and anchor in the Baia del Silenzio – the Bay of Silence, named by Hans Christian Andersen in 1833 – for a swim and lunch. The coloured houses lining this tiny beach, reflected in calm water, make it one of the most photographed coves on the Italian coast. Take the tender ashore for a walk along the promontory and a gelato, then cruise back to Portofino in the afternoon, the late light catching the headlands.

Portofino to Camogli and Recco: Fishing Villages and Focaccia

Cruise 6 nautical miles west to Camogli, the fishing village of painted houses and pebble beaches beneath pine hills. Tender ashore for a morning espresso, a walk through the old town, and a visit to the fish market. Continue 3 nautical miles north-west to Recco for the mandatory stop: focaccia di Recco, the town’s legendary thin focaccia filled with molten stracchino cheese, baked in a wood oven until blistered. Eat it warm, as the locals do. After Recco, cruise back along the coast, stopping at Punta Chiappa for a swim in the crystal-clear water at the western edge of the Marine Protected Area. Return to Portofino for a late lunch on the aft deck.

3-Day Portofino Yacht Charter Itinerary: Portofino, San Fruttuoso and the Cinque Terre

Day 1: Portofino and San Fruttuoso

Board your yacht at Santa Margherita Ligure or Rapallo by mid-morning. Cruise 2 nautical miles to Portofino and berth in the harbour. Spend the morning exploring the village: the Piazzetta, Castello Brown, the Church of San Giorgio, the luxury boutiques, and the lighthouse walk along the wooded path to Punta del Faro (20 minutes, with panoramic views of the Ligurian Sea). Lunch at Ristorante Puny on the harbour or aboard the yacht. After lunch, cruise around the headland to San Fruttuoso. Swim in the cove, visit the 10th-century abbey, and dive to the Cristo degli Abissi. Return to Portofino for an evening passeggiata. Dinner at Chuflay at Splendido Mare or on the aft deck, watching the harbour lights reflect in the still water.

Day 2: Sestri Levante and Levanto

Depart early and cruise south-east along the coast to Sestri Levante (8 nautical miles). Anchor in the Baia del Silenzio for a morning swim, then tender ashore for a walk along the promontory. Continue 12 nautical miles to Levanto, the gateway to the Cinque Terre. Levanto’s broad beach and relaxed pace offer a counterpoint to Portofino’s glamour. Anchor and swim, then enjoy a long lunch on the aft deck: your chef prepares trofie al pesto (hand-rolled pasta with pesto alla genovese made from Prà basil) and fresh catch of the day. Afternoon walk through Levanto’s old town, then settle into the anchorage for sunset and dinner.

Day 3: The Cinque Terre

The highlight of the voyage. Cruise 3 nautical miles south from Levanto to Monterosso al Mare, the Cinque Terre’s largest village. Anchor and tender ashore for a morning walk through the old town and along the beach. Continue south by yacht, approaching each village from the sea: Vernazza’s tiny harbour is the most photogenic in the Cinque Terre, its medieval watchtower rising above the harbour wall. Anchor, walk the lanes and stop for a glass of Cinque Terre DOC white at a cliff-edge trattoria. Continue past Corniglia (perched 100 metres above the sea) to Manarola, surrounded by terraced vineyards. Walk the Via dell’Amore (900 metres, 20 minutes) to Riomaggiore, the easternmost village. Return to the yacht for a farewell dinner on the aft deck, the five villages illuminated along the cliff face. Guests wishing to extend can combine this 3-day route with the 4-day Genoa and Western Riviera itinerary for a comprehensive 7-day charter.

4-Day Portofino Yacht Charter Itinerary: Portofino, Camogli, Genoa and the Golfo Paradiso

Day 1: Portofino – Full Peninsula Exploration

Board at Santa Margherita Ligure and cruise to Portofino. Spend the morning in the harbour: the Piazzetta, the boutiques, Castello Brown. After a mid-morning coffee, cruise to Paraggi Bay for a swim on the only sandy beach near Portofino. Continue around the headland to San Fruttuoso for the afternoon: the abbey, the Doria watchtower, and a dive (or snorkel) to the Cristo degli Abissi at 12 metres. Return to Portofino for the evening. Dinner at La Terrazza at the Belmond Hotel Splendido – perched above the harbour with panoramic views – or aboard the yacht.

Day 2: Camogli and Recco

Cruise west to Camogli (6 nautical miles). Morning ashore in this charming fishing village: painted façades, the harbour market, and an espresso on the waterfront. Continue to Recco (3 nautical miles) for the essential Ligurian experience: focaccia di Recco, warm from the wood oven. After lunch, cruise to Punta Chiappa for a swim at the western boundary of the Portofino Marine Protected Area. The underwater visibility here is excellent, with Posidonia meadows and gorgonian formations visible from the surface. Return to Santa Margherita Ligure for the evening, or anchor in a sheltered cove on the Portofino peninsula.

Day 3: Genoa – Maritime Capital

Cruise 15 nautical miles north-west to Genoa and berth at Marina Porto Antico in the heart of the historic port. Morning at the Acquario di Genova (Europe’s largest aquarium, 12,000 animals) and the Galata Museo del Mare (the Mediterranean’s largest maritime museum). Walk the caruggi – Genoa’s medieval lanes – to the Strade Nuove and the UNESCO Palazzi dei Rolli. Lunch at a backstreet trattoria: trofie al pesto, farinata and a glass of Pigato. Afternoon at the Palazzo Ducale or wandering the old town’s century-old shops. Dinner ashore in the Porto Antico, or your chef prepares Genoese specialities: corzetti stamped pasta and fresh anchovies.

Day 4: The Golfo Paradiso and Return

Cruise east from Genoa along the Golfo Paradiso (Paradise Gulf), stopping at the coastal villages between Genoa and Portofino. Morning swim at Sori or Bogliasco – tiny Ligurian villages with clear water and local character. Continue to Recco for a final focaccia stop, then cruise south to Camogli for a late-morning walk. Return to Santa Margherita Ligure or Rapallo by early afternoon. Guests extending their voyage can combine this 4-day route with the 3-day Portofino-to-Cinque Terre itinerary for a 7-day grand Ligurian charter covering the entire Riviera di Levante from Genoa to Riomaggiore.