Cinque Terre half-day boat trip from La Spezia, Monterosso stop

Sunlight on the water, a sundeck under your feet and the Ligurian coast sliding past: this Cinque Terre half-day boat trip from La Spezia takes three to four hours and is built around the view from the sea. The boat leaves from the floating lounge at Passeggiata Morin and heads along the western shore of the Gulf of Poets, past the four villages of the Borgate Marinare.

Next comes Portovenere. The boat goes through Le Bocche, the narrow strait between the town and wild Palmaria island, below San Pietro, a Romanesque church standing right on the rocks. Further on the shore turns wild, with small coves such as Punta Pineda, Monesteroli and Le Rosse.

Beyond Punta Pineda the five villages appear one after another, from Riomaggiore and Manarola to Corniglia, then Vernazza and finally Monterosso al Mare. Along the way you can see the Via dell'Amore cut into the cliff and the terraced vineyards, a result of what is known as heroic agriculture.

• Free time ashore in Monterosso al Mare for focaccia with anchovies or a gelato
• A swim in the waters of the national park
• The return past the mussel farms of La Spezia, with a chance of spotting dolphins

The tour includes the round trip by boat, the captain and shade from a T-top. Food, drinks and towels are not provided, and there is no toilet at the departure point or on board. Outside summer a swim stop may not be possible.