Hiking Amalfi and Capri

Anacapri - 2.5 - 3 hrs - Hilly

After breakfast we transfer by bus to the town of Anacapri on the opposite side of the island. An unforgettable chairlift ride will take us to the top of Monte Solaro, the highest point on the island. Once at the top we will enjoy panoramic views of the island that include Marina Grande and Marina Piccola (the two ports), the Faraglioni, and Villa Jovis on the top of a cliff. On a sunny day, views extend to Naples and to Mt. Vesuvius. You can walk down or take a chairlift back to the center of town where we will have lunch. Shopping time is mandatory in Anacapri: try on the Capresi sandals that are handmade by craftsmen following traditional methods, and visit a legendary perfumer. Linger in Anacapri for more shopping or to visit some of its old palaces (such as Villa San Michele) and take a taxi (or bus) back to the hotel, or if you are in the mood for more walking there is (steep) path down the steps of the Phoenician Staircase that will take you back to Capri in 1.5-2 hours. This is an old path that was used by the islanders before the road was built.

Capri - 3 hrs - Rolling

This morning we will walk to Villa Jovis, one of Tiberius’ villas, in about 1.5 hrs. This is a great opportunity to see how good the ancient Romans were at constructing their noble mansions. They also created a precursor to the modern spa, the thermal baths, remains of which you can still admire at this villa. Our lunch stop will be on the way back to the center of Capri and in the afternoon we can take another short walk to visit the Augustus Gardens or spend some time shopping in Capri and relaxing before dinner.

Boat ride to the Blue Grotto (weather permitting). This is the most famous sight on Capri, where visitors from around the world form long lines to get a peek inside for just a few magical moments. This natural cavern is 82 ft (25 meters) wide and 197 ft (60 meters) long, with a tiny entrance less than three ft (one meter). To enter, visitors lay back in wooden rowboats and glide through the low mouth of the cave. Once inside, the boats bob in the dark, suspended on the surface of water so blue that it seems dreamlike. 

Amalfi - 1.5 - 2 hrs - Hilly

Leaving Capri is never easy, but we can look ahead from the jet boat and see our next destination: Amalfi. We will not regret this transfer to the mainland since Amalfi will welcome us with its lively port and square, and streets full of small shops and coffee bars.

We’ll begin our Amalfi exploration right away, taking the Via delle Cartiere (paper mills) right from town. 

The Amalfi Coast is famous for its lemons, which are larger and sweeter than a typical lemon (you can even eat the peel!), and we’ll stop for lunch at a family-run lemon grove to learn about their farming traditions. This is all capped off with a taste of limoncello and a demonstration of how to make this famous digestivo.

We’ll meet up later in the day to explore Amalfi’s hidden streets and alleyways with a local guide before dinner in a prime location overlooking the piazza. Amalfi was once a maritime power, trading grain from its neighbors, salt from Sardinia and slaves from the interior, and even timber, in exchange for the gold dinars minted in Egypt and Syria, in order to buy the Byzantine silks that it resold in the west. 

Ravello and Tramonti - 3.5 hrs - Hilly

The day starts early with a transfer to Ravello. We’ll explore the town and tour the amazing park of Villa Cimbrone, which boasts one of the best views in all of the Amalfi Coast.

Today’s hike takes us inland to a part of the Amalfi Coast that you probably haven’t imagined, but that is filled with agricultural history (which means food and wine). We’ll take a secondary path and enter the Tramonti Valley, which is  now considered the wine production capital of the area and is also a hiker’s paradise, with an interesting network of trails from the mountains that connect the 13 hamlets of which Tramonti is comprised. Our hike will take us to a winery that prides itself on having pre-phylloxera vines that are over 250 years old. Lunch will be an unforgettable experience where we pair local delicacies with autochthonous grapes, a dive into the true essence of the Mediterranean Diet.

Back in Amalfi you’ll have some free time before dinner. We highly suggest a visit to the old mill and paper museum where you can learn about the traditional way of making paper and why it was important to this area.