BOAT-COMPARATOR Guide
Renting a boat in Liguria: Portofino and the Cinque Terre from the sea
Portofino and its marine protected area, the Cinque Terre reachable mainly by boat: the guide to renting on the Italian Ligurian coast.
Between Genoa and La Spezia, the Ligurian coast alternates perched villages and cliffs plunging into the sea — a shoreline the road only partly follows, which makes a boat especially relevant here.
Portofino, village and protected area
The small harbour of Portofino, one of Italy's most photographed, is surrounded by a marine protected area: regulated anchoring, restricted-access zones around the headland, buoys to use where they exist. A briefing from Rapallo or Genoa spells out the day's rules.
The Cinque Terre, a heritage born of isolation
Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, UNESCO-listed, stayed hard to reach by road for a long time — the sea and the railway are historically the villages' real gateways. Cruising past all five by boat from La Spezia gives a perspective no trail can match.
A changeable sea
Liguria is exposed to southerly gales (libeccio) that can raise a short, uncomfortable chop at anchorages: operators watch the forecast closely and readily change the day's plan.
Budget and planning
Prices follow Italian standards: €200-600/day for a RIB or motorboat, €300-700/day for a sailboat. Book a departure from Genoa or La Spezia depending on whether you're aiming for Portofino or the Cinque Terre — the two combine poorly in a single day.
Where to compare
Offers are grouped on our Genoa, Portofino and La Spezia pages.