Portofino Regional Nature Reserve & Lighthouse Walk
Beyond the yachts and the gelato lies one of Italy's oldest protected marine and terrestrial reserves — a rugged cape of Mediterranean maquis, ancient olive groves and sea cliffs where the only sounds are cicadas and waves. The walk to the Faro (lighthouse) at Punta del Capo is the finest short hike on the Ligurian coast.
The Path to the Faro
The trail begins at the far end of the harbour past the church of San Giorgio and winds through dense macchia — rockrose, myrtle, rosemary and wild herbs — for about 2 km to the lighthouse at the tip of the promontory. The path is well-marked and mostly flat, taking around 45 minutes at a leisurely pace.
At the lighthouse, a small bar (open in season) serves cold drinks on a terrace that hangs directly above the open Ligurian Sea. On calm days the water below is so clear you can watch fish moving over white rock from 20 metres up.
Marine Reserve and Snorkelling
The waters around Portofino form one of Italy's first marine protected areas, established in 1999. The reserve is divided into zones: Zone A (no-take, no-anchor) around the tip of the cape has recovered dramatically and now supports grouper, sea bream, octopus and — with luck — the occasional dolphin pod.
Several dive operators based in Santa Margherita Ligure offer guided snorkelling and scuba tours inside the reserve. Portofino Divers and the Diving Center Paraggi are two long-established operators worth contacting. Water visibility regularly exceeds 20 metres in summer.
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