“As the sun set over the water, she realized that the end of the world wasn’t really an end at all. It was just another beginning.” GIUSEPPE FUNARO, TALKING ABOUT ENDING A PUGLIA WALKING TRIP ON THE CAMMINO DEL SALENTO
This Puglia Walking Adventure takes place on the Cammino del Salento. You have heard of the famous Cammino di Santiago? The Cammino del Salento is a similar long-distance pilgrimage and cultural walking route but this one in the heel of Italy’s boot, in the region of Salento.
The nicest section and the one we will do on this tour runs from Lecce to Santa Maria di Leuca, following ancient paths that have connected inland towns, coastal settlements, defensive structures, and places of worship for centuries. Historically, this landscape formed part of a network of routes used by the Romans and early pilgrims traveling toward the Mediterranean and on to the Middle East. Along the way, we encounter layers of complex history, fantastic views of the sea that is almost always on our left, and the incredible southern Italian culture and cuisine.
The Puglia Walking Tour Routes
The scenery changes gradually as the route heads south through the Salento peninsula. Departing Lecce, often called the “Florence of the South” for its elaborate Baroque architecture, the trail passes through a patchwork of olive groves, vineyards, dry-stone walls, and small agricultural villages. As the route approaches the coast, views open onto the turquoise waters of the Adriatic Sea. We pass rocky cliffs, hidden coves, sea caves, and windswept Mediterranean scrub creating a distinctly southern Italian atmosphere. The intense sunlight, fragrant herbs, and sea breezes contribute to the walk’s unique character.
Among the highlights are the historic centers of towns such as Acaya, known for its Renaissance fortifications, and Otranto, whose cathedral contains a remarkable medieval mosaic floor. San Foca is a cute fishing port with classic narrow streets and white houses. Further south, we encounter dramatic coastal viewpoints, ancient watchtowers, and fishing villages before reaching Santa Maria di Leuca, where the Adriatic and Ionian Seas are traditionally said to meet. The combination of history, coastal beauty, local culture, and spiritual tradition makes this route one of Italy’s most rewarding long-distance walks.
The Difficulty Level
Daily distances on our Puglia Walking Adventure range from 13 to 16 miles, with shorter options available each day ranging from 6 to 8.5 miles. The full route is a lot of miles for any single day and strenuous when done day after day. In addition, a good portion of the routes are on paved side roads, which can be more tiring. At the same time, the elevation gain on this trip is modest, with all days having fewer than 1,200 feet of elevation increase. Spread out over the miles, this makes for few big hills. In addition, we are not in a hurry and prefer to take our time to see the sights along the way.
Our luggage is transported forward each day and we have no van support. However, we pass through one or two small towns along our way each day and so have a designated pickup point to shorten each day’s route with a taxi shuttle on to our next town. This allows you to choose the short or long route as you wish each day and shuttle ahead to enjoy time at our hotel, on the beach, or wandering a fun small town in the afternoon.
Your Guides
Giovanni Ramaccioni is our Italian specialist and a man of many talents. Not only is he an expert on the food, culture, and history of his country, he is an expert on bikes and biking as well as Puglia, hiking, and this region. He also is intimately familiar with Italian wines and can give you his opinion on why they are much better than French wines! He has guided biking and hiking tours in throughout Italy for decades and knows the area like the back of his hand. Giovanni and his college sweetheart Michela live in Umbria with their two kids.
Allan Wright is Zephyr’s founder and owner. He has traveled to 66 countries (as of this writing) and lived in four countries on three continents. He is a jack of all outdoor activities, enjoying hiking, biking, kayaking, skiing, snowshoeing, and much more. His goal in starting Zephyr was to help improve the world and to have fun doing it. Allan currently lives in New York with his daughter, where he also founded and runs the local volleyball club.
About Exploratory Adventures
Our Exploratory Adventures are first-run tours to less-traveled destinations in small groups, with the goal of giving you a true insider experience. In this case, we have been running tours to Italy for over 20 years and in Puglia for 14 years. Furthermore, Puglia is no longer the travel secret it was when we first started running tours there. However, this will be the first time we run this hiking tour in the area. While our local partner Giovanni has done this walk several times, it is still relatively new to him. All this means this should be a smoothly running tour but that our actual experiences and stops along the way will be a bit less scripted than on our normal tours. We might decide to skip a sight we thought would be nice and spend time instead visiting with a local who has her own olive oil farm we were not aware about. Flexibility and a sense of adventure are key. Learn more about the Exploratory Adventures >
Details
- Dates: October 20 - 25, 2027
- Cost Per Person: $3,700
- Single Supplement: $400
- Private Tour Minimum: 6
- Activities: Hiking
- Guide(s): Giovanni Ramaccioni, Allan Wright
Difficulty
Moderate
The point-to-point hikes range from 13 to 16 miles, which make for long walks, some of which are substantially on paved secondary roads. However, the elevation gain is low and we have short route options of 6 to 8.5 miles each day, making this a tour of moderate difficulty.
Talk to Our Team: 888-758-8687
I Have QuestionsTrip Highlights
- We can't mention highlights except by starting with our local guide Giovanni Ramaccioni, a wealth of knowledge about the area
- We pass through and stay in a number of classic southern Italian villages, some fishing ports and others historic trade towns
- The scenery is amazing, with constant sea views on our left, rugged cliffs, and hidden coves
- Our ending destination of Santa Maria di Leuca is historically situated as a Roman and pilgrim transit point to the Mediterranean
- We take a relaxed pace, enjoying the sights and experiences along the way, stopping when we encounter anything new or interesting
Day 1: LECCE - SAN FOCA
We meet you at 9:00 AM on the first day of the tour in the center of Lecce, considered the "Florence of the South" for its Byzantine architecture. This stage marks the beginning of the Cammino del Salento proper, diverging from the inland routes to head straight for the Adriatic Sea. We pass through the unique fortified city of Acaya, where we can see the castle and eat lunch. Leaving Acaya, we'll head toward the sea and enter the Riserva Naturale Le Cesine, a World Wildlife Fund preserve. Here, dry olive groves give way to lush Mediterranean scrub and wetlands. You will walk through pine forests (Pineta) and near marshy lagoons. This section is shaded, quiet, and filled with bird life (keep an eye out for flamingos and herons). We emerge from the nature reserve directly onto the coast with the Adriatic Sea now a constant companion. Our finish is at the Torre di San Foca, a 16th-century watchtower. San Foca is a working fishing village that is also a popular summer resort.
Main Route: Lecce - San Foca: 14.5 miles and 283 feet of elevation gain (74% paved)
Short Route: Lecce - Acaya: 7.0 miles
Day 2: SAN FOCA - OTRANTO
This is arguably the most spectacular stage of the entire Cammino del Salento. It is a day defined by turquoise water, white limestone cliffs, and ancient legends. We will walk almost entirely along the coastline. About 2.5 kilometers into the route, we reach Roca Vecchia, an important archaeological site from the Bronze age. The next major site is the Torre dell’Orso. We can walk along the beach if the tide allows, or on the cliff-top trail through the pine trees. Continuing south, the cliffs become jagged and dramatic. Arriving at Torre Sant'Andrea, the most photogenic section of the trip, the white limestone has been eroded into natural arches, bridges, and pillars (called Faraglioni). The water here is an incredible shade of emerald green. After the rocky cliffs of Sant'Andrea, the landscape flattens into the Baia dei Turchi and the Alimini area. We transition into pine forests and long stretches of sand. We pass near the Alimini Lakes (Laghi Alimini), two connected lakes just behind the dunes. Next is the Baia dei Turchi: This is where the Ottoman Turks allegedly landed in 1480 to sack Otranto. It is now a pristine, Caribbean-like beach. The final approach brings us back onto paved surfaces as we near the city of Otranto, the easternmost city in Italy. The route leads through the massive defensive walls and into the historic center, with its Cathedral (famous for its mosaic floor of the Tree of Life) and Aragonese Castle.
Main Route: San Foca - Otranto: 15.9 miles and 622 feet of elevation gain (53% paved)
Short Route: San Foca - Torre Sant’Andrea: 6.0 miles
Day 3: OTRANTO - SANTA CESAREA TERME
Okay, so some descriptions say this is the most beautiful day of the walk. This section of the walk offers longer stretches of footpaths with stunning views of the rocky coastline. Past the Orte peninsula the trail gets narrower and through rugged rocks. The route leads first to the Torre del Serpe, perched on a cliff overlooking the sea, and then to a famous lake formed in an old bauxite quarry. We continue to the Palascìa lighthouse, the most easterly point in Italy, which offers a fantastic view of the Adriatic. Porto Badisco, first landing place of Aeneas described in Virgil's Aeneid (a Latin poem describing Aeneas’ flight from Troy to Italy), is famous for its crystal-clear waters and the Grotta dei Cervithen. It is also our lunch spot. We then walk inland and cross the hills across abandoned fields and meadows to descend to Santa Cesarea, our final destination today and known for its sulphuric healing waters.
Main Route: Otranto - Santa Cesarea Terme: 12.7 miles and 1,000 feet of elevation gain (12% paved)
Short Route: Otranto - Portorusso: 8.5 miles
Day 4: SANTA CESAREA TERME - TRICASE
Today is a day of mixed pavement and dirt paths, with continued undulation but no large hills. Leaving Santa Cesarea Terme, we'll mostly be on pavement to start as we take a secondary road out of the city. We'll rise up to the bluffs above the water and soon approach the town of Castro. Castro is one of the gems en route and today's highlight. Below the town we'll do a guided tour of the Grotto Zinzulsa cave and then we'll walk up to the center to visit the Aragonese Castle and the impressive fortified city walls around Castro. Although we are only four miles into our route, we'll take time here for lunch since there is plenty to do in the morning. We'll exit Castro via a coastal path, pass two different marinas, and eventally make our way to Tricase Porto. We'll take taxis from here to the city proper, a few kilometers inland, since there is no suitable lodging in the port area. Tonight it is Greek food for dinner in honor of the large Greek presence in this part of Italy!
Main Route: Santa Cesarea Terme - Tricase: 12.7 miles and 1,111 feet of elevation gain (60% paved)
Short Route: Santa Cesarea Terme - Marina di Andrano: 8.5 miles
Day 5: TRICASE - SANTA MARIA DI LEUCA
We'll shuttle back to the coastline after breakfast to begin our walk south. We'll start at the Marina di Serra, a natural pool formed in the sea by the limestone cliffs that is ideal for swimming (although perhaps too early for us today. We'll pass the ancient Torre Palane, an ancient tower that used to protect the shore communities but now affords us beautiful views of the sea below. We'll walk over the Ponte Ciolo, a 40-meter high bridge connecting to large cliffs. We'll then head inland to avoid the busy coastal road and reach the town of Gagliano del Capo, which has a nice old town with winding streets, an old castle, and some remaining fortified walls plus a few underground oil mills. It is then on to Santa Maria Di Leuca, the end point of our route. After checking in to our hotel, we'll walk a bit farther to the most southern point of the boot of Italy.
Main Route: Tricase - Santa Maria di Leuca: 12.8 miles and 1,191 feet of elevation gain (73% paved)
Short Route: Tricase - Gagliano del Capo: 7 Miles
Day 6: DEPARTURE
We have breakfast in our hotel and then transfer to Brindisi, with a stop at the airport if you are flying out this day or plan to rent a car or downtown if you plan to stay a night or take the train to your next destination.
Trip Accommodations
Night One (San Foca): Hotel da Romano: 3 stars and 4.7 on Google. Located directly downtown across the street from the seaside promenade and the port. This family-run hotel is perfect for the first night of our tour along the coast.
Night Two (Otranto): Corte di Nettuno: 4 stars and 4.7 on Google. Located 700 meters from the town center, so a short walk in to dinner tonight. The hotel is decorated like a maritime museum, so is interesting in its own right.
Night Three (Santa Cesarea Terme): EST Hotel: 4 stars and 4.8 on Google. This is a new hotel located just above the promenade and a short distance from the famous hot springs spa.
Night Four (Tricase Porto): Hotel Adriatico: 3 stars and 4.4 on Google. Located in the town of Tricase, which is 4 KM inland from the Port. The port area is limited in lodging and the town of Tricase is nice, so this affords us the opportunity to stay in a slightly larger city tonight.
Night Five (Santa Maria di Leuca): Hotel Termina: 3 stars and 4.2 on Google. This is a classic beach hotel located near the water and port.
Book this TourArrival & Departure
We will meet you in the lobby of Le Club Boutique Hotel in the center of Lecce at 9:00 AM on the first day of the tour. You should be prepared to depart for our first walk, with anything you need with you (water, rain gear, snacks, sunscreen) in a small backpack and everything else packed into one piece of luggage. You can take very inexpensive shuttle buses from Brindisi airport to Lecce or more expensive shuttles or private car hires. There is a train but you'd need to take a bus or taxi into Brindisi center first anyway.
We spend our final night in the town of Santa Maria di Leuca and will provide a shuttle from there to Brindisi on the following morning. Our planned departure is 8:30 AM with a 10:00 AM arrival, allowing you to catch a flight out (likely through Rome) that day. Alternatively, you could rent a car at the airport or head into Brindisi for a night.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- One Zephyr guide will accompany each trip, with a second added as necessary.
- Double occupancy lodging is included. If you are traveling solo, you may ask us to find a traveler to share a room with you but will need to pay a single supplement to have your own room if we cannot match you.
- All breakfasts and dinners are included. Gratuity for these meals is also included. Lunches are generally left on your own so you can wander the small towns we stop in along the route.
- All your transportation is included once you meet your guides on the first day.
- All group activities are included.
- NOT INCLUDED Beverages, desserts, lunches, gratuities to your guides, personal expenses, and travel to and from the destination.
Best time to visit
This area of the world gets hot in the summer, with an average high of 80 degrees or higher from mid-June through mid-September. Therefore, the best times to visit are often the shoulder seasons of April, May, October, and even the first half of November. (Although the wind can pick up in November.) The chance of rain is not high in any of these months, with the odds at no more than one out of three days on average. Mid-May might be best in terms of chance for sunshine.
Extending your vacation
We do not spend much time in Lecce and highly recommend staying in the city at least one and probably two nights before the tour. This will give you a buffer for any travel problems but also a day to explore this great city. If you don't have much extra time after the tour, spending a night in Brindisi is a good option.
Matera, about two hours and 15 minutes west of Lecce, is a unique and interesting city to visit and we'll worth an overnight jaunt. Since most of the flights to Brindisi come from Rome, seeing Rome is relatively easy on this trip. Just keep in mind the airport is outside the city center.
Ability Level
This Adventure is rated Moderate. Daily distances range from 13 to 16 miles, with shorter options available each day ranging from 6 to 8.5 miles. The full route is a lot of miles for any single day and strenuous when done day after day. In addition, a good portion of the routes are on paved side roads, which can be more tiring. At the same time, the elevation gain on this trip is modest, with all days having fewer than 1,200 feet of elevation increase. Spread out over the miles, this makes for few big hills. In addition, we are not in a hurry and prefer to take our time to see the sights along the way.
Our luggage is transported forward each day and we have no van support. However, we pass through one or two small towns along our way each day and so have a designated pickup point to shorten each day's route with a taxi shuttle on to our next town. This allows you to choose the short or long route as you wish each day and shuttle ahead to enjoy time at our hotel, on the beach, or wandering a fun small town in the afternoon.
Type of People Who Will Enjoy This Tour
This adventure is ideal for those who have been to Italy before but are looking for a location most people never visit or have even heard of. The walking requires good fitness but is quite manageable for those accustomed to walks of 6 - 8 miles. Because this is an Exploratory Adventure, you should be eager for new experiences and adaptable to impulse changes as we make decisions and take up opportunities based on what we find en route.
Changes to Your Itinerary
While everything under “What is Included” will remain the same, the actual restaurants, hotels, and activities listed in our itineraries are subject to modifications. Changes that are out of our control are common – a restaurant closes or loses its awesome chef, a winery changes its visiting hours, a hotel gets remodeled, a road or trail undergoes construction. You are entrusting us to create an outstanding vacation for you and so it is possible we may take the liberty of making necessary changes (even at the last minute, during the guides’ scout trip) to the itinerary that will improve your overall trip experience.
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