Are you an experienced hiker looking for challenges on the Amalfi Coast? On the Tre Calli circuit you'll find both challenge and reward. Are you up for it?
It's a circular route with spectacular views over the Amalfi Coast.
It goes very unnoticed compared to the famous Path of the Gods, so it receives fewer visitors. Mind you, it's also quite a bit more demanding.
What do you say? Fancy taking an alternative trail over the mountains overlooking the Amalfi Coast and enjoying an unforgettable view for your eyes only?
Well, here are all the details:
Technical details
- Start/End: Cross next to the road on via Paipo, Bomerano (check out the map at the bottom of the page).
- Distance: 6.5km (the information signs say 2.5km, but 'no way').
- Duration: 4 hours, including a lunch break.
- Difficulty: Moderate/High.
The Tre Calli circuit, step by step
How to start the hike
The first thing you need is to reach via Paipo.
From the B&B A 2 passi dagli Dei, where we were staying, we took the route described on the map at the end of this post, 9km in total:
- Continue along via Tommaso Mannini until you find the first sign for the Tre Calli trail.
- At this point, turn left onto via Pendola and keep going until you see some stone stairs on your right, marked with another sign.
- Take the stairs, which cross via Pendola again, until you reach via Paipo.
- If your knees aren't up for stairs, you could continue along via Pendola, which crosses into via Paipo, a longer though less demanding path.
- Continue along via Paipo until you find a cross embedded in a rock on your right, next to a bend. You can't miss it, it's easy to spot.
- And now, time to scramble up the mountain like mountain goats!
Climb to Mount Tre Calli
This is the most difficult section of the route.
So, if your legs couldn't handle the shortcut via the steps, it might be a bad idea to continue with this trek.
Next destination:
The summit of Mount Tre Calli and one of the most beautiful panoramas on the route.
Next to the cross on via Paipo, a trail marked with red dots and red/white/red flags begins, which will keep you company throughout the hike.
The path is rocky, very steep, and uphill. In some spots, the trees offer some shade, which is greatly appreciated on summer days.
Hang in there, slow and steady.
The reward is well worth it.
Walk to Capo Muro
When you reach the top of Mount Tre Calli, you forget the heat you endured and the effort of tackling an almost 500m elevation gain.
The Amalfi Coast reveals itself before you: Positano, the Tyrrhenian Sea, and Capri in the background.
And from here on, it's plain sailing.
The red-dot trail guides you along the mountain ridge towards Mount Tre Pizzi, which dominates the landscape with its presence.
For almost the entire journey, you keep a great perspective of the Amalfi Coast. The tricky part will come later, when it's time to choose which photos to keep. 😉
A bit later, you reach a huge rock with views, marked as Capo Muro.
From there you have two options: continue to Tre Pizzi (only if you're very 'pro'—when you see the mountain, you'll understand why I say so) or start heading down.
Back to the start
A path just as stony and steep as the initial climb, but with no shade whatsoever (which is why I advise against doing the circuit in reverse), leads to a dirt track.
As you walk along it, you'll find wooded areas, views of the Amalfi Coast, abandoned half-built houses, and felled logs waiting to be transported.
And once again, the tarmac of via Paipo, which closes the loop of the route right where you left the road: at the cross.
Video
To give you an idea of what you'll find on the Tre Calli trail, here are the best shots from our experience:
Differences between Tre Calli and the Path of the Gods
If you don't have time to hike both, here's a comparison table to help you decide which one is right for you:
|
Path of the Gods | Tre Calli Circuit | |
| Length | 8.3 km | 6.5 km |
| Duration | 4 h | 4 h |
| Difficulty | Low/Medium | Medium/High |
| Linear/Circular | Linear | Circular |
| Elevation gain/loss | 600 m (descent) | 500 m (ascent + descent) |
| Start/Finish | Bomerano/Positano | Bomerano/Bomerano |
| Scenery | Amalfi Coast | Amalfi Coast |
| Crowds | High | Low |
| Shade | Scant | Intermittent |
What to bring
- Hiking boots, preferably waterproof.
- If you use them often, trekking poles will come in very handy during the first part of the route.
- Lightweight clothing that dries easily.
- Rain jacket for wet weather.
- Sun protection: Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat.
- 5 liters of water per person and food.
Where to sleep
Bomerano is a perfect base for hiking lovers looking to discover several of the trails overlooking the Amalfi Coast that cross the Lattari Mountains, such as the Path of the Gods or the Tre Calli circuit.
Among the wide range of places to stay, we picked B&B A 2 passi dagli Dei.
It's a two-story house, where the ground floor has been renovated into a 6-room B&B.
The rooms are modern, comfortable, and cozy, each with its own private bathroom.
Breakfast is amazing, with both sweet and savory treats, including baked veggies.
They have a free private garage, although it's on the smaller side. Because of this, you need to leave a copy of your car keys at reception so they can move your car if another guest is trying to head out.
It is located, literally, just steps away from the Path of the Gods and the Tre Calli circuit.
Maddalena, the owner, was always ready to give us information about the various hiking routes starting from Bomerano, great budget-friendly places to eat, etc. Plus, she let us leave our car parked in her garage the night we stayed in Positano after hiking the Path of the Gods, without charging us anything extra. We did ask for permission by email before arriving, though.
And all of that for just 60€ a night, 30€ per person.
All in all, if you're spending the night in Bomerano, I definitely recommend staying at B&B A 2 passi dagli Dei.
When to go
To enjoy the scenery,
Avoid rainy or overly cloudy days.
Other than that, you just need to keep the temperatures in mind:
In summer, choose to wake up bright and early to hit the trail during the first hours of the day, which are much cooler.
If you head up into the Lattari Mountains during winter, choose a clear day, bundle up well, and make sure night doesn't catch you up there.
The best time to visit the Amalfi Coast?
Spring, hands down.
We were there the first week of June 2017. Even though there were already tourists in the area, we only ran into one group of hikers along the entire circuit.
We got pretty hot on the way up, since we hiked it around midday. You live and you learn.
What about you, did you know about the alternative Tre Calli circuit overlooking the Amalfi Coast? Or do you know of any other off-the-beaten-path hiking routes? Tell me about it.
Need any clarifications? Ask me in the comments, that's what they're there for.
The Amalfi Coast PDF Guide
Want a PDF with all the travel tips from this blog on how to plan your own DIY trip to the Amalfi Coast?
Save it to your tablet or phone and check it whenever you need it.
- Choose when, where, and how.
- Tailor your budget to suit your wallet.
- Live your own adventure.
Sounds good? Then click here to grab it for just €1.95.
Useful links
- Hotels in Bomerano.
- Our accommodation.
- Flight deal search engines: Trabber, eDreams, Momondo, and Vueling.
- 5% discount on your IATI travel insurance.
Traveling along the Amalfi Coast? Don't miss these other blog posts:
- A 7-day road trip along the Amalfi Coast.
- The Path of the Gods, descending into Positano from the heights.
- Positano, one of the most gorgeous towns in all of Italy.
- Ravello and the villas with the best views on the Amalfi Coast.
- Amalfi (and Atrani) in 24 hours.