Maiori to Erchie

This coastal walk from Maiori to the hidden hamlet of Erchie reveals a side of the Amalfi Coast that most visitors never discover. Maiori has the longest beach on the coast — a wide, sandy crescent that feels almost Adriatic in scale compared to the pocket beaches elsewhere. From its eastern end, the trail climbs above the SS163 through macchia and abandoned terraces before descending into Erchie, a settlement so small and tucked away that it barely registers as a place. Yet Erchie has a Norman watchtower, a pretty pebble beach, a 12th-century church, and a handful of restaurants serving fish caught that morning. The walk between the two passes through terrain that shifts from cultivated to wild to cultivated again, with constant views over the Gulf of Salerno. In the right light, the water below shifts through shades of blue that seem to obey no natural law. Erchie has a single road in and the same road out, keeping it immune to the through-traffic that affects larger towns. This is where locals from Maiori go to swim on Sunday.

Start: Maiori center, on SITA bus route and ferry service (Apr-Oct). End: Erchie, reachable by local bus from Maiori (15 min, limited service). Can also return on foot the same way or continue toward Cetara.