Path of the Gods by ferry: Positano–Amalfi–Bomerano
Overview
Take a suitable Positano–Amalfi sailing, reach Bomerano by a separately planned bus or the exact combined product you book, then walk the Path of the Gods to Nocelle. The Nocelle–Positano return is a separate local journey to confirm. Choose the whole chain before heading downhill from Hostel Brikette.
The ferry adds a sea journey and the approach to Positano's beach-level pier; it does not make this a guaranteed half-day trip or a suitable hike in poor weather. Compare the three Path of the Gods approaches, then check your sailing, actual Bomerano arrival, trail conditions and daylight.
On this page
Choose independent tickets or a combined product
Travelmar's [Path of the Gods product page](https://www.travelmar.it/en/how-to-reach-path-of-gods) distinguishes its combined offer from separately buying ferry and SITA tickets. Read the actual selected product and destination before paying; a generic Agerola arrival is not enough to establish the Bomerano trailhead.
Use the all-bus route guide if a suitable land journey fits. A ferry cancellation can reflect conditions that also make the hike inappropriate, so the bus is an option to assess rather than an automatic bad-weather solution.
| Choice | What the journey involves | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Ferry plus independent SITA | Positano → Amalfi sailing, then a suitable SITA 5080 to Agerola (Bomerano) | Separate products, actual connection and Bomerano call; do not assume protected transfer or included local return |
| Travelmar combined ferry and shuttle | The operator advertises a Positano option with a ferry/shuttle product | Date availability, inclusions, meeting point and Bomerano versus San Lazzaro; do not assume a guided hike or Nocelle return |
| All-bus alternative via Amalfi | Suitable SITA 5070 to Amalfi, then a Bomerano-serving 5080 | Trail and weather suitability first, then current stops, tickets, capacity, daylight and return |
Before you leave the hostel
Build the day from your actual date and a usable return, not a fixed example departure. Check [Travelmar's current timetable source](https://www.travelmar.it/en/download-pdf), the product you intend to buy and the dated [SITA 5080 catalogue](https://sitasudtrasporti.it/campania/orari/page/3/) if travelling independently. Check the local Nocelle return separately.
Arrange the correct tickets before boarding through the actual operating company's current sales channel or an authorised seller. For SITA, follow the [operator's validation or activation instructions](https://sitasudtrasporti.it/campania/faq). A ferry ticket is not automatically a SITA ticket, seat reservation or protected onward connection.
Carry enough water, food, suitable footwear and weather protection for your chosen mountain walk. Confirm any planned refill or food stop instead of assuming that every café, kiosk or farmhouse is open. Recheck forecast, local alerts, current signs and closure notices before leaving; a running ferry does not establish trail access.
Follow the numbered route to the beach-level pier
Leave Hostel Brikette at Via Guglielmo Marconi 358 by the entrance stairs, then follow the main-road approach for about 120 metres towards Chiesa Nuova / Bar Internazionale. That road distance is separate from the stairs. Use the full numbered hostel-to-pier guide alongside the existing images below; they are reference material, not a new field inspection or proof of a minimum-stair route.
Points 1–3: at reference point 1, turn right towards the downhill route. The tabacchi shopfront is a landmark, not proof of current ticket availability or opening hours. At point 2, use the illustrated stair entrance by the parking meter after checking current access. Continue through the narrow passage at point 3, using today's signs and checking traffic where the sequence meets a road.
Points 4–5: check traffic at the next road level; the reference route briefly turns left before the stairs down on the right at point 4. Continue down, turn right at the bottom towards point 5, then follow the pedestrian area past the shops and arch towards the waterfront. Current barriers and signs take precedence over an old green line.
At Spiaggia Grande, find the actual company's assigned queue and boarding position. Allow for the descent, road crossings, bags and any ticket collection or queue; do not rely on a universal 20–30-minute walk or assume a ticket will be available when you arrive.
Secure a ferry to Amalfi
Choose a sailing that serves Amalfi on your actual date, with enough time for the onward leg and the hike. Buy through the operating company's current channel or an authorised seller and check date, direction, intermediate stops, availability, luggage and any collection or voucher exchange. Do not select the next boat merely because it leaves soon.
Follow the deadline for your own booking and allow extra time for ticket collection and the queue. Check [Travelmar's conditions](https://www.travelmar.it/en/conditions-of-transport) for its services; another operator may have different rules. Early arrival does not guarantee a sailing, boarding space or an outdoor-deck place.
The historic ticket-booth photograph highlights Capri and an example departure. It is not an Amalfi timetable or current fare source. Confirm your booked operator and destination instead of copying the panel or assuming a regular 30–60-minute frequency.
Sail to Amalfi and find the correct onward connection
Use the selected sailing's own scheduled arrival, stops and notices when planning Amalfi, and leave margin for disembarkation and a missed onward connection. A fixed 25-minute crossing does not describe every service or establish the total day's duration.
Board only when directed by the crew, confirm where bags go and follow instructions about seating or deck access. A photograph of a Travelmar vessel does not identify the boat or boarding point for your booking.
On arrival at Amalfi, confirm the actual SITA boarding point or the meeting point for your booked shuttle product. The pier photo is a reference, not a universal left turn to a particular bay. Only take a short town break if the confirmed departure, queue and daylight leave a genuine margin; a separately purchased connection is not automatically held for a delayed ferry.
Catch the bus to Bomerano
Use a SITA 5080 service with a usable Amalfi departure and an Agerola (Bomerano) arrival in the same eligible column. The current [5080 PDF](https://sitasudtrasporti.it/campania/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/5080_16_10_2026.pdf) contains repeated rows and different branches, including San Lazzaro and Santa Maria. Agerola on a destination display alone is not enough; check the actual Bomerano call, direction, date and day restrictions.
Ask the driver which current Bomerano stop serves Piazza Paolo Capasso and request the stop in good time. The [Agerola municipal route description](https://www.comune.agerola.na.it/vivere_il_comune/luoghi/luogo_16.html) starts the approach from that square via Via Pennino. Use current signs and a saved route map; the Jerla sign and pink lines in the reference images do not certify today's stop position or an unchanged junction.
For a combined Travelmar booking, follow that product's confirmed meeting and transfer instructions instead of joining a SITA queue by assumption. Its information distinguishes Bomerano from San Lazzaro; establish the destination and suitable arrival before purchase. In either case, use Piazza Paolo Capasso and current signs for the Bomerano approach.
Hike from Bomerano to Nocelle
The [CAI trail sheet for route 327](https://www.caimontilattari.it/en/sentiero/327/) lists Bomerano–Nocelle at 5.3 km, grade E, with a two-hour walking estimate. That estimate is for the trail, not your bus transfers, breaks, village approaches or return to Brikette. Plan your own pace and the chosen variant with enough daylight.
[Positano's official hiking guidance](https://comune.positano.sa.it/novita/comunicati/il-sentiero-degli-dei) describes moderate mountain hiking with unprotected exposed sections. Suitable footwear, fitness, secure footing and comfort with heights matter. A bus running does not mean that weather or trail conditions are suitable. Check current alerts, signs and closures; an undated status icon or an old comment is not same-day access confirmation.
Follow current red-and-white waymarks, save the route offline, respect private land and take litter away. The [specific CAI 327a variant](https://www.caimontilattari.it/sentiero/327a/) avoids part of the exposure, not every possible difficulty. Use the trail comparison and difficulty advice or a qualified local hiking guide if unsure.
Navigate through Nocelle
Nocelle is above Positano, not the beach or the hostel. Before following a staircase, identify the current route to the local bus stop. The ceramic sign pictured below points right to the stairs down to Positano and left towards the Path of the Gods; it does not identify a turn for the bus stop.
Ask locally for the current Nocelle car-park boarding point and the correct journey towards Positano. The illustrated approach includes steps and village walking. Allow time for that separate leg rather than relying on an unverified 175-metre distance, a universal right turn or a fixed walking time. See the Nocelle approach guide for its route context.
Return to Positano
The Montepertuso–Nocelle–Positano local service is separate from SITA 5080. The [municipal tourism office](https://comune.positano.sa.it/amministrazione/uffici/ufficio-del-turismo) points visitors to local transport information and posted QR notices. Confirm the current return timetable, operator, boarding stop, ticket and Positano drop-off locally before committing to the hike. Do not assume SITA-ticket acceptance or rely on an old reproduced timetable.
Request and confirm the stop that fits the hostel approach. Use the Chiesa Nuova arrival guide for the final walk and entrance stairs; the local Interno stop beside Tabacchi Cafiero is distinct from the SITA landmark at Bar Internazionale.
The roughly 1,700 steps from Nocelle towards Arienzo are a separate descent, followed by a coastal-road approach. They are not a direct staircase to Brikette or the same route as walking via Montepertuso. Choose a walking return deliberately, with a current map, sufficient daylight and suitable conditions; do not assume it is an easy fallback after the last bus.
Plan your connections and daylight
Build a dated chain: hostel → chosen harbour approach → booked Positano–Amalfi sailing → actual disembarkation and bus or shuttle meeting point → Bomerano approach → selected trail and breaks → Nocelle stop approach → confirmed local return → hostel. Add queues, ticket collection, walking and missed-connection margin. The trail-only estimate does not make this a fixed morning or early-afternoon trip.
Choose departure and turnaround so the whole route and return fit the daylight and actual services. A missed morning ferry is not a reason to recommend a late-afternoon hike; a bus still running does not make a closed or weather-affected trail suitable.
If the full chain no longer works, compare other day trips from Positano. For a hiking-focused stay, read Brikette's actual room and stay information and keep room for weather flexibility rather than assuming every booked day will suit the trail.
Budget for all transport and arrange bag collection
Check each operator's luggage conditions separately, including any extra charge and available space. Do not describe the Nocelle bus as another SITA leg or assume a pass or ferry ticket covers every part of the day.
If hiking after checkout, enrol in storage through the hostel's guest app. The hostel must receive your agreement to the terms and conditions, and storage is subject to availability. It is free until 15:00. Bags not collected by then automatically transfer to the porters, who charge for their service. Read the full storage conditions and plan collection against the complete return rather than the walking estimate alone.
| Item | Budget for | Confirm before purchase |
|---|---|---|
| Ferry or combined product | Your actual sailing or selected ferry-and-shuttle offer, plus applicable luggage | Current fare, date, destination and exact inclusions rather than old one-way ranges |
| Onward and return transport | Separate SITA 5080 if needed, plus the locally checked Nocelle return | Operator and route coverage; a combined shuttle does not establish a return from Nocelle |
| Other choices | Food, water and optional qualified guiding or confirmed private transport | Actual needs and current access conditions; a seller's tour package is not proof of a compulsory trail ticket |
Before committing to the ferry route
Check actual ferry notices and trail conditions before going downhill; a cancelled sailing does not automatically make the bus-and-hike alternative suitable.
Keep the roughly 1,700 Nocelle–Arienzo stairs separate from Montepertuso and the hostel approach; no unplanned descent is a guaranteed easy fallback.
Preserve daylight and the usable return. Do not replace a missed morning sailing with a recommended late-afternoon hike.
What to bring
- The actual ferry or combined-product confirmation, any separately needed SITA ticket and the correct local-return ticket, with saved timetables and validation instructions.
- Footwear for uneven exposed mountain paths and steps, plus weather protection appropriate to the forecast.
- Enough water and food for your chosen route without relying on an unconfirmed shop, café or refill point.
- A charged phone, offline route map and a shared route/turnaround plan including the separate journey back from Nocelle.
What to include in your budget
- The selected sailing or exact ferry-and-shuttle product at its current price, checking destination, inclusions and applicable luggage.
- Any independently needed SITA leg and the separately planned local Nocelle return; confirm each operator's ticket and baggage rules.
- Your food, water and optional qualified guide or confirmed private transport. Check current access conditions instead of treating a commercial package as a compulsory trail ticket.
Connection and return reminders
- Confirm the whole chain and the return before setting off, with margin for the harbour descent and missed connections.
- Use the actual ferry destination, timetable date and 5080 Bomerano call; do not copy an old Capri board or universal frequency.
- Keep independent tickets and a combined shuttle product distinct, including their meeting points and coverage.
- Carry the required confirmations and follow each operator's boarding, validation and baggage instructions.
- Plan post-checkout bag collection around 15:00 or the automatic chargeable porter transfer, using your full hostel-to-hostel itinerary.
Step by step
- Choose the product and check the whole day: Compare independent ferry plus SITA with the actual combined shuttle offer, then confirm weather, trail access, daylight and the separate Nocelle return.
- Reach the beach-level ferry pier: Use the entrance stairs and numbered hostel-to-pier route with current signs, allowing descent, crossings, luggage and ticket-collection time.
- Board the booked Amalfi sailing: Confirm the actual operator, destination, date, ticket and boarding point; follow its deadline and the crew's instructions.
- Transfer to the correct Bomerano connection: Use a suitable SITA 5080 call at Agerola (Bomerano), or your booked shuttle's meeting and destination instructions, then the signed Piazza Paolo Capasso approach.
- Walk the selected route to Nocelle: Follow open marked trails with an offline map and a pace suited to conditions; the CAI walking estimate is only for the trail.
- Complete the separate return to Brikette: Reach the locally confirmed bus stop and use its correct ticket and service, then follow the appropriate hostel approach. Plan any walking descent deliberately in advance.
FAQs
Where should I buy the ferry, bus or combined tickets?
Use the actual operating company's current sales channel or an authorised seller, checking date, availability, destination, collection and luggage. Buy separately needed SITA tickets before boarding and follow their validation instructions. Travelmar's combined product has its own inclusions and meeting point; neither a bar photo nor a ferry ticket proves local Nocelle ticket coverage.
How much transfer time should I allow in Amalfi?
Read your actual sailing's arrival and the usable Bomerano bus or booked shuttle departure. Include disembarkation, finding the correct boarding or meeting point, ticket requirements and queuing, with margin for a delay or full bus. No single minimum gap guarantees a separately booked connection; a short town visit only fits a genuine spare interval.
What should I do if the ferry is cancelled?
Check whether the weather and trail are suitable at all before replacing the sea leg. If they are, compare the actual all-bus route via Amalfi or a separate local Nocelle option with tickets, capacity, daylight and return. Use the bus-route guide and ask the ferry seller about the change, refund or rebooking applicable to your own ticket; do not assume a universal outcome.
How long does the ferry-and-hike day take?
Build your actual hostel-to-hostel chain, including the downhill approach, ticket collection, ferry, Amalfi transfer, Bomerano approach, walking and breaks, Nocelle stop approach and local return. CAI's two-hour estimate covers only the 5.3-km Bomerano–Nocelle trail. It is not a fixed half-day total, and a late start does not guarantee a mid-afternoon return.
How much does the trip cost?
Add the exact ferry or combined product, any separately needed SITA ticket, local Nocelle return, applicable luggage, food, water and optional guiding or private transport. Independent tickets and the combined shuttle have different coverage. Check current prices and inclusions instead of using old ferry ranges or counting the Nocelle bus as SITA.
Is a ferry-and-shuttle ticket the same as a ferry plus SITA?
No. Travelmar advertises a specific combined product with a Positano option and distinguishes Bomerano from San Lazzaro arrivals. Confirm the selected date, destination, inclusions and meeting point. Do not assume a guided hike or Nocelle–Positano return is included. Separately buying ferry and SITA tickets creates a different connection plan.
Is this route suitable for beginners or people with vertigo?
The ferry changes the approach, not the moderate mountain hike, uneven ground or unprotected exposure. Assess fitness, footing and comfort with heights against the actual route and current conditions. CAI 327a is a specific variant that avoids part of the exposure, not a universal vertigo-safe walk. Seek qualified local advice or choose another activity if unsure.
Must I take the long stairs from Nocelle?
No: you can plan a separately checked local bus, subject to actual service and capacity. The roughly 1,700 steps towards Arienzo form a separate descent with onward coastal-road access, not a direct staircase to Brikette or the same route as walking via Montepertuso. Choose any walking return in advance with a suitable map and daylight.
Can I leave luggage at Brikette and hike after checkout?
Enrol through the hostel's guest app. The hostel must receive your agreement to the terms and conditions, and storage is subject to availability. It is free until 15:00. Bags not collected by then automatically transfer to the porters, who charge. Plan collection against the complete journey back to the hostel, not just the trail's walking estimate.
