How to get there
How to get to the centre of Dervio from Alto Lario: by car, take the SP72 from the centre of Colico towards Dervio. Turn left onto Via Martiri della Liberazione at the traffic lights and cross the railway level crossing. Then turn left again onto Via Roma to reach the railway station, where several free parking spaces are available.
It is also possible to reach Dervio via the Trenord train on the Lecco-Colico-Sondrio line or by boat with the Navigazione Lago di Como ferry service.

A beautiful panoramic hike along a section of the famous Sentiero del Viandante (Wayfarer's Path), the ancient mule track that winds its way halfway up the eastern shore of Lake Como. This section of the path begins in Dervio and offers a journey through time, revealing ancient medieval villages, historic rural hamlets, small churches in the woods and terraced fields—all set in a landscape seemingly suspended between lake and sky.

 

Route
From the Dervio railway station, take the steps and continue straight ahead. After a short walk, you’ll see the 14th-century Casa De Magni on your left, overlooking the charming Piazzetta Cavour. At the crossroads, turn right onto Via Diaz and then continue along Via Al Castello. This route leads to the Sentiero del Viandante at the Lavine spring, situated on the road to Valvarrone.
From here, follow the stepped mule track on the right, which quickly ascends through meadows, high stone walls and rocky outcrops and leads to the nucleus of the Castle, where you can soak in the timeless atmosphere of a fortified medieval village featuring the tower of the Castello di Orezia (282 m) and the small church of San Leonardo.
Leaving the built-up area, follow the provincial road down to the SS36 junction, then take Via Al Monastero, which leads towards Corenno Plinio. The route continues through the hamlets of Chiari and Monastero, where you can glimpse the rustic remains of the Monastery of San Clemente degli Umiliati.
Skirting the retaining walls of the motorway and crossing the pipeline that supplies water to the hydroelectric power station, the path gradually regains its original form—an ancient, cobbled mule track winding through meadows, vineyards, olive groves and chestnut groves. The route then descends with sweeping views of Corenno Plinio (208 m), one of the most charming and picturesque villages on Lake Como. Upon reaching the village centre, you're immediately struck by its medieval character: a cobbled square, the imposing castle and the Church of St Thomas of Canterbury, which features three funerary arches of the Andreani Counts.
Continue along provincial Road 72 for about 200 metres, then take the mule track on the right, which passes by the cemetery built in 1819, preceded by the elegant neoclassical chapel of the Andreani-Sormani family. The route runs parallel to the provincial road, winding through meadows, farmsteads and small chapels as it enters the territory of Dorio.
From here, it gently climbs to the hamlets of Torchiedo and Panico (both around 300 m in altitude), then continues to the Church of San Giorgio, the old parish church of Dorio. The trail then leads to the characteristic rural settlement of Mandonico (315 m), a cluster of old stone houses, stables and barns offering beautiful views of the lake. For those who wish to end their walk here, it is possible to descend to Dorio (210 metres) via footpaths and take the train back to Dervio.
The mule track continues with a steep climb through Mediterranean vegetation along the coast, eventually reaching the small church of San Rocco (484 metres), set in a truly spectacular panoramic position. This is an ideal spot for a picnic, with a few wooden tables available for use.
The path then curves to the northeast, maintaining elevation as it traverses above the small lake of Piona and skirts the foothills of Monte Legnoncino. Winding through the woods, it leads to Monte Perdonasco (600 metres), the lowest of several historic alpine pastures on the mountain's slopes. From here, a short detour takes you to a scenic viewpoint offering a stunning panorama of the Bay of Piona and the Colico plain. Retrace your steps, cross the Val di Voh and continue to Monte Sparesèe (566 metres), a peaceful area surrounded by beautiful forests and chestnut groves.
Leaving the last houses behind, the trail enters the woodland, where you will soon come across the small Church of Madonna dei Monti. Follow the dirt track until it joins the carriage road descending from Monte Piazzo. From here, continue downhill along a series of steep bends for approximately 2 kilometres until you reach Posallo di Colico (427 metres). The route then follows the carriage road past the hamlet of Fumiarga and the Church of San Fedele in Laghetto, eventually arriving at Piona railway station, where you can catch a train back to Dervio.