The mountains, almost 800 metres high, which run parallel to the sea assure that the Cinque Terre are protected from the cold winds. The hotter and damper southern currents, go back up towards the crest and collide with the cold ones, being the cause of frequent mists and a high rain level.
The typically Mediterranean vegetation consisting in cluster-pine tree, Aleppo pine, oak, sea fennel, red valerian, euphorbia, broom, arbutus and thyme. Of great scientific interest are some endemisms, like the Santolina ligustica, the Centaurea lunensis and the Centaurea apoplepa.