This tour was the highlight of my trip to Italy. There is no way that you would be able to see that much in one day on your own. It may seem expensive, but it is worth the price. The guide was great and everything went very smoothly. We weren't able to take the boat from Manarola to Vernazza because of the low tide, so we took the train instead. The boat can only run if the weather conditions are perfect. We had about two hours for lunch in Vernazza, and I would recommend the trofie al pesto, as pesto is one of the specialties of the Cinque Terre.