Luxury Calheta Holidays

Tucked away beneath rugged green hills, the peaceful coastal resort of Calheta with its much-envied sandy beach is just perfect for reading, relaxing, swimming and walking. At the day's end, whilst the sun sets, there's always the opportunity to enjoy a typical Madeiran Poncha cocktail made from Calheta's locally produced white rum.

Boasting calm waters and the island's only golden, albeit man-made, sandy beach, the small coastal resort of Calheta lies in Madeira's unspoilt southwest corner. In a sheltered spot at the base of rugged green mountainsides and purportedly enjoying the island's best climate, this lovely area is blessed with warm summers and mild winters. There are pretty gardens to explore and a few restaurants and café bars at the marina and in the village, plus there's a small supermarket in the local mall. For a greater choice of shops, restaurants and nightlife, Funchal is just 30 minutes' drive away.

One of Madeira's oldest parishes, dating back to the early 16th century, Calheta, which means small bay or cove, was one of the island's first areas to be explored by the early colonisers and, to this day, has some lovely historic churches to visit. If you're wanting the peace and tranquillity associated with a small friendly resort, you'll delight in Calheta with its sheltered golden beach and calm waters, not to mention the delightfully local restaurants and café bars at the marina. For lovers of the arts and great views, Casa das Mudas Arts Centre, located on a cliff-top spot to the west of town, is a bold, striking building housing contemporary art exhibitions and featuring a varied programme of cultural events, shows and concerts throughout the year; it also boasts numerous vantage points to enjoy magnificent views of the Atlantic ocean and rugged mountainsides. Another landmark worth a visit is Engenho da Calheta, a 19th century distillery which produces the island's best white rum, Aguardente; the principle ingredient of Poncha, Madeira's traditional cocktail. The mix of rum, lemon juice and honey to create Poncha, originally a medicinal remedy for seafarers, is now fashionably served in glasses rimmed with sugar creating an elegantly stylish aperitif!