UPDATED 16-07-2020 ◊ ZMIEŃ JĘZYK NA: POLSKI
We introduced Calheta in our previous two articles about staying at and organizing a wedding at the Saccharum Hotel.
Today, we will present some interesting attractions and things to do in the Calheta area.
Things to do in and around Calheta
Some may complain that there aren’t many attractions in Calheta except the beach. Therefore, it is a great place for a honeymoon and for couples in love, who just need each other 🙂 But jokes aside, I do not entirely agree with the negative comments about staying in Calheta during your Madeira trip.
Not everyone is a fan of crowded hotel districts, and many people deliberately try to avoid the busy areas of Funchal, the island’s main city. I think that Calheta is a good place to stay, especially if you have a car. It is quiet enough, but has a good tourist infrastructure. Not to mention those beautiful sunset views…
Beach in Calheta
Calheta is especially known for one of the two artificial, white sand beaches in Madeira
SEE POST: BEACHES IN MADEIRA
Next to the beach, there is also a small marina with a couple of restaurants and companies offering tours: dolphin and whale watching tours, fishing tours, and private charters, for example:
The area of Ponta do Sol / Paul do Mar / Calheta / Ponta do Pargo is known for the most spectacular sunsets in Madeira. In Calheta, you can even book a special sunset cruise.
Here is the view from the rooftop hotel pool of Savoy Saccharum. The pool of this hotel is in my opinion one of my three most beautiful hotel pools in Madeira.
Paragliding in Calheta
If you are interested in paragliding in Madeira, in Arco da Calheta there is a company called Madeira Paragliding. The private take-off area is located at a 440 m high cliff.
Madeira Paragliding address: R. da Achada de Santo Antão, 9370-056 Arco da Calheta
Diving and snorkeling in Calheta
For snorkeling and diving, we should consider the Calheta Diving Center. Scuba diving course prices start from 250 euro for two, a 2-day course. One boat dive costs 35 euro and a shore dive – 25 euro. Discounted packages are available. Renting diving equipment is a cost of 15 euro per day and snorkeling price is 25 euro.
Calheta Diving Center address: Ave. Dom Manuel I, 27, Madeira Island 9370-135
Full price list Calheta Diving Center can be found: [HERE]
In Calheta you will also have a chance to visit a contemporary art museum:
Museu de Arte Contemporânea (Mudas)
Located on a high cliff, offers stunning views of the shore and the beach in Calheta from above. If you are not a fan of contemporary art, it is worth to pay a visit just for this view…
The museum is located there since 2015 when it was transferred to Calheta from the famous but much smaller São Tiago Fort in Funchal. The building was designed by Paulo David. The collection of the Mudas Museum is made up of contemporary Portuguese art, from the 60s of the XX century to present. The full list of artists is available [HERE] and the online collection of this and other museums in Madeira [HERE]. An interesting historical fact is that, the property, the Morgadio de Vale de Amores, belonged to Duarte de Brito and D. Joana Cabral, granddaughter of João Gonçalves Zarco, discoverer of Madeira.
Mudas Contemporary Art Museum opening hours are: 10.00 – 17.00 Tuesday to Sunday
The museum is closed on M0ndays and holidays.
Mudas Contemporary Art Museum ticket prices: 4 euro normal ticket; groups above 6 and travel agencies: 3 euro; pensioners: 1 euro. Kinds: free of charge.
Mudas Contemporary Art Museum address: Rua Simão Gonçalves da Câmara nº 37, 9370-139, Estreito da Calheta
Still, this is not the most popular museum in Calheta. Most tourists come to Calheta to visit the:
Sugar Cane Mill and Museum in Calheta
Sociedade dos Engenhos da Calheta is a small but interesting museum, that is worth a visit. The entry is free of charge.
Right by the entrance, you will see a small museum with old pictures and old machinery used to process sugar cane in Madeira. If you go further, you will enter a mill/factory, still used to produce the famous aguardente and sugar cane honey.
SEE ALSO: MADEIRA’S LOCAL DRINKS
All exhibits are described in English, Portuguese, and French.
We visited the Calheta Sugar Cane Museum during the Christmas season 2018, so we did not have a chance to see it in operation. The mill was decorated and changed into a Christmas nativity scene.
SEE ALSO:
Inside Sociedade dos Engenhos da Calheta there is also a store and a café, where you are able to try, what some claim to be, the best honey cake in Madeira („Bolo de Mel”).
In December 2018 we found there also a +-50 kg honey cake made of the honey made in Calheta:
Sugar Cane Mill and Museum in Calheta: Sociedade dos Engenhos da Calheta address:
Av. D. Manuel I 29, Lombo Do Doutor
Sugar Cane Mill and Museum in Calheta: Sociedade dos Engenhos da Calheta opening hours:
Weekends: 10 am to 7 pm.
Monday to Friday: 8 am to 7 pm.
Sugar Cane Mill and Museum in Calheta: Sociedade dos Engenhos da Calheta ticket prices:
N/a – free entrance
Playground in Calheta
Families travelling to Madeira with small kids for sure won’t be able to skip the new, well-maintained playground “Parque Infantil da Calheta”
Levadas in the area of Calheta
One of the most popular levada trails is located in Calheta area:
SEE: LEVADA 25 FONTES – OUR REVIEW
That is also where you will start: Calheta – Prazeres (level: easy – 14.4 km) and Levada da Rocha Vermelha (level – medium – 14.3 km).
A good source of information about this and other walks in the area of Calheta is also Caheta Viva. [HERE] you will find not only the map of the 25 Fontes e Risco hike, but all walks in the south-western part of Madeira. They also provide 3D maps and GPS files.
Bars and pubs
In Calheta you will find a couple of interesting bars and cafés, such as for example Pukiki Bar.
When in Paul do Mar, be sure to visit our favorite Maktub Pub with its relaxed atmosphere, cheap and delicious cocktails, and a beautiful sunset view.
Staying in Calheta
The most popular hotels in the area are: Saccharum & Savoy Calheta Beach. For those living in the UK, the second one is currently offered on First Choice as a package with flights leaving from London Gatwick.
Explore all available options:
Calheta now and then…
Inside the Saccharum Hotel we came across some very interesting pictures…
This is the Calheta Beach area before the beach was constructed…
and this is how the same area looks nowadays:
This used to be Calheta on the east of Savoy Saccharum..
And this is how it looks now…
