Villa Petrel

Villa Petrel is ideally located for evening meals out in particular; with a restaurant just a few minutes’ walk away. There’s also another restaurant, a bakery and a couple of cafés within a 10-minute walk or five-minute drive. Head down to the waterfront and marina and Calheta and you’ll find an even greater choice of places to enjoy drinks and meals. You can stroll right down to this area in around 30 minutes if you’re feeling active!

Reward yourself with a leisurely afternoon spent on the sandy beach. It’s one of the few of its kind in Madeira, as the island’s beaches are naturally volcanic. The sand was brought in from Morocco, with Calheta being the first town to get a golden, sandy stretch to enjoy. It’s not just swimming that the sea is ideal for, you can also try a range of watersports. Popular activities include windsurfing, canoeing, waterskiing and scuba diving.

Also close to the marina is the clifftop museum, Casa das Mudas, which showcases great Portuguese contemporary art. Another place that’s well worth visiting is Engenho da Calheta, a working sugar cane factory. Here you can see how Maderia rum is made and even try a few drinks yourself. Another popular thing to do in Calheta is to hike through the lush hills, following trails to beautiful waterfalls and areas of stunning natural beauty. These trails and Levadas a few kilometres away and up the mountains and behind Calheta.

Just a 40-minute drive away is the city of Funchal, Madeira’s capital. Here you can ride the cable car up a mountain and stroll around beautiful botanical gardens. There’s also an old town area that history lovers in particular will enjoy exploring.

Read more about Calheta

Please be aware that the location tab shown on the website is not based on the property's exact location; therefore, all location amenities are an approx of facilities, restaurants, and villages/towns you might find around the property. The property's exact location will be provided to you before arrival and might come along with some recommendations about the area and what to visit.

THE REGION

Calheta, meaning ‘Small Cove’, is where many tourists flock to in order to indulge in beautiful man-made beaches and striking scenery.

This part of Madeira is formed of several municipalities, each with something unique and special to offer. Calheta Village is an ideal place to start especially if you enjoy a stiff drink! An old sugar cane factory still produces one of the world’s most respected white rums – Aguardente…perhaps you want to leave this part of your holiday till late in the evening!

Jardim do Mar is where you will find many of the locals on dawn patrol, taking to the waves and surfing. The waters can both be heavy and flat, making them ideal for abilities of surfer. Akaw!
 
For lovers of seafood, you should look no further than Paul do Mar. This is a village where most of the fisherman work out of, so you know you’ll be able to find the catch of the day here.

For those who have travelled to Madeira for its inland beauty, then look no further than Arco da Calheta and Prazeres. Within these locations you won’t only be able find some stunning hiking trails, but you’re also likely to stumble across some traditionally styled Parishes and unforgettable views.

ABOUT MADEIRA

The island of Madeira can be found south west of mainland Portugal, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Due to the island’s location, its is considered to have a Mediterranean climate that serves locals and visitors all year round – making it an ideal escape from reality at any point in the year.

What we love Madeira for is its seemingly ongoing festivals! Madeirans have found an excuse to celebrate most things; including film, their natural surroundings and key patron saints. This means that planning a visit during these days and even weeks of commemoration is well worth it (scroll down to see some key dates).

Madeira is divided into several municipals, each with a special offering to those who visit this island. Our favourite two communities are Funchal and Calheta and these are where you will find most of our beautiful villas.

Madeira’s landscape extends much more than a striking coastline. Make sure you pack some hiking boots and venture inland during your stay. With mountainous trails along Vereda do Arieiro, or more countryside appropriate paths like Levada do Risco and waterfall chasing treks like Levada do Caldeirao Verde – this archipelago has everything a keen outdoors person requires.

For those who enjoy either playing or watching sports, you’ll be happy to know Madeira offers so much selection. Madeira is also home to three notable football clubs, so if you’re visiting during the football season and want to see a good quality of football, you have every chance to. Porto Santo Golfe is the island’s renowned golf course. With an 18-hole course (Par 72) overlooking a Galapagos-like backdrop, golf enthusiasts will certainly want a ‘slice’ of the action! Surfers can access some great beaches like Jardim do Mar, Ponta Pequena, Paul do Mar, and Fajã da Ovelha in order to find some swell. Or, if you’re simply looking to recline on a sun lounger and soak up some rays, whilst listening to crystal clear waves break as they hit the shores, you will find plenty of man-made beaches & Lidos created for your leisure!

With a superb climate, close proximity to the coastline, wonderful cuisine, charming locals and astonishing scenery – this is a fabulous holiday choice for families & friends.

But while you're enjoying one of our fantastic villas in Madeira, you may well want to take some time out from all that sun worship to explore everything else the region has to offer – so we've put together this handy travel guide to give you a little help and inspiration!

Download our Madeira travel guide >>