Villa Serrado

Villa Serrado is located on the hillside in Canhas, a suburb of Ponta do Sol, a five hundred year old traditional village on the sunny south coast of Madeira. Ponta do Sol enjoys a fabulous climate, friendly locals and a charming village unaffected by tourism. This area is famous for the banana and sugar cane plantations that are sprinkled over the terraced hills. You will discover delightful surfing beaches and a diving centre in the village. Ponta do Sol enjoys spectacular sunrises and sunsets. From this excellent central spot you can enjoy many wonderful strolls and fantastic contrasting scenery from the rocky coast to terraced hills to the suntropical mountains. The vibrant capital is 25 minutes away and Ribeira Brava Village is just 5 minutes away.

For those that love the outdoors, Madeira is hard to beat. For those that love exhilarating, adrenaline rush sports, canyoning is very popular. It takes place in a mountainous watercourse where you will swim, jump and do rappels in waterfalls to overcome the obstacles of nature. Madeira’s ‘levadas’ are famous. Visitors walk through open irrigation channels that were built from the fifteenth century, some through the lush Laurisilva Forest with wonderful mountain scenery. There are twenty five waterfalls at Rabacal which plunge down the mountain from over 100 metres above. It is only 10 km north of Calheta. Mountain biking is also popular though the mountains with peaks of over 1800 metres of altitude. Another way to see this glorious island is to take a paragliding trip. On the coast, visitors enjoy diving, surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing and whale, dolphin and turtle watching.

The historic town of Calheta dates back to 1430. Calheta’s Moorish style parish church is worth a visit with its wooden knot-work ceiling above the high altar and its 16th century ebony and silver tabernacle donated by King Manuel I. Close to the church is one of the island’s two surviving sugar mills which is now also a museum. For a wonderful afternoon activity in the town be sure to visit as you will also enjoy a complementary slice of delicious traditional honey cake and glass of poncha. Calheta’s modern marina and sandy beach are wonderful, offering a huge variety of watersports and boat trips. Loreto, 2 km east of Calheta enjoys a pretty 15th century chapel. Another wonderful chapel is the Chapel of the Three Kings at Lombo dos Reis. It has an interesting 16th century Flemish altar carving of the Adoration of the Magi. The Casa das Artes, a contemporary art centre is another good stop at Ponta do Este, just to the west of Calheta. Jardim do Mar is a very picturesque fishing village full of flower draped houses along its narrow alleyways. It is very pretty so get your cameras ready!

There are some fantastic restaurants in Madeira where you can taste local dishes such as garlic-basted espetada kebabs which you can wash down with the local tipples of sweet wine. There are plenty of chic bars and cute cafes. You can take a wine tasting tour on the south coast of the island. Funchal is a cosmopolitan, rejuvenated city full of high class restaurants, boutique shops and fantastic bars. The city is nestled in a fabulous natural amphitheatre facing the Atlantic with its mountain backdrop. For many years it has been one of the Atlantic cruise ship’s main ports of call. It is popular with day relaxers and night revellers and is known for its many festivals. Its New Year’s Eve Firework display is legendary but in June there is the Atlantic Festival International Fireworks Competition every Saturday. It boasts a spectacular carnival, a wine festival and a flower festival as well as a fairytale Christmas season.

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 >>