Excellence Luxury Villas · Calheta
Luxury Villa Rentals in Calheta
Pool villas above the Atlantic on Madeira's sunny southwest coast, from Arco da Calheta to Ponta do Pargo
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Madeira's golden beach, and the mountains behind it
Calheta is the sunny southwest of Madeira, a long stretch of coast where sugar cane terraces and scattered villages climb steeply from the Atlantic. Down by the marina it has something almost nowhere else on this volcanic island can offer: a beach of golden sand. The sand came from Morocco, and two breakwaters keep the water calm enough for small children. Behind it all rise the Paul da Serra plateau and the laurel forest of Rabaçal, which hold some of the island's best walks.
Our Calheta collection runs to 90+ villas. Most are modern houses with private pools and sea views on the slopes of Arco da Calheta, Estreito da Calheta and Prazeres, and a few lie further west towards Fajã da Ovelha and Ponta do Pargo. They range from three-bedroom villas, which suit a family or two couples, to houses of up to 5 bedrooms, along with the odd apartment.
Here is how the parishes differ, what to do and when to come.
Calheta at a glance
- Villas
- 90+ across the Calheta municipality, with up to 5 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £1,100 to £2,400 a week, from around £800
- Best areas
- Arco da Calheta, Estreito da Calheta and Prazeres; Paul do Mar and Ponta do Pargo for the quieter west
- Highlights
- The golden-sand beach at Calheta, the MUDAS art museum and the levada walks at Rabaçal
- Airport
- Madeira airport, around 45 minutes to an hour by road
Browse all 90+ villas in Calhetaor see them on the map
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Quinta Levadas Calheta: Luxury 3-Bedroom Villa with Seaview & Private Pool – Calheta3 bedrooms
Rent Casa Colina Portugal3 bedrooms
Villa Vega Portugal3 bedrooms
Villa Nortada Alegria Calheta: Luxury 3-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool & Sea Views – Calheta3 bedroomsWhere to stay in Calheta
Arco da Calheta for hillside villas with long sea views, Estreito da Calheta for the town, beach and marina below, Prazeres for cliff paths and cooler air, and Fajã da Ovelha and Paul do Mar for the wilder western coast.
Hillside villas above the marina
Arco da Calheta, east of the town, is where most of our villas are. It is a parish of terraces and winding lanes that climb steeply from the coast road, and many of its houses look straight out over the Atlantic. Estreito da Calheta climbs the hillside behind the town, so the beach is only a short drive away.
Calheta itself has the beach, the marina, where whale and dolphin trips set out, and the Engenho da Calheta, a working sugar cane mill that makes rum. On the clifftop above stands MUDAS, the contemporary art museum designed by the Madeiran architect Paulo David. The building and the view are reason enough to go, before you even reach the exhibitions.
Browse villas in Arco da Calheta
Farm lanes, surf villages and the westernmost lighthouse
Prazeres sits on a high shelf above the sea, quieter and more rural than the coast. Its Quinta Pedagógica is a small farm with animals, herb gardens and a tea room, and children rarely want to leave. From the village, the Vereda do Jardim do Mar drops around 500 metres in under two kilometres through old farming terraces to the sea. The Caminho Real makes a similar descent to Paul do Mar.
Both villages below have powerful waves, best left to experienced surfers. Paul do Mar was a venue for the World Surfing Championships in 2001. Further west, Fajã da Ovelha leads on to Ponta do Pargo, the westernmost point of Madeira. Its lighthouse, opened in 1922, is the place to watch the sun go down.
Browse villas in Prazeres
Levadas, waterfalls and the laurel forest
Calheta reaches up to the Paul da Serra, the high moorland plateau at the centre of the island's west, and to Rabaçal, a valley of laurel forest around half an hour's drive from the coast. Two of Madeira's best-loved walks start here. The Levada das 25 Fontes leads to a pool fed by dozens of springs, and the Levada do Risco ends at a waterfall of more than 100 metres.
The laurel forest, the Laurisilva, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999. Private cars cannot drive down to the forestry house at Rabaçal, so most walkers take the shuttle. The island now charges a fee on its main trails, so check before you set off, and start early to stay ahead of the crowds.
Search villas in Calheta
Espetada, limpets and a long mild year
Beef is grilled as espetada, on skewers that were once cut from bay laurel, and the local fish is espada, the black scabbardfish, often served with banana. Lapas, limpets grilled with garlic butter, arrive sizzling in their pan with bolo do caco, a flat bread, and a glass of poncha made with sugar cane rum, honey and lemon. Paul do Mar holds its limpet festival, the Festa da Lapa, in July, and Ponta do Pargo celebrates its apples at the Festa do Pêro in September.
Calheta is mild all year and one of the sunniest corners of Madeira. The sea is warmest from late summer into autumn, spring is lovely for walking, and winter brings the big swells. Our concierge can arrange car hire, levada guides, boat trips and restaurant tables.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in Calheta
Villa Mouco | 3-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Arco da Calheta3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £2,961 a week
Quinta Arco Calheta: Luxury 3-Bedroom Villa with Infinity Pool & Sea Views – Calheta3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £2,793 a week
Villa Dourada Arco Calheta: 2-Bedroom Luxury Villa – Calheta Portugal2 bedrooms · sleeps 4From £2,719 a week
Villa Nortada Faja da Ovelha Calheta: Luxury 2-Bedroom Apartment with Hot Tub & Sea Views – Calheta Madeira2 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £2,653 a week
Villa Safira Paul do Mar Calheta: Spacious 4-Bedroom Apartment with Infinity Pool & Sea Views – Calheta4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £2,632 a week
Casa Arrebita Calheta: Luxury 3-Bedroom Apartment with Sea Views & Pool – Calheta3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £2,604 a week
Casa Arco Calheta: Luxury 3-Bedroom Apartment with Pool & Sea Views – Calheta3 bedrooms · sleeps 6From £2,527 a week
Casa Bananeira Calheta: Luxury 4-Bedroom Apartment with Infinity Pool & Sea Views – Calheta4 bedrooms · sleeps 8From £2,520 a weekWhy book your Calheta villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Calheta's villas are spread across steep hillside parishes from Arco da Calheta to Ponta do Pargo, and we know which are an easy drive from the beach and which are properly remote. With 90+ properties in Calheta, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Car hire and transfers from Madeira airport, levada guides for Rabaçal, whale and dolphin trips from Calheta marina, private chefs and restaurant tables. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to stay in Calheta?
Arco da Calheta has the widest choice of villas, with sea views and the beach a short drive away. Estreito da Calheta is close to the town and the marina, Prazeres suits walkers, and Fajã da Ovelha and Ponta do Pargo are for those who want real quiet.
When is the best time to visit Calheta?
Calheta is mild all year and one of the sunniest parts of Madeira. Summer and early autumn are best for swimming, when the sea is at its warmest, while spring and autumn are ideal for the levada walks.
Does Calheta have a sandy beach?
Yes. Praia da Calheta is one of the very few golden-sand beaches on Madeira, made with sand brought from Morocco. Two breakwaters keep the water calm, so it suits families well.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in Calheta?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury villa in Calheta cost?
Across our 90+ villas in Calheta, weekly rates typically range from £1,100 to £2,400, with the most affordable from around £800 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
How far is Calheta from Madeira airport?
Calheta town is around 45 minutes to an hour from Madeira airport by road, and Ponta do Pargo a little over an hour. A hire car makes exploring much easier, and our concierge can arrange cars and private transfers.
Are there villas in Calheta for large groups?
Yes. Our Calheta collection includes properties with up to 5 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your villa in Calheta
90+ villas across Calheta's sunny southwest coast, booked direct with our concierge on hand