Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion.
We've compiled the best of the best in Calheta - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
Dating back to the 19th century, this working sugar cane factory is at its liveliest in April and May, right after the harvest that leaves a honey-like scent hanging in the air. You can take a self-guided tour to see how the local rums and liqueurs are made, then sample a few in the tasting room for a small fee.
On a clifftop just outside Calheta, Casa das Mudas is the unlikely setting for one of Madeira's leading art galleries. The museum is split between a 16th-century home that once belonged to the granddaughter of famed Portuguese explorer João Gonçalves and a dramatic modern building of interlocking cubes. The gallery has hosted exhibits featuring the works of Picasso, Dalí, and Francis Bacon, as well as the works of acclaimed local artists. Even if you don't go inside, it's worth visiting for its pristine location.
With golden sand shipped in from Morocco, this calm, sheltered beach makes for enjoyable ocean swimming and strolling in the gentle surf. There isn't any shade, but you can rent beach chairs and umbrellas. Summer weekends can be extremely busy with sunbathers, who crowd onto every inch of sand. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); showers; toilets; water sports. Best for: swimming; walking.
