Things to do in Calheta

Calheta sits on Madeira's sunnier west coast, roughly 40 minutes from Funchal by the VR1, and its main draw is the island's largest stretch of sand — imported gold sand trucked in from Morocco during a 2004 landscaping project, not a natural beach, so do not expect the black volcanic grit typical elsewhere on the island.

The marina alongside it holds a small cluster of cafes and a diving centre, with sea temperatures around 19-23C depending on season.

Calheta also works well as a base for day trips further west to Paul do Mar and the Ponta do Pargo lighthouse, both under 30 minutes away, and the resort stays open and busy through the low winter months when the south coast keeps its milder temperatures.