House

Achadinha

Arco da Calheta, Madeira, Portugal

The Mountain Cottage Achadinha is located on Madeira, the flower island or island of eternal spring. This is a typical Madeiran house built with local basalt stones. The property is an authentic refuge in the mountains of Arco da Calheta, a stone's throw from the Madeiran Laurissilva forest.

In 2004, the host family Gouveia began their journey in the tourism sector in Arco da Calheta. After a few years of experience in managing rural tourism cottages, they decided to look for their own place in the mountains. They came across Achadinha and decided to renovate the main house and share it with guests from 2019 as part of their family-run tourism project.

The house is one of the last structures on the border between the urban area and the forest reserve in Madeira. There are several flower-filled terraces around the house from which guests can view the landscape from different perspectives - a picturesque setting with rural houses and the Atlantic Ocean in the background.

The house has some old details that have been passed down from generation to generation. The creativity of combining all these relics into a harmonious composition makes the house something very special. The house has a kitchen, a living room with a fireplace, two bedrooms and two bathrooms.


Rooms + Rates

per night
Cottagefrom150 €

Sustainable

ArchitectureRestored in an eco-friendly manner from the ruins of a typical Madeiran basalt stone house, the property blends into the natural surroundings and is surrounded by gardens. All wooden furnishings (kitchen, cupboards, tables and chairs) were handmade by the host family from recycled waste wood.

FoodCottages are self-catered and have their own cooking facilities. Organic vegetables and fruits are growing in the garden. The organic waste from the holiday homes is collected, processed ecologically and used as fertilizer. Guests' well-preserved food leftovers are collected and redistributed.

The people who work at the accommodation come from Madeira and receive good working conditions and fair pay. The hosts use leftover building materials that they use to renovate their homes to improve and preserve public spaces, such as: public water fountains, streets and paintings. Sometimes the hosts also offer people in need bed linen, towels, thermal blankets and mattresses that are no longer used in the houses but are still in good condition.

EnvironmentThe property separates waste, uses energy-efficient appliances and uses alternative cleaning products. In addition, the laundry dries in the sun, the gardens are irrigated with natural springs and old materials were reused for the furnishings and decoration. The hosts also support local, sustainable agricultural projects. They also prefer to publish their holiday home on partner platforms that are committed to nature and climate protection.


Characteristics

  • Typical Madeiran cottage made from local basalt stones
  • Located in the idyllic mountains of Madeira with a great view of the Atlantic
  • Quiet location right on the edge of the Laurissilva forest (UNESCO World Heritage Site), close to Rabaçal and the famous 25 Fontes and Risco Levada hikes
  • Lots of great activities right on site: hiking, mountain biking, canyoning, trail running, jeep tours, dolphin and whale watching, boat tours, sport fishing, etc.

Cottage2 BedroomsOwn cooking facilitiesChildren welcomeWi-Fino disabled accessno Poolno pets

Features

  • Two bedroom house for up to 3 people
  • Well-equipped kitchen
  • Two bathrooms with shower
  • Living room with fireplace
  • Barbecue area in the garden
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Rooms + Rates

per night
Cottagefrom150 €

Location + Directions

By car

The hosts recommend having your own car to explore the island and go on excursions in the surrounding area. The house is located near the forest, in a rural area, with not much public transportation. From the airport it takes about 50 minutes to drive to Achadinha (52 km).


Availability