House

Calhau Grande

Arco da Calheta, Madeira, Portugal

Calhau Grande is located on Madeira, the so-called Hawaii of Europe. The property includes eight different sized, country-style cottages with breathtaking panoramic views of the Atlantic.

Calhau Grande is a great place for those looking for a quiet retreat and want to experience the island lifestyle up close. Surrounded by rocks and tropical greenery, the seafront cottages are spread across different terraces, so each has its own private garden.

The host family lived in Madeira's capital Funchal in the early 1990s and were looking for a quiet place to spend their weekends and holidays in the countryside. They eventually found Calhau Grande, a wild place with large rocks, terraces, centuries-old ruins and beautiful sea views. They decided to restore the ruins step by step to build their family home. This later became their first rental project, where they have been welcoming guests since 2004.

Calhau Grande is located in Arco da Calheta, a friendly and quiet village in a bay overlooking the ocean. It is located in the west of Madeira, which is considered the sunniest part of the island. In this place, which is 250 meters above sea level, you are surrounded by green spaces, banana plantations and tropical gardens.

Guests can smell the flowers, relax by the shared swimming pool, enjoy beautiful sunsets and discover the agricultural areas with fruit trees, vegetables and herbs.


Rooms + Rates

per night
Cottagefrom120 €

Sustainable

ArchitectureBuilt from the ruins of a typical Madeiran basalt stone house, Calhau Grande is surrounded by gardens and blends naturally into the surrounding area. All wooden furnishings (kitchen, cupboards, tables and chairs) were handmade by the host family man 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. The organic waste from the holiday homes is collected, processed ecologically and used as fertilizer.

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 houses to improve and maintain public spaces, such as: B. 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 utilizes a variety of sustainability practices, including the use of photovoltaic panels to generate energy. The 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 artificial outdoor lighting has a timer to save energy and protect the environment. The hosts also support local, sustainable agricultural projects and offset their emissions through compensation. They also prefer to publish their holiday home on partner platforms that are committed to nature and climate protection.


Characteristics

  • Individually designed cottages with panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and the surrounding tropical landscape
  • Located in a quiet village in the west of Madeira
  • Experience wonderful sunsets
  • Terraced garden with many native plants and fruit trees
  • Many activities are possible in the surrounding area such as hiking, mountain biking, canyoning, trail running, jeep tours, dolphin and whale watching, boat tours, sport fishing, etc.

Cottages8 housesOwn cooking facilitiesChildren welcomeWi-Fino disabled accessPoolno pets

Features

  • 8 cottages of different sizes for 2 to 6 people
  • All houses have their own cooking facilities
  • Each cottage has a private outdoor area
  • Pool (9 x 5 meters) with sun loungers and seating
  • Large garden with its own fruit and vegetable cultivation
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Rooms + Rates

per night
Cottagefrom120 €

Location + Directions

By car

Even though there is even a bus connection to Arco da Calheta, the hosts recommend having your own car to explore the island and go on excursions in the surrounding area. From the airport it takes about 45 minutes to drive to Calhau Grande (48 km).


Availability