Calheta is on the southwest coast of Madeira. Whilst in Calheta town consider visiting the historic, picturesque fishing villages of Paul do Mar and Jardim do Mar which were venues in 2001 for the World Surfing Championships.

See

• Engenho da Calheta (Sugar Cane Mill). A museum and a sugar cane processing factory in the Calheta district of Madeira. There are two mills for crushing the sugar cane. The waste or bagasse falls down a chute and is removed by a conveyor belt below the mills. Some of the machinery is 200 years old and steam powered. The museum and factory with a cafe are situated about half-way down the hill between the Calheta Marina roundabout outside the two tunnels and the ocean front road next to the white sand beaches of Calheta district. (updated Nov 2017)

Eat

Try the local gastronomic delight of shellfish known as 'lapas' or other fresh fish dishes in the restaurants in the villages next to the ocean.