Porto Moniz
Volcanic rock pools filled by the Atlantic at Madeira's north-west corner — about 40 minutes from Calheta across the Paul da Serra plateau.
Day Trips
Calheta sits at the quiet end of a small island, which means most of Madeira is a day trip, the north coast over the plateau, the capital along the expressway, the peaks in between.
Compare day trips at a glance
Every trip, nearest first, how far it is and what it's best for.
| Destination | Distance & time | Best for | Tours from | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ponta do Sol | ≈15 km · 15 min by road | Sunset, A short outing, Swimming off pebbles | — | — |
| Fanal | ≈30 km · 35 min by road | Photography, Walking, Laurisilva | — | — |
| Porto Moniz | ≈30 km · 40 min by road | Swimming, Volcanic scenery, North coast | — | — |
| Cabo Girão | ≈35 km · 30 min by road | Views, Short stop, Photography | — | — |
| Câmara de Lobos | ≈40 km · 30–40 min by road | Poncha, Fishing harbour, Short stop | — | — |
| Seixal | ≈40 km · 50 min by road | Black sand, Natural pools, Waterfalls | — | — |
| Funchal | ≈50 km · 35–50 min by road | Market, Museums, Wine lodges | — | — |
| Pico do Arieiro | ≈70 km · 1 h 15 – 1 h 30 by road | Sunrise, Above the cloud, Ridge walking | — | — |
The Best Day Trips
From Calheta the island splits into three directions: north over the plateau, east along the coast, and up into the peaks. Here is what is worth the drive.
Volcanic pools, black sand & laurel wood
The north coast
full dayself-drive
Cross Paul da Serra and drop down the other side of the island. Porto Moniz's volcanic rock pools, the waterfall-and-black-sand cove at Seixal, and the ancient, mist-bent laurel wood at Fanal, all within about 40 minutes of Calheta, and all completely unlike it.
Compare operators on GetYourGuide.
Find tours & tickets on GetYourGuide →The capital, the fishing town & the cliff
Funchal & the south coast
full dayself-drive or guided
East on the expressway: Câmara de Lobos, the fishing town Churchill painted; Cabo Girão and its glass-floored platform above the sea; and Funchal itself for the market, the wine lodges and the cable car to Monte.
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Find tours & tickets on GetYourGuide →Above the cloud
The peaks
half day, starting earlyself-drive
Pico do Arieiro is roughly an hour and a half east and up, and the reason to go is sunrise above the cloud layer. It is a very early start from this coast, and the road closes in bad weather, so check before committing.
Compare operators on GetYourGuide.
Find tours & tickets on GetYourGuide →The near coast
West of Calheta
half dayself-drive
Barely a trip at all: Ponta do Sol just east, and the cliff villages and lighthouse west, are all inside half an hour. Good for a day when the plateau is closed in.
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Find tours & tickets on GetYourGuide →Or Browse by Type
All 8 destinations grouped by what they are, pools, forest, towns, villages, viewpoints and peaks.
Laurel Forest
UNESCO-listed laurisilva, the relict forest that covers Madeira's high, wet ground.
Towns
The capital and the larger coastal towns, for markets, museums and a day off the trails.
Câmara de Lobos
The fishing town Churchill painted, and the home of poncha — about 40 minutes east of Calheta.
Funchal
Madeira's capital — the market, the cable car to Monte, the wine lodges and the harbour, 35–50 minutes east of Calheta on the expressway.
Ponta do Sol
Calheta's nearest neighbour on Madeira's sunny south-west coast, fifteen minutes east — a pebble shore, a tunnel-lined seafront and a quiet evening.
Villages
Fishing and farming villages along both coasts, most of them a single street deep.
Viewpoints
Cliff platforms and miradouros, Madeira's most reliable form of scenery.
Peaks
The high interior, usually above the cloud, and usually an early start.
Day Trip FAQs
What is the best day trip from Calheta?
Porto Moniz, for the volcanic natural pools, about 40 minutes across the Paul da Serra plateau, and a complete contrast to Calheta's engineered sand. Pair it with Seixal or Fanal to make a full day of the north coast.
Can you visit Funchal from Calheta in a day?
Comfortably. It is 35–50 minutes each way on the expressway, which leaves a full day for the market, the cable car to Monte and the wine lodges.
How do I get to Fanal?
Drive up onto Paul da Serra and follow the ER209 along the ridge, roughly 35 minutes from Calheta. Go in mist if you can: the fog is what makes the trees look the way the photographs promise.
Is Pico do Arieiro worth it from Calheta?
Yes, but treat it as a dawn expedition. It is about an hour and a half each way, and the point is being above the cloud at sunrise. Check the road status before setting off; it closes in bad weather.
Which day trips need a full day?
The north coast loop and Funchal with the south coast. Everything west of Calheta, and Ponta do Sol, fit comfortably into a half day.
Day-trip guides
In-depth guides to the trips worth the drive, how to go, what to see, and when to skip it.
Day Trips
The Best Day Trips from Calheta
Where to go from Calheta, Madeira, Porto Moniz, Fanal, Seixal, Cabo Girão, Câmara de Lobos, Funchal and Pico do Arieiro, with honest drive times.
2 min read
Beaches
Praia da Calheta: Madeira's Golden Beach, Explained
Why Calheta's beach is golden when the rest of Madeira is black rock. The 2004 build, the imported sand, the breakwaters, and what it is actually like to swim there.
3 min read
Seasonal
The Best Time to Visit Calheta, Madeira
When to visit Calheta, why there is no closed season on Madeira's south-west coast, when the sea is warmest, and which months give you the best odds on the levadas.
2 min read
Transport
Getting to Calheta, Madeira: Airport, Expressway & Buses
How to reach Calheta on Madeira's south-west coast, Madeira Airport, the VR1/VE3 expressway west, the Rodoeste buses, and whether you need a hire car.
3 min read