Updated 2026·Checked on foot·West of Calheta, on its own coastal shelf
A small parish on a shelf of land below the cliffs, with cobbled lanes too narrow for cars and a boulder shore that made its name in surfing. Until the coast road tunnels were built, getting here meant a footpath. It still feels like the end of something.
Jardim do Mar · Settlement-era villageStephen Colebourne / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Period
Settlement-era village
Location
About 9 km by road, roughly 15 minutes' drive
Entry
Free
Hours
Open access
Time Needed
2 hours
Hours and prices last checked 2026, they change, so confirm on the day.
History
How it came to be
Jardim do Mar is one of the eight parishes of the Calheta municipality. Its right-hand point break drew international surfers from the 1990s; a sea wall built along the shore in the early 2000s changed the wave and remains contentious among surfers.
What You'll See
On a visit
The lanes and painted houses of the old village core; the seafront promenade and boulder shore; the cliff backdrop; and the old footpath connections towards Paul do Mar for anyone walking rather than driving.
How to Visit
By car through the tunnels from Calheta; parking is tight, so use the marked areas above the village. The old core is walked, not driven.
Best Time
Late afternoon
Getting There
Location
About 9 km by road, roughly 15 minutes' drive · West of Calheta, on its own coastal shelf
It has one of Madeira's best-known right-hand point breaks and drew international surfers from the 1990s. A sea wall built in the early 2000s altered the wave, and the change is still argued over. It is a break for experienced surfers, not beginners.
You can drive to the village, but the old core is a network of narrow cobbled lanes best walked. Park in the marked areas rather than threading through.
