Calheta, a municipality on the southwest coast of Madeira Island, features a diverse landscape ideal for outdoor pursuits. The region encompasses dramatic coastal cliffs, the high-altitude Paul da Serra plateau, and the lush Laurissilva Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its extensive network of levadas provides unique pathways through verdant valleys and past waterfalls, supporting several sports like hiking, jogging, touring cycling, mountain biking, and more. This varied terrain makes Calheta a prominent destination for exploring Madeira's natural environment.
111
Routes
4.5
(16156)
Average rating
80707
People visited

4.7
(6938)
33,190
hikers
13.3km
04:37
560m
560m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.6
(3253)
17,966
hikers
8.02km
02:55
400m
400m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.6
(1311)
5,019
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.7
(608)
3,328
hikers
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

4.7
(12)
768
runners
13.2km
01:56
530m
530m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

5.0
(4)
371
runners
7.93km
01:12
390m
390m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

5.0
(2)
101
runners
20.1km
02:43
610m
610m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Some sure footedness required.

5.0
(1)
69
runners
7.13km
00:54
130m
130m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

4.0
(3)
22
riders
30.5km
03:32
1,160m
1,150m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

29
riders
14.1km
01:37
640m
650m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(3)
16
riders
20.0km
02:03
810m
810m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
9
riders
8.67km
00:54
220m
220m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Advanced riding skills necessary.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

3
riders
69.8km
06:54
3,040m
3,040m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
3
riders
37.1km
03:27
1,550m
1,540m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
riders
48.4km
04:31
2,100m
2,100m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
riders
49.5km
03:53
1,390m
1,390m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

4.7
(6)
35
hikers
Hard mountaineering route. Good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

4.7
(6)
42
hikers
19.7km
06:31
620m
620m
Hard mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.7
(3)
23
hikers
Easy mountaineering route. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

6
hikers
12.2km
06:02
1,170m
1,170m
Hard mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

4.3
(3)
60
riders
64.7km
04:30
2,150m
2,160m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

5.0
(6)
38
riders
98.7km
06:53
3,210m
3,210m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

17
riders
37.2km
02:27
1,160m
1,160m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

13
riders
66.7km
04:23
2,160m
2,160m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?
Calheta offers a variety of outdoor activities including Hiking, Jogging, Touring cycling, Mountain biking, Mountaineering, and Road cycling. The region features more than 150 routes across these sports, catering to diverse preferences.
Calheta is known for its extensive network of levada walks, such as Levada das 25 Fontes and Levada do Risco. Other popular hiking areas include the Laurissilva Forest and the Paul da Serra plateau, offering varied landscapes.
Yes, Calheta offers easy hiking options for beginners. A dedicated guide, Easy hikes around Calheta, provides suitable routes. These trails often follow the gentle gradients of the levadas.
Calheta provides family-friendly hiking routes. The Family-friendly hikes around Calheta guide details options suitable for all ages. These routes often feature accessible paths and interesting natural sights.
Calheta features several waterfall hikes, particularly around Rabaçal and along levada paths like Levada das 25 Fontes. The Waterfall hikes around Calheta guide lists these routes, showcasing the region's natural beauty.
Calheta offers diverse cycling routes for touring, mountain biking, and road cycling. Cyclists can find options in the Cycling around Calheta, MTB Trails around Calheta, and Road Cycling Routes around Calheta guides.
The Laurissilva Forest in Calheta is a UNESCO World Heritage site, characterized by its lush vegetation and ancient laurel trees. It offers a unique ecosystem for hiking and exploring, often shrouded in a mystical atmosphere.
Calheta is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 947,000 visitors sharing their experiences. The routes in Calheta have an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars from over 213,000 ratings.
Yes, komoot offers several guides for Calheta, covering various sports and interests. These include guides for Hiking around Calheta, Running Trails around Calheta, and Mountain Hikes around Calheta.
Calheta benefits from a mild climate year-round, making it suitable for outdoor activities in any season. The municipality experiences one of the lowest rainfall rates on Madeira Island.
The official website for the Municipality of Calheta is www.cmcalheta.pt/. For direct inquiries, the phone number is +351-291-820-200.

