Socalco Nature Calheta

Socalco Nature Calheta takes its name from the socalcos, the stone-walled terraces that Madeirans carved into steep slopes to create land for farming. The hotel sits on such terraces just above the sea in Calheta, on the island's south-west coast. Its twenty rooms and houses are spread among vines, vegetable beds and fruit trees, and an old manor house on the estate was restored as part of the project, created by Madeiran chef Octávio Freitas.

The estate is managed on permaculture principles. It uses solar energy, collects rainwater and water from the levada channels, composts kitchen waste and separates its rubbish. Walls and roofs are insulated to reduce heating and cooling, guests choose whether linen is changed, and biodegradable products and reusable packaging are preferred. Only a small part of the land was built on, and stone, wood and material from old ruined buildings were reused in construction.

Produce from the organic garden and orchard goes to Razão, the on-site restaurant, which works with local suppliers and preserves traditional island recipes. Guests can join farm and kitchen activities, explore the levada walks and coast around Calheta, or simply enjoy the ocean views from the terraces. Calheta is reached by the coastal expressway from Funchal.