Faja dos Padres

Stunning, peaceful and truly special location, between a banana plantation and the ocean. Access is only by cable car, which almost feels like a portal to another world, and Nelio, the operator, is such a joyful person.I would return to Madeira just to stay here again, to wake up to the sound of the ocean and have breakfast overlooking it (shoutout to the chef for accommodating my gluten-free diet).

The house is a bit rustic and worn in places (not modern or luxurious), but very cozy. I wish it were my own summer house.

​If you are looking for a standard hotel experience, keep driving. But if you want to wake up in a small cottage (Tia da Maria) perched directly above the Atlantic Ocean, Fajã dos Padres is an absolute gem. However, such a unique location comes with its own set of quirks. ​The Magic ​The setting is nothing short of spectacular. Our cottage featured a living area, kitchen, separate bedroom, and bathroom, but the highlight was the terrace. Sitting there, overlooking the vast ocean on the south side of Madeira, felt like being at the end of the world. The peace and quiet are unparalleled. ​The Practicalities (and Flaws) ​While the welcome was very friendly, we would have appreciated a bit more help with our luggage and a brief introduction to the cottage. Potential guests should also be aware of a few 'flaws': ​Parking & Access: Parking is available at the top of the cable car, but it’s not guaranteed during public hours (08:00–19:00). The staff will move your car to a secure spot once space opens up, but you are effectively "tethered" to the cable car schedule. Between 22:00 and 08:00, you are secluded in this paradise—plan accordingly! ​The Cottage: The interior is functional but shows its age. There is some concrete decay in the hallway, which can be a bit messy. In the kitchen, the electric stove can be temperamental and sometimes shuts off unexpectedly. We also missed having a sharp knife and scissors. ​Water & Power: The tap water is desalinated seawater and can have a slight brownish tint. While the taste is fine, we preferred buying bottled water for drinking. The walk-in shower is visually dated but provides a lovely hot shower. ​Wildlife: You are in nature here! Expect the loud, rhythmic chatter of Kuhl's petrel (Shearwaters?) from the cliffs early in the morning, and we even had an owl enjoying a noisy midnight snack on our roof.

If I really have to write down negative comments too, well here they are: Late starting hour of breakfast (but exceptions are possible!)/ tap water is very soft, desalinated seawater - bit brownish / bit detoriated but lovely cottage at sea coast/ no real parking lot at cottage site (although we never experienced any parking problems)/ you've got to be willing to adapt to openings hours of cable lift (although exceptional earlier or later use is possible - e.g. to catch a plane)/ cable lift opens at 8:00 and stops at 19:00 hrs (however going out to eat in the evening can if you return between 21:00 - 22:00hrs)/ electricity issues (not in line with todays high standards like in Belgium)/ local wild life (mice, spiders,...) can enter the house unexpectedly

Stunning location

Breakfast repetitive and not really healthy

Lovely welcome from the gentleman who runs the cable car (Nellio?) and Bruno on reception. The whole place is absolutely idyllic and so peaceful. All the staff were so friendly and helpful and the food was great in the restaurant. We really enjoyed the very informative tour around the farm with Fatima

Although we had expected the accommodation to be rustic, it was a little more basic than we’d anticipated.