PortoBay Serra Golf and the village of Santo da Serra

In the middle of the Madeira countryside, there is a sanctuary for lovers of nature, popular traditions . ... and golf! Situated on a welcoming estate with luxury facilities, the PortoBay Serra Golf, in the village of Santo da Serra, gives you access to the best that Madeira Island has to offer. .. At the same time, it offers the opportunity to get deeply involved in nature and engage in one of the most relaxing sports in the world!

 

 

The Hotel

The atmosphere is refined and at the same time cosy, homely and private. The number of rooms is small and if you are planning some quiet and relaxing holidays with golf, mountain excursions on foot, bike or horseback, and tea in the late afternoon, all with that country house feeling, we are here to welcome you. You've come to the right place!

 

The main house is a historic building dating from 1920. The Art Nouveau architecture perfectly evokes the age in which it was built. The slate roof and the use of flowered tiles are also noteworthy.

 

The house was initially used as a holiday residence, but in the 1940s it became a tea house for Funchal's high society, and later the headquarters of the Golf Club. Today, the building is a Regional Heritage Site and houses the hotel. The establishment has hosted famous golfing personalities such as Severiano Ballesteros and Trent Jones. The grounds are a picture postcard of greenery and a colourful small garden.

 

The PortoBay Serra Golf also has an indoor swimming pool, gym and sauna at your disposal and a massage room to take care of you.

 

After a vigorous day of hiking and teeing off on the golf course next to the hotel, there's nothing like a delicious afternoon tea with scones as only PortoBay Serra Golf knows how to serve. At dinner, the invitation extends to a tasty meal with suggestions from the local cuisine, washed down with good Portuguese wine. Dinners and lunches* are served in the old dining room at the Santo da Serra Tea House, now Avó Micas — where hospitality and a warm, intimate atmosphere are just as important as the flavours!

 

*Lunch is served only at weekends

 

Golf

The Santo da Serra Golf Club, just a few yards from the PortoBay Serra Golf club, is considered to be the birthplace of golf in Madeira.

 

The 27-hole course was built in 1937 and redesigned in 1991 by the famous architect Robert Trent Jones and perfectly combines sport and nature. You can improve your technique here in the different practice areas: putting greens, chipping green, bunker practice and driving range. The course is pleasant and challenging, and the landscape overlooking the ocean is uniquely beautiful. ..

 

All our guests have access to the Club and enjoy special conditions for playing golf.

 

Vila do Santo da Serra

If golf is what made you visit, it certainly won't be the only reason! Santo da Serra is a hospitable village, a place of many Madeira traditions and an access point to the wonderful landscape surrounding the hotel.

 

Every Sunday this village hosts a market where local traders sell their wares. Here you can sample the popular culinary delicacies of Madeira such as the famous bolo do caco - or cool down with traditional Madeiran drinks such as poncha, or even more famous in this part of the island, cider! There is a little bit of everything, from fruit, vegetables and the typical flowers of the region, to local clothing and handicrafts.

 

At reception, you can arrange independent tours or join excursions in the area. Whatever your preference, you'll find there's plenty to explore old streets, traditional wood-oven bakeries, a country cheese factory, artisan shops and various gardens that blend into the landscape.

 

Take advantage of the village's geographical position; it is a great starting point for country walks. The island’s old irrigation channels, the levadas, give you access to some amazing natural scenery. The Levada Nova, Levada do Furado and Vereda das Funduras are some of the options in this area. It is also common among hotel guests to rent a car to explore the island from the interior. ..

 

In contrast, at Quinta do Santo da Serra, you can watch animals and see various trees and native and exotic plants. You can also enjoy the viewpoint where there is a great panorama over the mountains of Machico, Ponta de São Lourenço and Porto Santo Island.

 

Finally, there is always the other obvious choice: return to PortoBay Serra Golf and simply relax. ..

 

Portobay Serra Golf refurbished

The PortoBay Serra Golf hotel on Madeira has undergone a thorough renovation of its decoration and is now brighter and more contemporary!

 

The makeover starts right at the entrance of the hotel, with the new décor in the lobby and reception area, and light, modern, comfortable furniture to enhance the rural experience, with wood and warm textiles predominating.

 

The Standard rooms have been totally refurbished and now have new décor that further enhances the relaxing and peaceful character conveyed by a hotel surrounded by nature.