Eira do Serrado Hotel & Spa is a 26-unit rural hotel on the rim of the Curral das Freiras valley, right beside the Eira do Serrado viewpoint at about 1,095 m. It is registered as a hotel rural (RNET 6692) and is 14.6 km by road from central Funchal, which makes it one of the few mountain-side bases that is still close to the capital.
What kind of property is it?
The Turismo de Portugal registry lists 25 rooms and 1 suite for 52 guests, one unit adapted for reduced mobility, and an opening year of 2001; it shows no closure period this year. The registry records an indoor pool, a spa and meeting rooms for up to 300 people. The hotel's website describes 26 contemporary rooms facing the village of Curral das Freiras, a heated indoor pool with mountain views, a gym, a games room, a bar with terrace, a handicraft shop, buffet breakfast and free Wi-Fi in all areas. Its restaurant, Voltinhas do Serrado, serves Madeiran and international food.
Where exactly is it?
The hotel stands at Eira do Serrado, in the parish of Curral das Freiras (municipality of Câmara de Lobos). The viewpoint is about 200 m away in a straight line, and the short footpath to it starts beside the hotel. Road distances (OSRM routing on OpenStreetMap data):
- 14.6 km to central Funchal (Mercado dos Lavradores area);
- 30 km to Madeira Airport.
Pico do Areeiro, the start of PR 1 Vereda do Areeiro, is 4.3 km away in a straight line. The shortest route that OpenStreetMap routing finds (13.4 km) uses a forest road, the Caminho Florestal das Serras de Santo António, whose condition we could not verify; ask the hotel before relying on it.
Who is it a good base for?
It suits travellers who want a quiet mountain setting while staying within easy reach of Funchal, and anyone planning a sunrise visit to the viewpoint or a day in Curral das Freiras. For PR 11 and PR 1 the hotel is workable but not ideal; Ribeiro Frio is closer to both. Classified trails need a booking and fee: see trail booking and fees. More about the area on our mountains page.
How do you get there without a car?
OpenStreetMap shows a bus stop called Eira do Serrado about 100 m from the hotel. SIGA lists a Funchal – Curral das Freiras route (181, formerly 81), but we could not confirm which services stop at the viewpoint, so check the current timetable; see getting around Madeira without a car.
Practical notes
The official website lists free parking among the benefits of booking direct, and an airport transfer service. The Booking.com listing gives check-in from 14:00 and check-out until 12:00. At this altitude the hotel can sit in cloud while Funchal is sunny, and evenings are noticeably cooler than on the coast.
