Paul do Mar is a district in the municipality of Calheta. The district stretches along the coast, and covers an area of about 1, 4 sq km and according to some sources – 1, 7 sq. km. the name of the district derives from its geographical location: the "Paul" means an elongated, elongated zone, as evidenced by the location along the southwest coast of Madeira island.

Originally the area was called Sitio da Lagoa, which translated meant "the dam". Reportedly, in the past the area was subject to flooding when the ocean overflowed and flooded fields. The thickness of the water was sometimes about one meter. As a result, there was started the production of salt, but later the operation had been discontinued. Since then, we have built a new, more high reinforced embankment against the sea, the tides of the ocean were not so terrible.

On the territory of Paul do Mar is the Catholic Church, which was consecrated in honor of the patron Saint of the district of Santo Amaro (Saint Maurus), who was a disciple of Saint St. Benedict of Nursia.

Today to Paul do Mar can be reached by two roads: one connects the district with Porto Moniz, Santana, Calheta and Funchal, and the second associates of Paul do Mar with fajã da-Ovelia and Jardim do Mar and runs along the Atlantic ocean. And up until the late 60s before the settlement could be reached only by boat.

Paul do Mar is one of the most important fishing centres in the archipelago. On the territory of Paul do Mar is 5 settlements: Igreja, Lagoa, Quebrada, Cerrado da Cruz and Ribeira das Galinhas. In addition to fishing, the residents of the district are engaged in agriculture, particularly the cultivation of bananas. Also developing a tourist destination, including ecotourism: tourists can observe dolphins and whales.