From Funchal: Nuns Valley, Monte and Sleigh Ride Tour

The sharpest thrill here comes early: you ride a traditional Monte toboggan down 2 kilometers of road with two carreiros steering the wicker basket. I like that the early pickup is designed to beat the queue, and I like how much scenery fits into four hours, from Monte to the high cliffs above Nuns Valley. The trade-off is a brisk schedule, with limited time at some stops.

I also like the useful extras. The $47 price includes the sleigh ride, hotel transport, a guide, and a tasting of local liquors in Curral das Freiras. Just check the pickup details carefully, especially if you are staying in Santa Cruz, Caniço, Câmara de Lobos, or arriving by cruise ship.

Key points at a glance

• The toboggan comes first: Early departures aim to put you near the front of the line before Monte fills up.
• A 2-kilometer ride: Two carreiros guide the wicker sled down the old Livramento road.
• Nuns Valley from above: Eira do Serrado sits at 1,094 meters, with a dramatic view into the isolated valley.
• Local tasting included: Try homemade liquors associated with Curral das Freiras at no extra charge.
• A useful Funchal overview: Pico dos Barcelos gives you a broad view over the city and surrounding hills.
• Short, full morning: The four-hour format works well if you want several signature sights without giving up a whole day.

Why this four-hour Madeira tour works

Madeira can be hard to see efficiently. Roads climb quickly, viewpoints are scattered, and the most striking valleys sit well above Funchal. This tour solves that problem with a compact route that combines a fun ride, mountain scenery, local history, and a taste of island food and drink.

You travel in a guided minibus, with hotel pickup and drop-off available at many Funchal addresses. The guides speak English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, and German, and the strongest part of the experience is often the running commentary. Guides including Tony, Daniel, Lucy, Sandra, Victor, and Gama have been praised for clear explanations, humor, careful driving, and good timekeeping.

The small-group setup also matters. One recent booking described a comfortable air-conditioned minibus carrying around 12 people. That is a very different feel from a giant coach excursion, especially on Madeira’s narrow mountain roads.

At $47 per person, the tour is good value if you plan to take the toboggan ride anyway. The ride is included, as are transport, guiding, and liquor tasting. You still pay for coffee, snacks, cakes, and the optional visit to the old nun’s house, but the main paid attraction is already covered.

Monte and the island’s unusual downhill transport

Monte is one of Madeira’s old visitor stops, high above Funchal. The area is best known for its church, gardens, cable car access, and the famous wicker toboggans. This tour visits the church where the remains of Charles I of Austria, the last Austro-Hungarian emperor, are kept.

That historical stop adds some depth before the more playful part of the morning. Charles I spent his final years in Madeira, and his tomb gives Monte a connection to European history that is easy to miss if you come only for the ride.

The toboggan itself is the main event. You sit in a wicker basket mounted on wooden runners while two carreiros in white clothing and straw hats control the descent. They steer with their feet and use their shoes to slow the sled. The route runs for about 2 kilometers along the old road from Monte toward Livramento.

It is not a high-speed amusement park ride, but it is lively and unusual. The road slopes downhill, the basket moves with a satisfying rush, and the carreiros keep the sled under control. The ride ends lower down, where the men and baskets are collected and taken back by truck. In earlier years, the carreiros had to carry the sledges uphill themselves.

The tour’s early start is more than a minor scheduling detail. Monte’s toboggan ride is popular, and lines can grow quickly. Several people found that arriving close to opening time meant little or no waiting. One group was riding within 20 minutes of opening, while another experienced a long delay after heavy traffic and a large cruise-ship arrival.

That means the early pickup is worth accepting. You may lose a little sleep, but you gain a better chance of riding before the main crowd arrives. Traffic and cruise-ship schedules can still upset the plan, so no operator can promise an empty queue every day.

A few practical points deserve attention. The basket normally takes two people. If you book alone, there can be an extra €10 charge because you may occupy both places. The operator may pair solo riders when possible, but this is not guaranteed. On rainy days, three people do not ride together, so a third person may also face the €10 supplement.

The ride is included in the tour price, but it is still a physical activity. You need to sit in the basket and follow the carreiros’ directions. Children under three can ride on a parent’s lap, and there are no child discounts for this attraction.

Eira do Serrado and the view into Nuns Valley

After Monte, the minibus heads into the Central Mountains. The road passes chestnut trees and eucalyptus, with old footpaths, tunnels, and steep slopes showing how people once moved around the island before modern roads made these valleys easier to reach.

The key stop is Eira do Serrado viewpoint, at 1,094 meters above sea level. From here, you look down toward Curral das Freiras, usually called Nuns Valley in English. The valley is enclosed by tall volcanic rock, giving it a remote, almost hidden feel even though it is reached by road today.

The view is the reason to bring a jacket and water. Mountain weather can shift quickly, and the lookout is much cooler than Funchal. Clouds may also change what you see. On a clear morning, the view reaches across the steep folds of the island. In mist, the cliffs and valley can feel even more dramatic, though photography becomes less certain.

This is a photo stop with some free time, not a long mountain walk. The ancient paths are visible, but the tour does not turn into a hike. That makes it suitable for people who want strong scenery without committing to a full walking excursion.

I would not choose this tour if you want a slow, quiet visit to every viewpoint. The route is designed to show several places in half a day. One useful criticism is that some people wanted longer at Nuns Valley. You will see the essential view, but you may not have time to wander at length.

Curral das Freiras, the valley of the nuns

The village of Curral das Freiras lies deep in the mountains and takes its name from the nuns who fled there during the 16th century to escape pirate attacks. The settlement’s position, surrounded by steep volcanic walls, made it a natural refuge.

A small but important correction: there is no convent in the village. You may see the 200-year-old nun’s house, which has a €1 entrance fee, but it is not a convent. The tour does not include that admission.

The stop gives you time for a look around and a tasting of homemade liquors associated with the valley. This is one of the better local touches in the morning. The tasting is included, and the drinks are made in the area rather than being a generic hotel-bar sample.

Chestnuts are closely tied to the valley, and you can buy traditional chestnut cake and pastries here. These are not included, along with coffee, tea, and other drinks, so carry a little cash or a payment card if you want a snack. The food stop is optional, but it gives the visit more local flavor than a simple photograph from a roadside lookout.

The village also has a large souvenir shop and a restaurant. The stop is fairly practical, with a chance to use facilities, browse, taste, and take photographs. If you are hoping for a long village walk, set your expectations lower. The time is shared with several other parts of the route.

Pico dos Barcelos and the return to Funchal

The final viewpoint is Pico dos Barcelos, at about 355 meters. It offers a broad view over Funchal, often described by guides as a natural theater. After the enclosed mountain views of Nuns Valley, this stop gives you a different sense of Madeira’s capital and its hillsides.

It is a short photo stop rather than a major attraction requiring a separate visit. That is useful at the end of a busy morning. You can get one more wide view, take photographs, and then return to your hotel or agreed drop-off point in Funchal.

The tour has many pickup and drop-off points around Funchal, including the promenade, major hotels, the cable car’s lower station, the Cristiano Ronaldo Museum area, and several resorts. If you are staying somewhere not shown in the booking menu, contact the operator rather than assuming pickup is impossible.

Cruise passengers should pay special attention. Shared tours do not collect people directly at the cruise terminal. The meeting point is at the Cristiano Ronaldo Museum area, about eight minutes from the ship, and cruise guests are told to meet there. A cruise-terminal pickup may involve an additional €4.50 per person for groups of more than eight, while private tours follow different arrangements.

Santa Cruz hotel pickups cost an additional €10 per person. Caniço and Garajau hotels have no extra pickup charge, according to the tour details, but pickup times are earlier for Santa Cruz, Caniço, and Câmara de Lobos. If you are driving from outside Funchal, the meeting point is near the Hotel Madeira Panorâmico bus stop on the main road, where free parking is available.

These details may sound fussy, but they can make or break a short excursion. Confirm your exact meeting place, arrive early, and do not treat the listed pickup time as flexible if you are joining from outside central Funchal.

What the guides add to the morning

A good guide matters on this route because the scenery arrives quickly and the roads are demanding. The better guides do not simply point at a cliff and name it. They explain the island’s plants, old roads, local history, and the way the toboggan system works.

Tony appears repeatedly as a strong guide choice, with praise for his humor, multilingual commentary, punctuality, and calm handling of narrow roads. Daniel is described as lively, attentive, and entertaining. Lucy has been noted for local stories and for helping keep a delayed cruise arrival from ruining the outing.

Sandra received similar praise for her warmth and clear explanations, while Victor was singled out as a careful driver. Gama was described as friendly, punctual, and comfortable speaking English. Guide assignments can change, so you cannot book a specific person unless the operator confirms it, but these names give you a good idea of the style to expect.

The guide may speak in several languages during the same trip. That can mean commentary takes a little longer, but it also makes the tour workable for mixed-language groups. The best part is the mix of facts and humor, which helps fill the driving time without making the ride feel like a lecture.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this trip if you have only a few days in Madeira and want the island’s best-known mountain sights without arranging a rental car. It is especially useful for first-time visitors based in Funchal, cruise passengers with a carefully timed shore visit, and families with older children who want scenery plus a clear hit of excitement.

The toboggan ride also suits people who want something distinctively Madeiran. It is not just another viewpoint or bus stop. You are using a form of transport that has served Monte’s visitors for generations, guided by carreiros on the old road.

The tour is less suitable if you dislike early starts, queues, short stops, or winding mountain roads. It is also not the right choice for someone seeking a long hike or a relaxed full-day exploration of Nuns Valley. The schedule covers a lot, so you trade depth for range.

Bring water and a jacket. Wear sensible shoes for getting in and out of the basket and minibus, and leave room in your bag for local liquor or chestnut treats if you decide to buy them.

Final call: good value with one clear priority

Book this tour if the Monte toboggan ride is high on your Madeira list and you want to pair it with Eira do Serrado and Curral das Freiras. The combination is hard to beat for $47, since transport, guiding, the ride, and liquor tasting are included.

The strongest tip is simple: take the early pickup seriously. Getting to the baskets before the crowds is the difference between a smooth, exciting start and a long wait. If you can accept a fast-paced morning and confirm your pickup point, this is a practical and fun introduction to Madeira’s mountain side.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts four hours, including pickup, the Monte toboggan ride, the viewpoints, Curral das Freiras, and the return to Funchal.

Is the Monte toboggan ride included?

Yes. The guided tour price includes the sledge, or toboggan, ride.

How far does the toboggan ride go?

The ride covers about 2 kilometers down the old road of Livramento.

Where does the tour visit in Nuns Valley?

The tour visits Curral das Freiras, includes a local liquor tasting, and allows time for photographs and a stop for optional chestnut cake and pastries. The €1 entrance to the 200-year-old nun’s house is not included.

Is there really a convent in Nuns Valley?

No. The village has a 200-year-old nun’s house, but there is no convent there.

What languages are available?

The live guide service is available in English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, and German.

Where do cruise passengers meet the tour?

Shared-tour cruise passengers meet near the Cristiano Ronaldo Museum, about eight minutes from the ship. Shared tours do not collect passengers directly at the cruise terminal.

What happens if I book the toboggan ride alone?

A solo booking may require an extra €10 charge because one person can occupy both places on the basket. Riders may be paired when possible, but pairing is not guaranteed.