From Funchal: Nuns Valley, Monte and Sleigh Ride Tour

Monte’s famous wicker toboggan ride is the star here. Two carreiros in white trousers and straw hats steer your basket down the old road from Monte toward Livramento, using their shoes to control the speed. It is short, odd, thrilling, and still feels like a very Madeira thing to do.

I like that the tour pairs this playful ride with Nuns Valley’s mountain views, rather than treating Monte as a quick photo stop. I also like the early departure, which often gets you to the baskets before the long line forms. The tradeoff is a busy four-hour schedule: you see a lot, but you will not have unlimited time at every viewpoint.

Key points at a glance

• The toboggan ride comes first: Early timing is designed to reduce the wait for the 2-kilometer descent.
• Eira do Serrado reaches 1,094 meters: This is your high viewpoint over the isolated Curral das Freiras, or Nuns Valley.
• Monte has more than a thrill ride: You visit the church connected with Emperor Charles I of Austria.
• Local tasting is included: Try traditional liqueurs from Nuns Valley without paying extra for the tasting.
• The tour uses a compact morning schedule: Four hours covers Monte, the valley, two major viewpoints, and return transport.
• Guides add real value: Tony, Daniel, Lucy, Sandra, Victor, and Gama are among the guides praised for clear commentary, humor, and careful driving.

Why the early start matters at Monte

The tour begins with pickup around Funchal and heads to Monte, one of Madeira’s old tourist areas. The exact pickup time depends on your hotel and location. People staying in Santa Cruz, Caniço, or Câmara de Lobos may be collected earlier than those in central Funchal.

The reason for putting Monte first is simple: the toboggan ride gets crowded. The tour company aims to arrive soon after opening, and this timing can make a major difference. Several recent departures reached the baskets with little or no queue, while one slower morning was affected by heavy traffic and cruise-ship crowds.

You ride in a shared minibus, often with a small group of around 12 people, though the exact size can vary. That is a useful middle ground. You get a guide and door-to-door transport without the feel of a large coach excursion.

The guides do more than point out turns in the road. Tony is frequently praised for his humor, punctuality, and ability to explain Madeira in several languages. Daniel is described as lively and attentive, while Lucy has been especially helpful when cruise passengers faced a late arrival. Other departures have featured Sandra, Victor, and Gama.

Guides can change, so book this for the route and timing first. Still, the pattern is clear: the driver is also your guide, and the commentary is an important part of the morning.

Monte’s church and the curious story of the emperor

Before or around the toboggan stop, you visit the church in Monte. It contains the tomb of Charles I of Austria, the last Austro-Hungarian emperor. He died in exile on Madeira and was buried here, giving this hilltop church a connection to European royal history that is easy to miss if you visit Monte only for the ride.

This is not a long church tour. It is a brief cultural stop, but it gives Monte some depth beyond its postcard appeal. You have time to see the church and understand why this place matters before moving on to the more energetic part of the visit.

Monte is also linked to traditional transport. The wicker baskets were once a practical way to get down the steep road from the upper slopes. Today, the ride is mainly for fun, but the carreiros still use the same basic method of guiding the basket with their shoes.

What the 2-kilometer wicker ride feels like

The basket carries two people when paired normally. You sit low to the ground as the carreiros push and steer the sled down the old Livramento road. The descent ends where the men traditionally catch the bus and where the baskets are loaded onto a truck for the return uphill.

The ride is not a theme-park attraction with rails or mechanical controls. It moves along a public road under the direction of the two carreiros. That makes it feel more personal and less polished than a manufactured amusement ride. The guides have plenty of practice, and the carreiros control the speed, but you should still expect bumps, turns, and a genuine downhill run.

The total route is about 2 kilometers. It is over quickly, which is part of the appeal and part of the limitation. You are paying for a distinctive local tradition, not a long thrill ride.

If you book alone, there can be an extra €10 charge because one person may occupy both places on the basket when pairing is not possible. On a rainy day, baskets of three do not operate. If a third person cannot be paired, that person may also need to pay the extra €10.

Children under three can ride on a parent’s lap, but there are no child discounts for this attraction. Keep those rules in mind if you are booking for a family.

At the bottom, you may find souvenir photographs available for purchase. These are not included, and snacks or drinks are also extra.

Eira do Serrado at 1,094 meters

After Monte, the minibus climbs through Madeira’s central mountains toward Eira do Serrado. The road, tunnels, chestnut trees, and eucalyptus give you a sense of how the island’s interior differs from the coast.

The viewpoint sits at 1,094 meters above sea level and looks across to Curral das Freiras, known in English as Nuns Valley. This is one of the strongest parts of the tour. The valley is enclosed by steep volcanic rock, and the high viewpoint lets you see its shape before you descend into the village.

You will have a photo stop and some free time. The views depend on the weather, of course. A jacket is a good idea even when Funchal feels warm, since the mountain air can be cooler and conditions can change quickly.

The stop also helps explain the old routes into the valley. Narrow roads and tunnels can still be seen, and ancient footpaths remain in use by locals and walkers. You do not hike those paths on this tour, but the guide can point out how isolated the valley once was.

Nuns Valley and the story behind its name

Curral das Freiras sits in a deep mountain valley surrounded by lava rock. Its name comes from the nuns who fled there during pirate attacks in the 16th century. The valley’s isolation made it a natural refuge.

One detail is worth clearing up before you go: there is no convent in the village. You can visit a 200-year-old nun’s house for €1, but that entrance is not included. The name Nuns Valley refers to the women who once lived in the area, not to a grand convent building waiting at the center of town.

The village stop usually includes time for views, a drink or snack, and the included liqueur tasting. Traditional chestnut cake and regional pastries are available, but you pay separately for those, along with coffee, tea, and other drinks.

The local liqueurs are made in the area and are one of the more useful inclusions in the price. You can sample several traditional flavors without adding another admission fee. If you enjoy tasting local products, this is more distinctive than a generic souvenir-shop stop.

The main drawback is time. The tour covers a great deal in four hours, and some schedules allow less time in Nuns Valley than you might want. If the valley is your main reason for visiting Madeira, a full-day trip or separate visit would give you more room for a meal, a walk, or the nun’s house.

Pico dos Barcelos closes the morning

On the way back to Funchal, the tour stops at Pico dos Barcelos. At about 355 meters, this viewpoint gives you a broad look toward Funchal and the surrounding coast.

It is a different kind of view from Eira do Serrado. Eira do Serrado is about the enclosed mountain valley, while Pico dos Barcelos helps you understand the spread of Funchal below. The stop is brief, but it breaks up the return drive and gives you one last photo opportunity.

The tour then returns you to your hotel or an arranged drop-off point. The large list of pickup locations covers many Funchal hotels, the lower cable-car station, selected Santa Cruz hotels, and several areas around Caniço and Garajau.

What the $47 price really includes

At $47 per person, this is strong value if you want several Madeira highlights in one morning. The price includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a live guide, the toboggan ride, sightseeing at the mountain viewpoints, and the Nuns Valley liqueur tasting.

The toboggan ride is the key value point. If you arranged transport to Monte and paid for the ride separately, you would still need to organize your own route to Eira do Serrado, Nuns Valley, and Pico dos Barcelos. Here, the driver handles the steep roads and timing.

The price does not include food, coffee, tea, other drinks, the €1 nun’s house, or optional souvenir photographs. These costs are small, but carry some cash if you want pastries or a tasting-room purchase.

Cruise passengers should pay close attention to the meeting point. Shared tours do not collect directly at the cruise terminal. The meeting point is at the Cristiano Ronaldo Museum area, about eight minutes from the ship. Direct terminal pickup is available only for private tours, and cruise guests may pay an additional €4.50 per person if the group is larger than eight.

Pickup from Santa Cruz hotels costs an additional €10 per person. Caniço and Garajau pickups have no additional charge, while early pickups apply in several outlying areas.

Who will enjoy this half-day tour

I would choose this tour if you want a compact introduction to Madeira’s mountain interior and do not want to rent a car for narrow, steep roads. It suits first-time visitors, cruise passengers with a limited morning, couples, and families with older children who will enjoy the basket ride.

It is also a good choice if you like a guide’s commentary. Tony, Daniel, Lucy, and the other guides are often praised for explaining local plants, roads, history, and customs while driving. Their humor helps during the transfers, which make up a fair part of a four-hour outing.

You should think twice if you want long walks or quiet time in Nuns Valley. This is a sightseeing loop, not a hiking tour. You move between several stops, take photos, taste liqueur, and return to Funchal.

The ride also may not suit anyone who dislikes exposed downhill motion, sudden turns, or sitting close to the road. The carreiros are in control, but the experience is still a real street descent, not a gentle scenic tram.

Practical advice before you book

Bring water and a jacket. The jacket matters most at Eira do Serrado, where the elevation can make the air feel different from Funchal.

Wear comfortable shoes with a secure sole. You do not need hiking gear, but you will be getting in and out of the minibus and standing at viewpoints.

Arrive ready for an early pickup. The early start is not a minor detail. It is the tour’s best strategy for avoiding the Monte queue. If you arrive later, traffic and cruise-ship crowds can change the morning.

If your hotel does not appear in the pickup list, contact the company before giving up. Pickup arrangements have sometimes been made for hotels not shown in the menu.

Those driving from Ponta do Sol, Calheta, São Vicente, Santana, or other parts of the island can meet the bus at the main-road bus stop by Hotel Madeira Panorâmico in Funchal, where parking is free.

The tour is offered in English, Spanish, French, German, and Portuguese. Since the same person often drives and guides, commentary may be shared across languages. That can make the explanations less continuous, but it also means you are not simply being transported in silence.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want Madeira’s famous toboggan ride plus the best central mountain views in one well-priced morning. The early Monte arrival, careful drivers, and included tasting make the $47 fare easy to justify.

Skip it if you want an unhurried visit to Nuns Valley or a serious walk in the mountains. For most people with only a few days in Funchal, though, this is an efficient and entertaining introduction to the island’s interior, with enough history and local flavor to keep it from feeling like a simple photo loop.

The safest booking choice is to confirm your pickup point, allow for the early start, and accept that Nuns Valley will be a scenic stop rather than the whole day.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts four hours, including pickup, sightseeing, the Monte toboggan ride, the mountain viewpoints, Nuns Valley, and return to Funchal.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for listed locations. Santa Cruz hotel pickups cost an additional €10 per person. Caniço and Garajau pickups have no additional charge.

Where do cruise passengers meet the tour?

Shared-tour cruise passengers meet near the Cristiano Ronaldo Museum, about eight minutes from the ship. The shared tour does not collect directly outside the cruise terminal.

Is the Monte toboggan ride included?

Yes. The sledge, or toboggan, ride is included in the tour price. A single booking can incur an additional €10 charge if one person occupies both places when pairing is not possible.

What happens if three people want to ride together?

On rainy days, baskets of three do not operate. If a third person cannot be paired with another rider, an additional €10 charge may apply.

Is food included?

No. Snacks, chestnut cakes, pastries, coffee, tea, and other drinks cost extra. The local liqueur tasting in Nuns Valley is included.

Can I visit the old nun’s house?

Yes, but entrance to the 200-year-old nun’s house costs €1 and is not included in the tour price.

What languages are available?

Live guides may conduct the tour in English, Spanish, French, German, or Portuguese.

What should I bring?

Bring water and a jacket. Comfortable shoes are also sensible for getting on and off the minibus and standing at the viewpoints.