From Funchal: Nuns Valley, Monte and Sleigh Ride Tour

Madeira has two speeds, slow villages and fast drops. This tour hits both, with a classic Monte toboggan ride and big panorama stops that make the island feel like a secret you can see all at once. I love how the day is built around the best viewpoint timing, so you get those sweeps without feeling rushed. I also love the built-in culture hit in Monte, where royal history and everyday village life sit side by side. The only drawback is the schedule is packed for a half day, so if you want long, quiet hangs at each place, you may feel the pace.

You’ll be guided in Spanish, English, French, German, or Portuguese, and the guides I’ve heard most praised for this kind of route are names like Tony, Daniel, Lucy, Carlos, Sandra, Victor, and Gama. That matters, because Madeira’s roads are twisty and the talking points are actually worth hearing, from old paths to why this valley is called what it’s called.

Key things that make this tour worth your time

• Beat the toboggan rush with an early start that helps you get down before the biggest line grows
• Monte’s Emperor connection in the church where the tomb of Emperor Charles I of Austria can be found
• Eira do Serrado at 1,094 m for chestnut and eucalyptus views across a huge chunk of the island
• Curral das Freiras story tied to 16th-century pirate fears, plus included local liquor tasting
• Livramento is the thrill: a 2 km downhill toboggan ride, with a bus pickup waiting at the bottom
• Pico dos Barcelos viewpoint at 355 m before you head back to Funchal

The smart mix: viewpoints, village history, and a real downhill thrill

What makes this experience work is the combination. Madeira can feel scenic in a postcard way, but this day makes it feel three-dimensional. You get high viewpoints that show how the island is chopped up by valleys and ridges. Then you drop into the villages, where history is visible in church walls, old roads, and local traditions.

The toboggan ride is the obvious highlight, because it’s a 2 km downhill on an old route, with the feeling of speed that only an original wooden track can give. But I think the other MVP here is the way the day is paced. You start early, so you spend less time watching other people queue and more time actually moving through the sights.

At $47 per person for a 4-hour outing, the value is in the fact that you’re not paying extra for the signature thrill. Even if you skip the optional extras like chestnut cake or the tiny fee to enter the nun house, you still get a full loop of major Madeira flavor.

Monte: where toboggans and imperial tombs share the same air

Monte is one of those places that feels instantly “Madeira” the second you arrive. It’s older than the souvenir strip vibe in the city, and it’s built on steep streets and views that keep pulling your eyes upward.

Before you go downhill, you’ll spend time in Monte with a guided stop at the church where the tomb of Emperor Charles I of Austria is located. It’s a detail that surprises people, because it’s not what you expect to find in a hillside village in Portugal. Yet it’s exactly the kind of crossroad Madeira is famous for, a meeting point of culture and trade routes over centuries.

You’ll also have photo stops along the way. The good part is you’re not just stopping at random. These stops are placed so the bus ride gives you context: how the coastline and valleys look when you’re gaining elevation, and how Monte fits into that geography.

One practical note: Monte is also where the toboggan logistics start to matter. Going first is a recurring theme for a reason. If you arrive early, the ride feels like a planned adventure instead of a waiting game.

Eira do Serrado: Madeira’s big-view viewpoint at 1,094 m

After Monte, you head to Eira do Serrado, one of Madeira’s standout lookout points. The altitude is listed at 1,094 meters, and you feel it. The air tends to look sharper up there, and the view stretches in layers: ridgelines, the folds of the island, and distant patches of green that look impossibly close.

This stop is also a nature lesson. You’ll see surrounding chestnut trees and eucalyptus plants, and the area is described as a natural wonder with ancient footpaths that locals and tourists still use. Even if you don’t walk far, the point is to understand that Madeira’s “scenery” is also a working environment, where people still move along old routes.

You’ll also notice traces of the island’s earlier infrastructure, like narrow roads and tunnels that are still visible. That’s not just scenery trivia. It helps you read the island when you’re back in the bus, because you start seeing why Madeira developed this way, with roads cut where the landscape allowed them.

The free time here is the breathing space of the day. You get a chance to look without someone herding you every 30 seconds, and you can take in that wide, stage-set feeling that makes Eira do Serrado such a memorable midpoint.

Curral das Freiras: lava rocks, pirate fears, and liquor tasting that’s actually included

Next comes Curral das Freiras, commonly called the Nuns Valley. This is not a generic valley view. It’s isolated, surrounded by lava rock, and that volcanic setting changes how you perceive everything. The village looks tucked away, like it’s protected by geology as much as by human effort.

Here’s the core story, and it’s the kind you remember. The valley’s name comes from nuns who once inhabited the area as they fled from pirate attacks in the 16th century. It’s dramatic history, but what makes it feel real is that the valley still has a lived-in village rhythm.

Important clarification: there is no convent in the village. Instead, there is a nun house. The tour includes an optional entrance fee of €1 if you want to see the inside.

This is also where the day gets fun in a very Madeira way. You’ll get traditional chestnut cake and pastries at the village, but those are not included in the price. The good news is the headline tasting is included: you’ll try different traditional liquors during the included stop.

That liquor tasting is part of the value equation. $47 for a half day can feel tight in other places. Here, you’re not just paying for transport and a view. You’re getting an authentic, local product served on-site, and it’s timed so you’re not exhausted before you sit down.

The Livramento toboggan ride: 2 km of old-school action

Now for the part your legs will talk about later: the toboggan ride. This downhill is described as 2 kilometers, and it runs on an old road of Livramento. The bus waits at the bottom and picks you up after the ride ends.

That detail is more than logistics. It changes the vibe. Years ago, the men who operate the sleds (the carreiros) had to carry the toboggan back up to Monte. Now, the system is adapted so you get the thrill without turning it into an uphill job.

If you’re worried about safety, you shouldn’t overthink it. The ride is managed by the operators, and a big theme from the better guide experiences is timing and calm control. Guides like Tony and Carlos are often praised for how they run the day so people feel comfortable, and getting you to the start early helps a lot.

Weather matters. The tour notes a rainy-day rule: on a rainy day, baskets of three do not go down. If there’s a third person involved, they must pay an additional €10. This is one of the few moments where the experience can shift based on conditions, so if you’re traveling in a wet week, keep that in mind.

Also watch for solo pricing. If you book as one person, there can be an additional €10 fee for the toboggan ride, because a single rider occupies two places when pairing isn’t possible.

If you do nothing else in Madeira, this is the one activity that feels like it belongs to the island itself, not just the view.

Pico dos Barcelos: a 355 m viewpoint that closes the loop

Before you return to Funchal, there’s a stop at Pico dos Barcelos, a viewpoint at 355 meters. It’s a smaller number than the big altitude stops, but don’t underestimate it. Lower viewpoints are often where you see how daily life fits into the mountains.

You’ll have a photo stop here, and it acts like a bridge between the heights and the city. From this kind of viewpoint, Funchal’s shape makes more sense. The coast, the built-up areas, and the green folds behind it all line up.

Then you head back to your hotel in Funchal. For many people, that return timing is exactly right. You’ve done the signature, you’ve seen the key valleys, and you’re not stuck with the whole day gone.

Price and Logistics: where the $47 really lands

Let’s talk money the way you should for a short tour. The headline price is $47 per person for a 4-hour outing, and the sledge (toboggan) ride and guided tour are included. You also get hotel pickup and drop-off, plus the included liquor tasting in Curral das Freiras.

What’s not included keeps the optional choices simple:

• Snacks, cakes, drinks like coffee, and tea
• Entrance to the 200-year-old nun house is €1
• Photo stops are included in the experience, but you’re buying souvenirs if you want extras

Pickup fees are where you’ll want to double-check your location.

• If you’re coming from Santa Cruz hotels, there’s an additional €10 per person pickup cost listed.
• For Caniço and Garajau hotels, pickups have no additional cost.
• If you’re a cruise guest and need pickup from the cruise terminal meeting point, that’s listed as €4.50 per person extra. The tour does note it does not pick up in front of the Cruise Terminal for shared tours.

Solo riders also have a possible add-on tied to the sled capacity. And weather can add that extra €10 rule if the group configuration becomes three people on a rainy day.

Is it still good value? In my view, yes, because the ride is the expensive-feeling part of the day. If you were buying that separately, you’d likely spend more. The only risk is if you’re in an area with extra pickup fees, or if rain triggers the toboggan basket rule.

Who should book this Monte, Nuns Valley, and sleigh ride tour

This is a great fit if:

• you’re on a first Madeira trip and want a tight highlight circuit
• you want the iconic Monte toboggan without spending time figuring out transport
• you like history details, like the tomb of Emperor Charles I of Austria, mixed into an active morning
• you enjoy guided storytelling, especially from guides who keep things lively and on time, like Tony, Daniel, Lucy, and Sandra

It might be less ideal if:

• you want a slow pace or lots of unstructured time to wander
• you’re traveling right before or after a long excursion day and need serious downtime
• you’re sensitive to weather changes, because the rainy-day rule can affect ride configuration

If your goal is a classic Madeira half day that feels local and not overly staged, this does that job.

Practical checklist for your morning

The tour’s own advice is simple, and it works:

• bring water
• bring a jacket

That jacket part matters because the higher viewpoints can feel cooler, and the island weather can change quickly.

Also, be ready for early timing. The main reason the toboggan ride feels smooth is because the day is designed to help you reach the start point before the bulk of the line. Guides often manage this carefully, and it’s one of the most praised parts of the experience.

Finally, know that the guide speaks Spanish, English, French, German, and Portuguese, which helps a lot when you want to understand the story behind the views and the valley.

Should you book this tour?

If you’re choosing between “more views” and “more fun,” this tour is a smart compromise. You get major viewpoints at Eira do Serrado and Pico dos Barcelos, you get the unique downhill of the Livramento toboggan ride, and you get a culturally specific stop in Curral das Freiras with included liquor tasting. That combination is hard to beat in just four hours.

Book it if you like iconic Madeira experiences, especially one where the route planning helps you spend less time queuing and more time doing. Skip it only if you need a slow, relaxed day with minimal logistics, because this is designed as a compact highlight run.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

It lasts 4 hours.

Is the toboggan ride included in the price?

Yes, the sledge (toboggan) ride is included.

What is included at Curral das Freiras?

You stop in Curral das Freiras for a guided visit and aperitif-style time, and you get free liquor tasting in the village. Traditional chestnut cake and pastries are available but not included.

Is there an entrance fee for the nun house?

Yes. Entrance to the 200-year-old nun house costs €1.

Are drinks like coffee or tea included?

No. Snacks, cakes, and drinks like coffee and tea are not included.

Is cruise ship pickup included?

Pickup for cruise liner guests is included from the meeting point at the Cristiano Ronaldo Museum. Pickup from the Cruiseliner Terminal is an additional €4.50 per person.

Are hotel pickups free in Funchal?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, but there can be extra cost depending on your area. Santa Cruz hotels have an additional €10 per person pickup cost. Hotels in Caniço and Garajau have no additional pickup cost.

How many languages does the guide speak?

The live tour guide speaks Spanish, English, French, German, and Portuguese.

What happens on a rainy day for the toboggan ride?

On a rainy day, baskets of three do not go down. If there is a third person involved, that person must pay the additional €10.

Is there an extra fee for solo riders?

Yes. Bookings for one person have an additional €10 cost for the toboggan ride because a single person occupies two places when possible.

What should I bring?

Bring water and a jacket.