Part of our complete guide: Activities and tours on Madeira
17 options from around €31, mostly as a tuk-tuk tour with the toboggan ride.
How it works
Getting up: the cable car from Funchal’s seafront to Monte (about 15 minutes, superb views), or by tuk-tuk, or on bus 20/21.
At the top: the church of Nossa Senhora do Monte, with the carreiros starting alongside. The ride ends in Livramento, not in Funchal — from there it is a taxi or bus back, or a 20-minute walk downhill.
The toboggan itself costs about €30 on the spot for two people, €25 for one. That is the number against which the combo deals do or do not add up.
The combos
| Option | from | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tuk-tuk to the toboggan + old town | €33 | 1.5 h |
| Monte Tropical Garden + toboggan (tuk-tuk) | €110 per pair | 3 h |
| Nuns’ Valley, Monte and toboggan | €44 | 4 h |
| Private: cable car, toboggan and skywalk | €195 per group | 4 h |
The four-hour tour to Curral das Freiras (the Nuns’ Valley) with Monte and the toboggan has over 2,000 reviews at 4.7 — it pairs the ride with the Eira do Serrado viewpoint, which makes a whole day of it.
What to watch for
- The toboggan is often not included in the combo price. The commonest complaint in this category: the tour takes you there, the ride is extra. It is in the details — read them.
- Photos are taken en route and sold afterwards. No obligation.
- It is not a bobsleigh run. It is unhurried, braked, on a public road in traffic.
- Queues on cruise-ship days. Go early morning or late afternoon.
- The cable car (about €12.50 one way, €18 return) is worth the trip on its own.
Book it or do it yourself?
Yourself is easy here: cable car up, pay for the toboggan at the top, add the Monte Palace Tropical Garden, bus back. One morning, no booking.
Book the tuk-tuk version if you are unsteady on your feet — Monte is steep — or the Nuns’ Valley combo, because Eira do Serrado is awkward to reach without a car.
Common questions
How much does the Monte toboggan ride cost?
About €30 on the spot for two people, €25 for one. That is the number against which the combo deals do or do not add up. A tuk-tuk to the toboggan plus the old town starts at €33, the four-hour Nuns’ Valley tour with Monte and the toboggan at €44, and a private trip with cable car and skywalk at €195 per group.
How does the Monte toboggan ride work?
Two men in white trousers and straw hats push a wicker basket on runners down the tarmac road from Monte, braking it with the rubber soles of their boots. About two kilometres, roughly ten minutes, since 1850. The ride ends in Livramento, not in Funchal.
Is the toboggan ride included in the price of combo tours?
Often it is not — that is the commonest complaint in this category: the tour takes you there and the ride is extra. It is in the details. Photos are taken en route and sold afterwards, with no obligation to buy.
Can you get to Monte without booking a tour?
Yes, and here that is the simpler route: take the cable car from Funchal’s seafront, about 15 minutes and roughly €12.50 one way or €18 return, pay for the toboggan at the top, add the Monte Palace Tropical Garden, and take the bus back. One morning, no booking.
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