Toboggan Ride & Madeira Wine Tasting Tour

If you want a Madeira day that feels like it has both speed and flavor, this one is hard to beat. You get the Monte Toboggan descent, plus a Madeira wine tasting in Câmara de Lobos, with time in Funchal’s big market for local food and crafts. It’s a compact mix, not a slow sightseeing crawl.

I really like how the toboggan ride is the main event, so you’re not spending half your time waiting around. I also like the market stop, because Mercado dos Lavradores gives you a real slice of daily island life, from fish stalls to seasonal fruit up top. The main drawback is that day timing can be tight, and if a guide run is light on explanations, you might feel like you’re moving from place to place without much context.

One more consideration: the ride and market stop are in the middle of a moving schedule, so you’ll want to stay flexible if the day slips due to transport issues or a late start.

Monte Toboggan down Monte to Funchal: the 2 km ride that really earns its fame

This is the part of the day people remember, and it’s easy to see why. The Monte Toboggans are wicker baskets mounted on wooden runners, built for speed. You’ll cover about 2 km on the descent, and it typically takes around 10 minutes from Monte down toward Funchal.

The setup is part of the thrill. You sit on a cushioned seat, and your safety is managed by the driver, who pushes and steers from the rear. Rubber-soled boots act as brakes, so you can feel the driver working the controls through the turns. It’s not just a ride, it’s a hands-on performance where the driver’s skill really matters.

A few notes that help you enjoy it more:

• You’ll travel on a public roadway, so the ride feels fast in a way that a theme-park cart never does.
• The descent is short, so if you’re the type who wants time to take photos from multiple angles, plan to do it in bursts.
• Madeira has been doing this for a long time, with the toboggan method invented as a form of transport in 1850. That gives it more weight than a modern tourist trick.

This is also one of the places where you’ll want the guide to give quick pointers. When the narration is clear, you understand what you’re looking at and why the drivers do things the way they do. When the narration is thin, you may still have fun, but you’ll miss the “aha” moments.

Mercado dos Lavradores in Funchal: azulejos, flower stalls, and the fish hall reality check

Funchal’s Mercado dos Lavradores is housed in a yellow building faced with azulejos. The structure was designed in the 1930s by Edmundo Tavares, and you’ll feel that island-meets-everyday-life vibe as soon as you walk in.

The entrance has a character all its own. Flower sellers in traditional island costume are a signature sight, and their stalls focus on keenly priced cut flowers and bulbs, with delicate orchid blooms that can tempt you into buying a living souvenir. If you like practical shopping, this is where you’ll actually find things you can take home without special packing.

Then comes the fish hall. If you’re squeamish, go in with your expectations set. There are scenes in the fish section that can be intense, with scabbard fish described as having razor-sharp teeth and large staring eyes. This is not a curated seafood counter. It’s what people come here for, and it’s real.

If you want a kinder visual transition, head upstairs. The upper floor has the more pleasant finds: seasonal fruits and vegetables, arranged in a way that makes you pause and browse. It’s also a good spot for photos that won’t feel like you’re documenting something you regret.

The market visit is about 45 minutes, so you’ll want to pick your priorities early:

• Quick look at the fish and the flower stalls downstairs
• Then move up for fruit and produce if you’re more visual than adventurous

Câmara de Lobos wine tasting: monk seals, poncha, and that painterly harbor feeling

Next you’ll head to Câmara de Lobos, one of Madeira’s most atmospheric fishing villages. It’s the kind of place where the harbor gives you an immediate sense of rhythm, with whitewashed houses, small shops, and that laid-back bar stop you can’t quite skip.

The village name ties to monk seals, which are frequent visitors in the harbor area. Even if you don’t spot one, you get the sense this place has been watched by locals and nature for a long time.

There’s also a small but important flavor piece built into the stop: poncha. In the village center, you can taste the local drink in a bar, and it’s an easy way to make the village feel like more than just a photo backdrop.

And yes, there’s art history here too. Winston Churchill chose Câmara de Lobos in 1949 to paint, which helps explain why the views often feel slightly staged, even when they’re completely ordinary.

Henrique e Henrique style Madeira wine tasting: barrels, vineyards, and what fortified wine tastes like

If you want to understand Madeira wine beyond a label, this tasting is a strong move. You’ll see a modern wine lodge setting with huge barrels behind glass, and the producer linked to this stop is Henrique e Henrique, dating from 1850. The lodge is described as owning the island’s largest vineyards and producing some of the island’s best Madeira wines.

Madeira’s fortified style tends to give you a warmer, more layered taste than many other wines. You may get different expressions depending on what’s poured on your day, but the payoff is the same: this is where the wine stops being an idea and starts being something you can describe and compare.

One practical tip for tasting days like this: keep it light on bites you haven’t planned for. The tour includes wine tasting, but it does not include food. If you’re hungry, you’ll probably want to eat earlier or bring something small so you don’t feel dragged down by the sweetness and richness.

Monte route scenery time: when 45 minutes matters more than you think

On the way into and out of Monte, you’ll get scenic views as part of the schedule, with about 45 minutes devoted to that. That matters because Madeira’s viewpoint culture can’t be recreated later at your hotel.

This is also where timing questions can pop up. One issue that has shown up in real-world days is confusion around what else is included, especially if there’s a Skywalk-style stop planned. If that kind of viewpoint is important to you, I’d confirm at the start of the day whether it’s part of your exact route.

If you’re the type who loves viewpoints but hates standing around, you’ll likely do best by keeping expectations focused: you’re here for the toboggan first, and everything else supports the main event.

Pickup, small group size, and the 5-minute wait rule

This tour runs with hotel pickup and drop-off, and it keeps groups small, limited to 8 participants. You’ll also have live guiding in English and Portuguese, with a professional guide plus driver/guide on board.

Pickup is offered from five locations:

• Caniço
• Estreito da Calheta
• Ponta do Sol
• Funchal
• Câmara de Lobos

Drop-off uses the same kind of structure, with five drop-off locations:

• Câmara de Lobos
• Ponta do Sol
• Funchal
• Caniço
• Estreito da Calheta

You’ll usually meet the team at your hotel reception, where possible. If you’re staying somewhere that isn’t a hotel, wait outside by the main entrance.

Timing is strict in a way that’s normal for tours, but worth knowing. The driver will wait no longer than 5 minutes after the scheduled pickup time. And since pickup times can shift, you should check your email or WhatsApp the day before for the most precise pickup schedule and meeting spot.

A final logistics note that can save frustration: if your chosen language isn’t used during the pickup, it may be harder to get clear running commentary at the start. It doesn’t ruin the day, but it can change how connected you feel to the market and village stops. If you care about that, make sure your booking has your preferred language noted.

Price and what you really get for $117 per person

At $117 per person for a 4-hour experience, the value comes from what’s included rather than the number alone. You get:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Port pickup and drop-off
• The Monte Toboggan ride
• A professional guide plus driver/guide
• Madeira wine tasting

What’s not included:

• Food and drinks
• Entrance at Cabo Girão (2 euros per person), if your route includes it

This pricing can feel fair if you’d otherwise pay separately for the toboggan ride and a guided half-day plus transportation. It can feel less perfect if you end up doing only part of the plan. There have been real scheduling problems reported, including days that ended early when a planned component did not happen, and days impacted by bus trouble. Those situations are not controllable by you, but they are exactly why you should keep your day flexible and not stack it with a late dinner plan you can’t move.

The good news is that when the day runs well, the toboggan portion is genuinely the highlight, and the village stop is also a standout.

Who should book, and who should skip the Monte Toboggan and wine tasting

This tour fits best if you want a short, high-impact Madeira day. You get movement, viewpoint time, a major market, a working fishing village, and a fortified wine tasting. If you’re traveling with mixed interests, it also works because not everyone has to love fast rides.

You might love it if you:

• Want one paid activity that clearly anchors the day
• Enjoy food markets but like having a time limit so it doesn’t drag
• Want to taste Madeira wine without trying to plan tastings on your own

You should skip it if you:

• Use a wheelchair. This tour is not suitable for wheelchair users.

My booking call: should you go?

Yes, I’d book this if you want the Monte Toboggan experience plus an easy guided day around Funchal and Câmara de Lobos. When it runs smoothly, the toboggan ride is worth the trip on its own, and Câmara de Lobos adds atmosphere you can feel immediately.

But do book with a little common sense. Confirm any optional viewpoint stop at the start of the day, be ready for tight timing around the market, and eat something beforehand unless you’re comfortable treating the day as sightseeing plus wine, not sightseeing plus meals.

If you want the best odds of a great guide-led experience, aim to join with an earlier pickup window when possible, so your timing stays intact and you get full use of the guided time.

FAQ

How long is the Toboggan Ride & Madeira Wine Tasting Tour?

It lasts about 4 hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $117 per person.

How big is the group?

It is a small group limited to 8 participants.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, and port pickup and drop-off are also included.

Where are the pickup locations?

Pickup can be arranged from Caniço, Estreito da Calheta, Ponta do Sol, Funchal, and Câmara de Lobos.

Where can you be dropped off?

Drop-off is available in Câmara de Lobos, Ponta do Sol, Funchal, Caniço, and Estreito da Calheta.

What is included in the tour price?

The toboggan ride is included, along with hotel and port pickup and drop-off, a professional guide, and Madeira wine tasting.

What is not included?

Food and drinks are not included. Entrance at Cabo Girão is listed as 2 euros per person.

What languages are offered by the guide?

The live tour guide is available in English and Portuguese.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

No, the tour is not suitable for wheelchair users.