Nun's Valley tours from Funchal: half-day, with the toboggan, or just the viewpoint?
Updated October 7, 2026 · 6 min read
The short answer: for most people, the Nun’s Valley, Monte and sleigh ride tour (€44, four hours): the valley view and the famous wicker toboggan in one morning. If you only want the valley and the lowest price, the Nun’s Valley half-day tour (€28) is the budget pick. The difference between them is the toboggan ride – and a Monte stop – not the valley.
Four options side by side
| Tour | Duration | From | Rating | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nun’s Valley, Monte and sleigh ride tour | 4 hours | €44 | 4.7 (2,079) | Anyone who wants valley and toboggan in one trip |
| Nun’s Valley half-day tour | 3h 30m | €28 | 4.5 (2,391) | Budget travellers who want the scenery without the sledge |
| Nun’s Valley short stroll with mountain surroundings | 3 hours | €22 | 4.6 (335) | Anyone who wants a viewpoint and a short walk |
| Guided tuk-tuk tour to the toboggan rides and Old Town | 1h 30m | €33 | 4.8 (1,046) | Anyone who only wants the toboggan, not the valley |
What Nun’s Valley actually is
Curral das Freiras sits in a basin in the middle of the island, ringed by almost vertical mountain walls. The classic view is from Eira do Serrado, at about 1,095 metres and a good half hour from Funchal; below, the village is known for its chestnuts.
The valley tours are guided road trips, not hikes, which is why all three cost under €50. You are paying for a driver who knows the road and a stop at the viewpoint. How long you get at each stop is the part that varies, so check the programme on the booking page.
The half-day tour: the valley and a poncha
The half-day tour is the one with the most reviews and the lowest rating of the three valley tours. It takes a minibus from the centre of Funchal to Eira do Serrado, continues down to the village and returns via Câmara de Lobos, where you can buy a glass of poncha, the local alcoholic drink with honey, lemon and juice. Hotel pickup is at selected hotels; check yours. Guides speak Spanish, English, French, German and Portuguese.
Its 4.5 stars are the lowest of the three valley tours, though on the largest number of reviews. For something simple and cheap, it does the job.
See availability for the Nun’s Valley half-day tour
The Monte tour: valley plus toboggan
The four-hour tour is a small-group trip that goes to the valley and then across to Monte, the hill village above Funchal where the wicker toboggans start. The ride itself takes only about ten minutes, and what you are paying for is partly the transport that makes it practical: getting up to Monte and back down again without working out buses or taxis.
The booking page has details that matter. Children under three may ride on a parent’s lap. There are no child discounts at this attraction. A single traveller pays an extra €10 for the toboggan, because one person occupies a seat for two. On a rainy day the baskets of three do not go down, and a third person pays an extra €10. Entry to the 200-year-old nuns’ house costs €1. Pickups for Santa Cruz, Caniço and Câmara de Lobos guests are much earlier than for those staying in Funchal.
Our piece on Monte toboggan rides with kids has the age and safety details.
The short stroll: for a viewpoint and not much else
This is the cheapest option and the shortest. It is a half-day trip to the mountains of the central island with a short stroll to a viewpoint above the valley. It works if you want the image and a bit of fresh air; it is not a hike and not a full programme. With 335 reviews its 4.6 stars are less settled than those of the big two.
See availability for the Nun’s Valley short stroll
Only the toboggan: the tuk-tuk option
If the valley does not interest you and the sledge does, the tuk-tuk tour takes you through Funchal with a driver-guide to the toboggan rides, and covers the Old Town on the way. It is one and a half hours and the best-rated of the four. It is a different trip, not a cheaper version of the same one; you will not see the valley.
Weather: the valley is not the coast
The basin sits at altitude, and cloud over the mountains is common even when Funchal is bright. A tour that turns up to a closed-in view is a disappointment, and none of these booking pages offers a guarantee. Read Sun in Funchal, fog up top before you pick your day, and check the cancellation terms on the booking page.
Who should skip it
Anyone who gets carsick on winding mountain roads. The road to Eira do Serrado is a series of bends; speak to your doctor or pharmacist beforehand.
Anyone who wants to hike in the valley. None of these tours does that. For walking, the levada walks are the better choice – and canyoning trips also run in the valley, which we cover in our canyoning comparison.
Anyone short of time. The cheapest options take three to four hours with travel.
Our recommendation
For most people: the tour with Monte and the sleigh ride, €44. It has the better rating and a small-group format, and the toboggan makes the half day feel like a programme.
See prices and dates for the Nun’s Valley and Monte tour
For the lowest price: the half-day tour, €28 – €16 less, and a worthwhile saving if the toboggan does not tempt you.
For a viewpoint and a stroll: the short stroll, €22.
When the extra cost is not worth it: if you were only ever interested in the toboggan, the tuk-tuk tour at €33 is shorter and rated higher.
