Guided Toboggan Ride and Madeira Wine Tasting Tour

Speed, wine, and market colors in Funchal. I love how this half-day tour stitches together a Madeira wine tasting in a modern lodge with the Monte toboggan descent down to Funchal, all with a local-food-and-places feel. It is a very “do this, then that” day, so you come away with stories, not just photos.

What I like most is the variety. You get a real market stop at Mercado dos Lavradores, then you shift to a wine setting where you can actually see huge barrels through the glass. The group stays small (up to 8), and pickup helps you spend less time figuring out logistics.

One consideration: this ride is weather-dependent, and the toboggan portion ends with you in the Funchal area. If you want to keep exploring in Monte afterward, you may need a return plan, since one earlier rider noted it is about a 30-minute walk or a taxi back up.

Quick highlights

• Mercado dos Lavradores in a yellow azulejos building: Fish, exotic fruits, local crafts, plus flower sellers in traditional island dress
• Monte toboggan ride is built in: A 2 km (1 mile) descent that takes about 10 minutes
• Cushioned sliding seat and hands-on drivers: Drivers push and steer, then brake with rubber-soled boots
• Henrique & Henrique wine lodge tasting: Huge barrels visible from a glass-fronted, modern space
• Old-school Madeira, dated 1850 and 1930s: Monte toboggans and the winery both trace back to 1850, the market design to the 1930s

Madeira wine lodge barrels, market colors, and one big slide

This tour is a clever mix for a first visit to Madeira. In about 4 hours 30 minutes, you can see three different sides of the island, without spending the whole day on buses or trying to piece together separate tickets.

You start in Funchal with Mercado dos Lavradores, then you move on to the Monte area for the toboggan experience. The final piece is a Madeira wine tasting at Henrique & Henrique in Camara de Lobos, where the lodge’s big, glass-fronted interior makes the wine part feel less like a lecture and more like a real place of production.

If you like your sightseeing with a little action and a little tasting, this package fits. And if you prefer a calmer day, you can treat the toboggan as the highlight, then enjoy the views at a slower pace.

Mercado dos Lavradores: yellow building, azulejos, and flower sellers

Mercado dos Lavradores is one of the best stops for understanding how life moves in Funchal. The market sits in a yellow building faced with azulejos, designed in the 1930s by Edmundo Tavares. Even before you start browsing, you get that strong sense of place, because it feels built for the island rather than imported for tourists.

Plan on about 30 minutes here. During that time, you can browse the stalls without feeling rushed. The market is known for fish, exotic fruits, and local crafts, so it hits multiple categories of interest, not just one.

One of my favorite details is the entrance, where flower sellers in traditional island costume have set up their stalls. It is one of those simple visuals that makes the market easier to remember later. You might see cut flowers with keen pricing, bulbs kept in tubs, and delicate orchid blooms, all of which are the kinds of souvenirs that feel Madeira-specific.

What to watch for: if you want photos, the entrance area is a good place to start, because that is where the costume-and-color element lands first. And if you are shopping, keep a bit of time in your pocket, since orchids and bulbs can be tempting even if you are not planning to buy.

Paroquia de Nossa Senhora do Monte: where the toboggan begins

Next comes the Monte area and the Paroquia de Nossa Senhora do Monte stop. This is where the toboggan ride energy really starts to build, because you are getting close to the moment you will be sliding down the route toward Funchal.

The key detail here is the distance and time. The toboggan run covers about 2 km (1 mile), and it is described as a descent that takes around 10 minutes. That is not long enough to feel tedious, but it is long enough that you actually experience speed, not just a gentle glide.

Monte’s toboggans have been running for a long time, and Madeira’s version was invented as transportation in 1850. You also get a nice historical flavor from a famous literary reference: Ernest Hemingway described it as exhilarating. Even if you do not care about literary trivia, the point is useful, because it sets the tone. This ride is not designed as a slow attraction.

The Monte toboggan ride: cushioned seat, rubber-soled braking

This is the part you came for, and it is included in the price. The ride uses a wicker basket mounted on wooden runners. The seat is cushioned, so it feels more supportive than you might expect for something that looks old-school.

You ride with drivers who control the sled. They push and steer from the rear, using rubber-soled boots as brakes. That gives the ride a hands-on feel. You are not just sitting and hoping for the best, you are riding within a system where the driver actively adjusts.

Safety-wise, the tour emphasizes that you are in the hands of the toboggan drivers throughout. You can also expect a steady experience because this is a repeatable, established route that people do thousands of times each year.

The practical consideration is the “public highway” aspect. It is a real descent route down toward town, so you should treat it like an activity that depends on conditions. The tour notes that it requires good weather, and that matters because you are sliding on wooden runners.

Also think about what happens after. One rider’s practical note is worth keeping in mind: the ride ends lower down, and getting back to the top of Monte can mean a taxi or a walk of about 30 minutes. Even if pickup or drop-off is part of your tour day, it still helps to know that Monte is not right next to the finish point if you plan to keep exploring on your own afterward.

Monte gardens and Funchal viewpoints: your pause before the slide

Even with the toboggan being the headline, Monte is not only about the downhill. The tour route includes time to enjoy the gardens and the view of the Funchal city area.

This is a smart sequencing choice. If you only showed people the sled and pushed them onto it, the experience would feel rushed. Here, you get a chance to stand back and look out first, then go down.

When you are on Madeira, views are not just scenery. They help you orient yourself. After looking down at Funchal from Monte, the later parts of your day make more sense, because you can connect the wine stop back to the coastline and the town layout.

What I recommend: take a minute to look before you board. Not for long. Just long enough to remember what direction you are sliding toward.

Camara de Lobos and Henrique & Henrique: Madeira wine tasting with huge barrels

The final stop mixes place with tasting, and that is where the tour really changes pace. You head toward Camara de Lobos, with a visit to a promenade area and then a stop at Henrique & Henrique.

The wine lodge setting is described as glass-fronted and modern, with huge barrels you can see from inside. That matters because it makes the tasting more visual. Instead of being handed a small sample and told what you are drinking, you are tasting with the production side of Madeira right in front of you.

Henrique & Henrique dates from 1850. The lodge is described as owning the largest vineyards on the island, and the firm produces what they position as some of the best Madeira wines. The lodge has also won a string of medals and awards in recent years, including attempts to dispel a fusty image of Madeira wine.

That last detail is actually practical. Madeira has a reputation that can sound old-fashioned, so it helps to taste it in a place that is pushing it forward. If you have never liked fortified wines in the past, the modern presentation and the focus on recognition can help you judge it more fairly.

Expect about 45 minutes at this stage, with the tasting part included in the experience price. You will have time to sample the wine and ask questions during the visit, without feeling like the whole thing is a quick stop-and-go.

Price and value: what you get for the money

The price is listed at $104.72 per person for a tour running about 4 hours 30 minutes. That sounds like a lot at first, until you break down what is included.

You are not just buying sightseeing. You are getting:

• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Port pickup and drop-off
• Madeira wine tasting
• The toboggan ride (included in the price)

Also, the group size is capped at 8. A smaller group often means less waiting and more efficient use of time at each stop, especially at a market where foot traffic can make slow-moving groups annoying.

One more value point: this tour is booked well in advance on average. That is usually a sign that the schedule works for people and that the activity sells out. If you are traveling at a busy time, I would not treat this as something you can casually book last minute.

Now the honest downside: you are paying for a structured package. If your plan is to wander the market on your own, sample wine whenever you feel like it, and do the toboggan separately, you could potentially mix and match cheaper options. But if you want a smooth day where you know what you will do next, the package price starts to feel fair fast.

Logistics that actually matter: pickup, timing, and mobile tickets

This tour is built around convenience. Pickup is offered, and you can be collected from your hotel or from the port area. That is especially helpful in Funchal, where getting from one neighborhood to another can be quick one moment and complicated the next depending on where you are staying.

You also get a mobile ticket. That reduces hassle, because you are not hunting for printouts. It also helps when you are moving between stops with limited time.

Timing-wise, the scheduled stops give you a rough rhythm:

• 30 minutes at Mercado dos Lavradores
• 45 minutes at the Monte area stop
• 45 minutes for the wine lodge experience

The rest of the time is transit and the ride itself. The toboggan descent is described as about 10 minutes, but the overall Monte section gives you time to get set up and enjoy the surrounding gardens and view.

Who should book this Madeira combo tour

This is a great fit if you want one compact day that includes:

• local market texture in Funchal
• an iconic Monte activity you can understand quickly
• a structured Madeira wine tasting at Henrique & Henrique

It also makes sense if you like guided pacing. The day moves between three distinct experiences, and a guide helps you spend your energy enjoying instead of figuring out what to do next.

I would also say it is ideal for first-timers on the toboggan. The ride is short, clearly defined, and included, so you can try it without extra ticket decisions.

On the other hand, if you do not handle speed well or you prefer to move slowly with lots of free time, this package may feel a bit tight. And because it requires good weather, you might need a backup plan if the forecast looks questionable.

Should you book it

Yes, if your Madeira trip includes Funchal and you want two signature experiences wrapped into one guided day, this tour is a solid choice. I like the balance: market first, viewpoint and action next, wine tasting to close. It feels like a complete slice of the island rather than a single-activity stop.

Before you book, I would make two checks:

1. Are your dates stable enough for an activity that requires good weather?
2. After the toboggan ride, will you want to return to Monte on your own, or are you happy staying in Funchal until the end of the day?

If both answers are yes, you are likely to come away feeling like the money bought real access to the best parts of the day, not just a seat on a bus.

FAQ

What is the tour duration?

The tour lasts about 4 hours 30 minutes.

Where does the tour take place?

It is in Funchal, Portugal, with stops including Mercado dos Lavradores, the Monte area, and a wine lodge stop connected to Camara de Lobos.

Is hotel or port pickup included?

Yes. The experience includes hotel pickup and drop-off, plus port pickup and drop-off.

What is included in the price?

The price includes tasting Madeira wine, hotel and port pickup and drop-off, and the toboggan ride.

How long is the stop at Mercado dos Lavradores?

The market stop is listed as 30 minutes.

How long is the stop related to the Monte Toboggan area?

The Monte stop is listed as 45 minutes, with the descent described as 2 km (1 mile) in about 10 minutes.

Is the toboggan ride included or an extra ticket?

The toboggan ride cost is included in the price.

How long is the wine lodge stop?

The wine lodge stop is listed as 45 minutes, with admission ticket included.

What group size is this tour limited to?

This tour has a maximum of 8 travelers.

What happens if weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled due to poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.