Private: Maderia Island Tour & Famous Monte Toboggan Ride

The driver was excellent and very knowledgeable of the local area. A very scenic driving tour with many opportunities to stop and enjoy local sights and foods

Enjoyable experience a must if you go up the cable car, we did the gardens then the toboggan, only downside was the wait took around a hour to get on but worth the wait. We walked back to Funchel 35 minute walk all down hill, might be worth getting a cab but haggle with them it gets cheaper.

It was fun!!! A lot of fun! Go on and just do it! We laughed a shouted all the way down! It’s two kms of fun! We even bought the tourist snap dot at the end!

From start to finish, Michael was the consummate guide, sharing lots of factual info about beautiful Funchal. We weren’t rushed…he safely maneuvered the narrow streets up and down the steep hills of the city. We got to see amazing vistas from various locations, especially from The higher elevations. He was flexible as well as considerate, so we saw and learned so much about this unique location off the coast of Africa. (The weather canceled the toboggan ride; we had to be flexible ourselves.) Another outstanding Viator excursion!!

this is such a blast going down the streets of Maderia .You travel really quickly but it is really safe .Would say its something you have to do

Did this as a combined excursion that included the cable car ride up to the start of the toboggan ride. There was a fair bit of queueing despite there being 70+ toboggans and 140+ staff. The ride itself was fun, but did not appear to be not as scary or fast as the trip that Susan Calman had, shown on TV a year or so ago. Worth doing, as its a unique experience.

Went on the cable car and toboggan ride as part of an excursion organised by our cruise company P&O. Glad we went on an organised tour as got preferrential place in queue for both cable car and toboggan. Cable car gondola held 6 people seated. Great views looking back at Funchal. Start of toboggan ride a short walk from top cable car station. Toboggan ride is great - speed controlled by 2 staff. Photo taken part way down the ride and available for purchase at bottom toboggan station. Cafe, tat shops and toilets available at bottom toboggan station. Would recommend.

Driver was our tour guide and was very friendly but hard to understand his English. He took us all around as expected. What a beautiful island! Unfortunately, the toboggan experience was sold out to cruise ship passengers so we didn’t get to do that.

. . . I've done it, but never again. I didn't want to do it but my daughter wanted to. All 'Health and Safety' out of the window. So glad to reach the end and left via taxi as soon as possible. I didn't like the attention my daughter received; inappropriate.

It is fun. Just be prepared that it’s 30 euros for two and you will probably queue for an hour. Not a must-do for me, but my son (13) loves it.

Lovely to have a private tour. Guide was full of interesting facts. We really enjoyed all of the trip

Had a lovely day with Roy. Chatted about the area as we drove through. A very relaxed way of seeing the local area around Funchal. When we got to Monte Roy went and got into the queue for the Toboggan ride while we got the tickets. He even offered to stay in the queue if we wanted to have a walk around. Waiting time was about 45 minutes. Would recommend this tour

Great event to do when in Madeira. It is safe, although everything about Health & Safety for us Brits is totally ignored. The trip takes about 8 minutes and makes you laugh all the way down the hill. The team of men who steer the toboggan make the whole thing look very easy, but I’m sure they need a massage at the end of the day. There are photographers strategically located down the route, so you can buy a photo at the end for €10, which does seem worth it, just to have the record of having completed it. The guys will ask for a tip, if you enjoyed it. €5 seemed to be fair. Don’t be fooled by the offers of the taxi drivers who want to take you back to Funchal. The buses are regular and €1.95 will be the price. The taxi’s want a lot more.

Great fun and yes its a touristy thing but all the same a good laugh! Give it ago and enjoy it. It is an experience!

We didn’t have to queue, we got straight on the ride and the whole experience was amazing the ride its self was so fun and the views on the way down are amazing !!! 100% recommend, the ride only last a few minutes but definitely worth it. We even brought the photos for 10 Euros which was a nice little add on. Definitely something fun to do in Madeira.

As the title says, be prepared to queue & bring cash! We arrived on a rainy afternoon. It was €75 for 5 people, cash only. We joined the queue, which is not under cover, so we got wet or you may boil! There are toilets though! We were waiting for about 1.5 hrs. Eventually we got to go on the sleds which was good fun, it's actually a slower ride when it's wet, so feel like it was a better deal! They take photos on the way down which you can buy for €10 each at the end. Despite what other reviews have said, we didn't feel pressured to buy the photos (we did), nor did we get pressed for a tip (we gave them €5). We got a taxi back up to Monte, which cost us €18 for 5 people.

Don't bother yourself with this- We arrived on the first cable car from the bottom and they were not open yet AND THERE WAS ALREADY 1000 PEOPLE IN LINE! When 9am hit they still took a good 20 minutes to get started. I walked back along the line because it is hidden like at Disneyland and it curves. I walked and walked and never did see the end of it. SO I went down the hill about a block and thought I would video other people. It was so much slower and a bit silly compared to watching it on "The traveling man" on TV. The guys came slowly down the hill and came to a dead stop, then the guys had to try and get the sled moving again. Considering the price, the wait the overall hassle? Not worth it. By the way we walked above and the guy running the sleds were so slow that the crowd started yelling at them- comon' lets go! Etc maybe three sleds of two people each every 15 minutes or so. The road is still used for traffic and cars, which slows things down even more. The garden which is right there is a much better choice.

No attraction to much money for this type of tour. The guide was nice but. We payed for it too much.

You have to visit Camaera, recycling like you've never seen,totally amazing. Beautiful country but very hilly, not suitable for wheelchairs though where we were in Lido it was fine. We stayed in hotel Dorasol Florasol, which was on a level street & 2 mins to the bus stop which will take you almost anywhere for €1.90. The open top yellow bus is great value too at €25 for 5 days, you can hop on & off all day. It takes you up the mountains too,where you get a great view of Maderia. The people were all very friendly, and food excellent, value for money in every restaurant we were in.

Very welcoming. Excellent for a thrilling downhill ride. Very busy but well worth the wait. Queue for approximately 40mins. Church and gardens to visit also

Not as scary as some told me, but it’s a fun ride. The queue was nearly 2 hours so get there early to avoid the queues. The guys pushing the toboggan had a mantra the whole way down - money for a beer so pushing for a tip all the time. Your photo is also taken and they have them ready at the bottom for €10

We didn’t actually do the Madeira Island Tour, but we did spend 2 days on the City Sightseeing Tour red buses, which included the Blue route, which climbs the hillside up to the region of Monte where the famous church of our Lady overlooks Funchal. Monte holds beautiful views over Funchal and is the starting point for both the Cable cars to the Marina and the Botanical Gardens, halfway up the hillside. It is also the starting point of the Monte Toboggan Ride. We left the tour bus at Stop 5. Walked around the lookout point, entered the famous church, drank latte at the Cafe then descended the steps to Toboggan station where people queue to go on the Toboggan rides. Obviously during this abnormal Covid19 period, business was quiet. Only a handful of visitors and plenty of waiting Toboggan guides looking bored. Great for us, no waiting required. We boarded and “set off.” It’s great fun and we travelled separately so I could video my wife screaming her head off - ahead of me, ( she was sat with my son. ) The €45 for 3 people was worth it.

2 km descent for 30 euros. Not hair raising but fun. Photo an extra 10 euros. The road is worn smooth by the basket runners and once pushed off the two "gondoliers" jump on a steer with their special rubberised shoes. As you near the intersection and see cars going a cross there a little tredidation but the driveres are used to this and obey the table tennis bat size "stop" signs. The trip doesn't take you all the way down and there are hordes of taxi drivers who pounce and offer fares of 13 to 15 to take you down. There is a bus stop which will cost 2 euros in to Funchal or do as we did and get a group of 6 and hire the bigger taxi together we paid 4 euros a couple.

I suppose it’s a must do if you’re in Madeira just to say you’ve done it. BUT be careful of being ripped off by the “friendly” taxi driver at the bottom of the ride. €30 for the 2km ride back up! I initially thought it was €13 which in itself would be expensive! If we weren’t with elderly parents I would have made a scene and then just caught the public bus out of there. Some of these people have no morals!

nice but not as much fun as stated parts so slow you could get out and walk quicker so not as hair rasing as could be

If you go to Madeira you must put this on your to do list. It is great fun, it looks scary but it is OK, these guys really know what they are doing

Take a toboggan ride in the traditional basket sledges which date back to the 1850’s when they were used as a means of transport by the local residents who wanted to travel quickly from the village of Monte to the city of Funchal. Today the toboggan takes you from Monte, home to beautiful gardens and fantastic views of the city below. The 2 KM course that follows winding streets takes about 10 minutes and reaches speeds of 30 to 40 KM/HR. There are both two-seater and three-seater toboggans available. Some of the toboggans look new and some have a few miles on them. The wicker are deep and comfortable and the toboggan make the downhill trip on wooden runners. Two gentlemen dressed in white outfits and wearing straw hats pushed and steered the toboggan. They are not only the force used to start the journey… their rubber-soled boots they wear serve as the brakes for the toboggan. Get there early in the morning…long lines form quickly as the day progresses. You will have a chance to watch the start of many trips. Our journey to Monte was initiated by the high tech cable car and ended with a rapid downhill trip using 19th century technology.

A very good ride. We were lucky not to have to queue, sometimes I believe there can be quite a wait. Quite an expensive experience but worth it. Remember that as well as the cable car ride to the top and the toboggan fee, your guides will also expect 10 euros when you reach the end, and the photo will cost you another 10 euros. You have been warned, but it's a great ride.

Kto nie zjeżdżał na wiklinowych saniach ten nie był na Maderze. Jedyna w swoim rodzaju na świecie 100 letnia atrakcja turystyczna. Koszt 15 euro od osoby, sanie 2 lub 3 osobowe. Zjazd pełen emocji ale w pełni kontrolowany i bezpieczny. Panowie mają specjalne buty ze specjalnymi podeszwami. W połowie drogi postój i smarowanie płóz parafiną. Na koniec zdjęcia. To trzeba zaliczyć. Polecam