Associação dos Carreiros do Monte is the body behind Madeira's toboggan rides, in Monte above Funchal. Its carreiros push and steer handmade wicker sleds down the public road, two men to each sled. The run covers about two kilometres and takes seven to ten minutes, ending part of the way down the hill rather than in the city. Tickets are sold at a kiosk at the start, a few minutes from the top station of the Funchal cable car. The ride is short, and the walk or taxi back is part of the plan.
Associação dos Carreiros do Monte
Two carreiros steer a wicker sled two kilometres down a public road, braking with the soles of their boots.
- Entrance
- Ride tickets are bought at the kiosk at the start: €30 for one person, €40 for two (prices quoted in mid-2026). The photo taken during the run costs €10 extra.
- Parking
- Paid car park about 140 metres from the start. The closer lot, roughly 90 metres away, is private.
- Difficulty
- The ride itself needs no effort. Getting back does: about 2 km and roughly 20 minutes on foot, steeply downhill into Funchal, or an uphill walk to the cable car station.
- Transport
- Funchal cable car to Monte; bus stops Monte (line 5) and Largo Fonte (line 569) are about 140 metres away.
- Advance booking
- Not needed. Tickets bought in advance do not skip the queue — everyone lines up and is called forward to the kiosk.
- Hours
- Monday to Saturday 9:00–18:00. Closed on Sunday.
What makes it special
The sled is a wicker basket on wooden runners. It has no engine and no brakes of its own. Two carreiros in white push it off from Monte, then ride the runners behind, steering with ropes and slowing the sled with the soles of their boots. The run covers about two kilometres of public road and lasts seven to ten minutes. It is not fast. Sleds leave in batches: around 25 groups set off, then roughly ten minutes pass before the next lot goes. The ride ends part of the way down the hill, not in Funchal.
Good to know
- Rain stops it. The toboggans do not run while it is raining, or after rain during the night; the operator suspends the runs for safety.
- The queue is at the kiosk. Tickets are sold on site, and the wait can reach an hour.
- Carry euros. Card and debit payment is listed at the kiosk, but one visitor in 2026 was told cash only.
- Photos and tips. A photo is taken on the run and sold at the finish for €10, and tipping is pushed hard at the end.
- Toilets. Free public toilets stand within about 50 metres of the start.
Getting there
Most people come up on the Funchal cable car, and the start is a few minutes' walk from its top station in Monte. Bus stops and paid parking sit within about 150 metres. There is no approach walk to speak of: the sleds are lined up on the road, and the queue forms at the kiosk beside them. Getting back down is the part to plan for, because the ride finishes well above Funchal.
Best time to visit
Best: a dry day, late in the afternoon, when the line at the kiosk can be short.
Avoid: rain, and the morning after a wet night — the runs stop for safety and the trip is wasted.
The wait is the unpredictable part. One visitor queued for an hour; another walked up around 5pm to a short line. Arriving late leaves less margin if the queue turns out to be long.
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Frequently asked questions
Where does the toboggan ride end?
Part of the way down the hill, well short of Funchal. From the finish you walk on into the city, take a taxi, or go back up to the cable car station. Taxi fares from there are steep.Does it run in the rain?
No. The toboggans do not operate while it is raining, or after rain during the night, for safety reasons.How long is the ride?
Seven to ten minutes, over about two kilometres of public road.Is it suitable for children?
Yes. The sleds are slow, the ride suits all ages, and children are welcome.