THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Navigate Madeira’s lush Monte Palace Tropical Garden and experience the island’s historic wicker toboggan ride. This unique 2.5-hour journey offers a vibrant mix of botany, culture, and adrenaline just outside Funchal.
Navigate Madeira’s lush Monte Palace Tropical Garden and experience the island’s historic wicker toboggan ride. This unique 2.5-hour journey offers a vibrant mix of botany, culture, and adrenaline just outside Funchal.
Book with Madeira Happy Tours
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Madeira Happy Tours · Funchal, Madeira
Madeira’s capital, Funchal, offers an outdoor adventure experience that effortlessly weaves together natural beauty, culture, and local tradition. Madeira Happy Tours invites visitors to spend 2.5 hours venturing through Monte Gardens before finishing with a truly distinct ride—the historic toboggan descent. Located in the lush hills above Funchal, the Monte Palace Tropical Garden is a showcase of the island’s exotic plant species and cultural artifacts. Walking its paths, travelers encounter camellias, orchids, and palms thriving amid striking tile murals and tranquil ponds. The garden itself is a blend of botany and art, rooted in the legacy of Madeira’s rich horticultural history.
The adventure peaks with a ride down the winding roads from Monte to Funchal on traditional wicker toboggans. This unique mode of transportation has been a staple on the island since the early 19th century, historically used by locals to descend the steep terrain swiftly. Today, the toboggan ride offers a thrilling, hands-on connection to Madeira’s heritage—an exhilarating slip down the cobblestone streets guided by expert “carreiros” in straw hats.
This tour is an essential part of Madeira’s outdoor recreation as it merges hiking and sightseeing with cultural storytelling, setting it apart from the region’s more standard hikes or coastal excursions. Madeira Happy Tours delivers a balanced experience, accessible to a broad range of visitors wanting to engage with the island’s natural splendor and local customs in a memorable, straightforward way.
Combining the emerald greenery of Monte Palace with the adrenaline and history of the toboggan slide, this tour packages a genuine taste of Madeira’s outdoor spirit. It’s perfect for travelers craving a curated outdoor experience that’s both scenic and steeped in regional character—adding a distinctive chapter to any Madeira itinerary.
easy.
2–3 hours.
Suitable for most fitness levels; involves walking on garden paths and sitting through the toboggan ride.
Yes, the ride is guided by experienced drivers and is suitable for children accompanied by adults.
The descent is fairly steep but carefully controlled by ‘carreiros’ to ensure a thrilling yet safe ride.
While parts of the garden have uneven paths, the toboggan ride is seated. Please inform the company in advance for arrangements.
The tour starts in Funchal and usually includes transport to Monte; check with Madeira Happy Tours for specifics.
The walk through Monte Gardens takes about 1 to 1.5 hours at a comfortable pace.
Morning light is ideal for capturing the gardens, while midday offers the clearest views during the toboggan ride.
The wicker toboggan ride dates back to the early 1800s as a fast descent method down Monte’s steep roads.
Monte Palace Tropical Garden participates in ongoing efforts to preserve Madeira’s endemic plant species and promote sustainable tourism.
Madeira Happy Tours operates guided excursions across Madeira, offering a wide selection of tuk‑tuk rides, jeep safaris, levada walks and boat trips. The company runs short urban routes in Funchal and historic Old Town tours, panoramic skywalk visits at Cabo Girão, and coastal stops in Câmara de Lobos. Outdoor options include levada walks such as Levada da Referta, Levada do Rabaçal (Risco and 25 Fontes), Levada dos Prazeres and long coastal hikes like Ponta São Lourenço. Full‑day and half‑day jeep safaris explore island peaks, valleys, vineyards and the Nordeste, with tastings of local wines and poncha where listed. Evening experiences showcase Madeiran culture with folk dancing, live entertainment and traditional meals on the Night Island Tour. Guided options use a variety of vehicles — tuk‑tuks for compact city routes, jeeps for rugged terrain, catamarans for sunset and whale watching trips, and guided walking on levadas. Several tours combine activities, for example jeep safaris paired with levada walks or vineyard visits with lunches. Knowledgeable local guides provide route context, historical notes and safety briefings appropriate to each itinerary. Booking choices include half‑day, full‑day and multi‑activity packages. Images and descriptions for each trip outline duration and highlights. Madeira Happy Tours focuses on showcasing Madeira’s landscapes, culture and culinary specialties while providing accessible itineraries suitable for a range of fitness levels. Reservations can be made for individual tours or bundled packages to cover multiple island highlights. Detailed itineraries and booking information are available for each trip on the official tour listings and seasonal schedules.
Book with Madeira Happy Tours