Ride the cable car up
From Funchal's old town, the Teleférico glides up to Monte in about 15 minutes, with the whole bay opening beneath you.
A Madeira Rite of Passage
The Monte toboggan
Two men in white cotton and straw boater hats, a wicker basket on greased wooden runners, and a 2-kilometre hill down into Funchal. The carros de cesto are Madeira's strangest, most joyful ride — part transport relic, part toboggan run, entirely unforgettable.
What it is
A 170-year-old shortcut
Back in the 1850s, before roads and cars, the fastest way down from the hillside parish of Monte to the city of Funchal was to sit in a sledge and let gravity do the work. What began as everyday commuting became the island's most famous experience: the carros de cesto — hand-woven wicker seats mounted on wooden runners, steered by two carreiros who run alongside, ropes in hand, leaning the sled through the bends and dragging their rubber-soled boots to brake.
You climb in for two, they give a push, and you slide roughly 2 km down the winding street from Monte toward Livramento — around 10 minutes, touching 30-something km/h where the hill steepens. It looks precarious and feels playful; the carreiros have been doing this their whole lives, often the trade passed father to son.
The classic half-day
Cable car up, toboggan down
The toboggan is the finale of a lovely loop above Funchal — here's the sequence most people follow.
Wander Monte
Visit the twin-towered Nossa Senhora do Monte church and the lush Monte Palace Tropical Garden — koi ponds, tilework and tree ferns.
Toboggan down
Board the wicker sled near the church and let the carreiros carry you down toward the city. Photos are half the fun — they'll snap you mid-run.
Finish in Funchal
The run ends short of the centre; grab a taxi or the local bus the rest of the way, or stroll down for a poncha in the old town.
Good to know
Before you climb in
When: the toboggans run Monday to Saturday, roughly 9am–6pm (not Sundays or major holidays), weather permitting. Mornings are quieter; midday brings the tour crowds. Cost: expect around $35–50 for two people for the ride, paid on the spot — the cable car and gardens are separate tickets.
Is it safe? Yes — it's slower and more controlled than it looks, and the carreiros are experts. It's a gentle thrill, not an extreme sport: fine for most ages, though not built for wheelchairs or the very frail. Bring a little cash for the on-the-day photo, and wear something you don't mind sitting low in.
Add it to your Funchal day
We'll fold the cable car, Monte gardens and the toboggan into a relaxed half-day — and pair it with the rest of your Madeira trip.
Plan your Madeira trip