Associação dos Carreiros do Monte

Updated June 11, 2025

## Associação dos Carreiros do Monte (Funchal): How to Ride Madeira’s Iconic Wicker Toboggan—Prices, Route, and Smart Logistics

Madeira has plenty of “only-here” experiences, but few are as distinctive—or as photogenic—as the wicker toboggan run from Monte down to Livramento. Operated by the Associação dos Carreiros do Monte, this short descent on public streets has been entertaining visitors for over a century and has roots as practical transport for Monte residents in the 19th century.

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### Quick facts (verified for Nov 4, 2025)

– Operator: Associação dos Carreiros do Monte (the “Carreiros,” the drivers in white with straw boaters).
– Schedule: Mon–Sat, 09:00–18:00 (closed Sunday). Service may end earlier if queues are too long or weather is adverse. Tickets are sold on-site, same day only; no online reservations.
– Prices (posted by operator): €27.50 (1 person), €35.00 (2 people), €52.50 (3 people) per sledge.
– Route & duration: ~2 km downhill from Monte toward Livramento, ~10 minutes.
– Start & finish (official addresses):
– Departure: Caminho do Monte nº4, 9050-084 Monte, Funchal.
– Arrival: Caminho do Monte nº82/84, 9050-288 Livramento, Funchal.

> Outdated-data watch: Numerous third-party sites quote different prices/hours. Use the operator’s page above as the source of truth; they update it and explicitly note early closures in bad weather or when queues exceed capacity.

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## What the experience is like

You’re seated in a hand-woven wicker basket mounted on wooden runners. Two Carreiros—highly practiced drivers—control speed and line using ropes and rubber-soled footwear, guiding you down narrow streets toward Livramento. The attraction’s origin story isn’t manufactured for tourism: in the early 1800s, Monte locals used these sledges as a fast way to get downhill to Funchal. Today, the association keeps that craft alive as a regulated attraction.

The ride itself takes about 10 minutes. Expect a series of gentle S-curves, polished tarmac, and the occasional crossing of side streets—part of the fun is precisely that you’re on real roads with trained drivers managing the descent. Official communications don’t publish top speeds; third-party portals sometimes claim headline numbers, but treat those as marketing rather than an operating spec. What’s consistent across official and destination sources is the ~2 km length and ~10-minute run time.

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## How to get to the start (and back from the finish)

Getting up to Monte:
Most visitors pair the toboggan with the Funchal–Monte cable car from the waterfront at Parque Almirante Reis. As of 2025, published fares are €20 round trip or €14.50 one-way—handy if you’re planning to toboggan down and not return by cable car. (E-tickets are valid for 30 days.)

Boarding point once in Monte:
From Monte’s church area, walk a short distance to the official departure at Caminho do Monte nº4 (signposted; staff manage the queue).

Where you end up:
The ride finishes in Livramento at Caminho do Monte nº82/84—not in downtown Funchal. From there, options are taxi, local bus, or a walk downhill. (If you’re time-boxed—e.g., cruise-ship schedules—budget extra buffer for the post-ride transfer back into town.)

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## Buying tickets and managing queues

– On-site only. The association does not accept online reservations or advance ticketing. You buy at the counter for same-day use.
– Capacity-related closures. On busy days (including when multiple cruise ships are in port), the operator may close sales early to honor riders already queued, or pause for weather. If this happens, it’s an operational call by the association and is posted on-site.
– Timing tip. To reduce waits, go near opening or later in the afternoon outside peak ship times. (This is a planning recommendation; the only hard fact is that queues can be long on busy days.)

A Portuguese-language TripAdvisor review from Aug 2024 mentioned shade in the queue, nearby restrooms, and optional souvenir photos (quoted €10 at the time)—useful context, though pricing for add-ons can change.

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## Prices & value (what you actually pay for)

The published per-sledge rates (not per person) are: €27.50 (solo), €35.00 (two), €52.50 (three). For pairs, that’s €17.50 per person—a fair swap for a one-off, heritage experience that takes specialized training and constant upkeep of runners and road interface. These exact numbers are taken from the operator’s 2025 page; treat third-party figures with caution.

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## Accessibility, inclusivity & suitability

– The association does not publish a formal accessibility standard on the pricing/schedule page. The boarding area involves public streets and cobbles, and boarding requires stepping into a low basket; assistance from companions may be necessary. If accessibility is critical, consider riding the cable car (which is widely reported as accessible) to enjoy Monte’s views and gardens without the toboggan component. (Accessibility of the cable car is supported by multiple traveler reports, but always verify on the day with the operator.)
– The ride is outdoors and weather-dependent. If conditions deteriorate, the operator may stop early.
– There is no official minimum-age policy listed on the association page. For infants/toddlers and anyone with mobility or balance concerns, use judgment; if in doubt, speak directly with staff at the counter before purchasing. (Third-party tours sometimes set their own age limits; those are their policies, not the association’s.) Abroad Guide

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## Pair it with Monte’s highlights (for a great half day)

– Cable car up, toboggan partway down. This classic combo delivers views both ways and reduces your walking gradient. Buy cable-car tickets online if you want to skip the waterfront ticket queue.
– Gardens & viewpoints. Monte is gateway to celebrated gardens and lookouts; plan time before you queue for the toboggan to explore them while you’re already at altitude. (Check hours directly with each garden.)

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## Practical route notes you won’t find on most lists

– You won’t land “in town.” The run stops in Livramento, still uphill from central Funchal. Build in 10–20 minutes to organize a taxi/bus/walk onward. This catches many first-timers out.
– Cash vs. card: The official page doesn’t state payment method; some blogs repeat “cash only,” but because that’s non-official and subject to change, treat it as unverified. The only guaranteed fact is on-site, same-day ticketing.
– Photo upsell may exist: Expect an optional souvenir photo offer at the finish (price points have varied; one 2024 review cited €10). Consider this discretionary.

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## A brief history (why this isn’t just a thrill ride)

The wicker toboggans weren’t designed for tourists; they were everyday downhill transport for Monte residents in the early 19th century, long before modern roads. Over time, the practice evolved into a professionally managed attraction that still uses the traditional craft and techniques. The association’s own history page outlines those origins plainly, and the island’s tourism board recognizes the ride as a signature experience today.

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## Editor’s notes for internal linking (contextual, on your site)

– Link the phrases “Funchal–Monte cable car” and “Monte gardens” to your existing Funchal hub pages covering the cable car logistics and Monte attractions. (Add links where those topics first appear above.)

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## Essential info (copy-paste for your sidebar/infobox)

– Official operator: Associação dos Carreiros do Monte
– Website (prices/hours/alerts): See “Prices and Schedules” on the operator’s site (source of truth).
– Operating hours: Mon–Sat 09:00–18:00; may close early for weather or capacity; no online bookings.
– Current prices (per sledge): €27.50 (1), €35.00 (2), €52.50 (3).
– Route & time: ~2 km, ~10 minutes (Monte → Livramento).
– Start: Caminho do Monte nº4, 9050-084 Monte, Funchal. Finish: Caminho do Monte nº82/84, 9050-288 Livramento, Funchal.

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### Final word

Treat this as a heritage experience with moving parts: weather, daily capacity, cruise-day surges. Plan around the official schedule, buy on-site, and combine it with the cable car for painless logistics and a strong photo set. For the latest specifics (and any day-of changes), check the operator’s page before you go.

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