Madeira’s mountains are best with the right ride.

This open-top 4×4 tour turns a morning or afternoon into a fast, scenic hit of valleys and high viewpoints, with hotel pickup included. I love the small-group feel in a vehicle built for real roads, plus the way the guide stitches geography and local stories together as you drive. One thing to weigh: clouds can hide the big views on mountain stops, especially around Pico do Arieiro.

You’ll see plenty even when the sky won’t cooperate.

Stops are set up for panoramas (Funchal Bay and third-highest Pico do Arieiro), then you get a slower pocket of time in Curral das Freiras to absorb the valley’s isolation and everyday life. The half-day length is also a practical win: 4 hours means you can still enjoy Funchal afterward without feeling like you signed up for a whole day of windshield time.

Key Things You’ll Notice on This Nun’s Valley 4×4 Tour

• Open-top 4×4 comfort for viewpoints: you feel the wind on the climb roads, and you get angles you won’t from a bus.
• Small-group touring (up to 8 per vehicle): it helps the guide keep an eye on timing and makes photos easier.
• A guide-led story route: Portuguese history shows up through places like Curral das Freiras and the Santa Clara connection.
• Mountain views with a cloud caveat: Pico do Arieiro can be cloud-wrapped even on good days.
• Food-and-craft stops, with one item worth confirming: pastry and liqueur are part of the experience, but a wicker-factory visit may be limited.

Price and Logistics: What You’re Really Paying For

At $60.07 per person for about 4 hours, this isn’t a budget transfer. You’re paying for a vehicle experience (open-top 4×4), guided routing, and pickup that saves you time and hassle in Funchal.

The math gets better if you hate transit stress. Pickup and drop-off are included, and the tour runs on a schedule tied to Wednesday and Friday (morning collection one day, afternoon the other). Also, the group size is controlled: your 4×4 maxes at 8 people, and the overall outing caps at 16, so you’re not stuck in a huge crowd trying to hear the guide.

One practical note: entry fees are not included at several viewpoints. Curral das Freiras is free, but other stops list tickets as not included, so budget a little extra if you plan to go straight to every photo point without skipping. If you’re sensitive to unexpected costs, bring a small cash buffer.

Meeting Point Reality: Where to Start in Funchal

Most tours begin at the Estátua de Cristiano Ronaldo on Av. Sá Carneiro in São Martinho. If you’re staying in Funchal, pickup goes to your hotel. If you’re arriving by cruise, there’s a small extra fee for cruise-dock pickup.

Why this matters: the pickup distance can change how the day flows. One review situation highlighted timing sensitivity when pickup locations and times don’t line up. So I’d do two things before you go: double-check your pickup time in your confirmation, and set a reminder the night before with your meeting point in case you get a last-minute pickup shuffle.

The Route Starts with a View: Miradouro Pico dos Barcelos (1950)

Your first viewpoint is Miradouro Pico Dos Barcelos, a belvedere that dates from 1950. At roughly 355 meters above sea level, it overlooks Funchal Bay, and it’s one of those stops that gives your brain a map of the island early.

This is the “get your bearings fast” moment. Once you see Funchal Bay from up here, the rest of the drive makes more sense—why the roads wind the way they do, and how deep the valleys cut into the island.

Tip: plan for quick photos. This stop is around 10 minutes, and it’s a ticket-not-included stop. If you’re trying to keep costs down, you can still enjoy the viewpoint without lingering on anything that requires paid entry.

Curral das Freiras: Why This Valley Feels Different

Then you reach Curral das Freiras, the Valley of the Nuns. The story here is specific: the land ties back to João Gonçalves da Câmara, who gave it to his daughters when they entered the Santa Clara convent. During the 1500s, nuns fled pirate attacks and found seclusion in this isolated parish.

What I like about this stop is how it’s not just scenery. You learn why the valley’s people lived differently—locals historically focused on what they grow in a place that’s harder to reach. Even the everyday food angle shows up: local chestnuts are described as delicious and used in daily cooking.

You’ll get about 10 minutes at the Curral das Freiras stop, and access is free. It’s short, so use it well: take a breath, then look for how the valley is organized around farming and terraces. This is one of those places where the view is the lesson.

Paredão Miradouros: Reforestation You Can Actually See

Next comes Miradouros Do Paredao, tied to the Montado do Paredão area and its intensive reforestation works. The stop is brief—around 5 minutes—and it’s ticket-not-included.

This is a “quick check-in” stop rather than a long photo break. But it adds value because it reminds you Madeira isn’t only about past beauty. People actively shape the island now, and reforestation is part of how the mountainous terrain survives and improves over time.

Pico do Arieiro: Third-Highest Peak and the Cloud-Top Tradeoff

Then you hit Pico do Arieiro, Madeira’s third-highest peak. On clear days, you can stand there and look down on the clouds, with fresh, clearer air and very bright sun. It’s also possible—on a clear day—to see neighboring Porto Santo, about 30 miles to the northeast.

When clouds win, you might still get the experience, but the payoff changes. Some departures end up in thick cloud cover, which can reduce what you can see. That’s not a failure; it’s mountain reality. Your best move is to pack for it: bring sun protection for brightness, but also be ready for mist and cooler air.

This stop is about 10 minutes and is ticket-not-included. It’s short enough that you shouldn’t waste time at the wrong angle. Take a couple photos, look for a view gap if the clouds thin, then move on before your window closes.

Valley of the Nuns: Time for Views, Orchards, and Pirate-Era Mystery

After Arieiro, the route returns to the heart of the tour: the Valley of the Nuns itself. Here, the story leans into seclusion and survival—1566, pirates attacking Funchal, nuns taking refuge, and the valley holding convent treasure.

You also get the kind of nature you can’t fake with a photo filter. From the vehicle and viewpoint stops, you’re described with cherry orchards, terraced vineyards, and mountainous terrain. In other words, it’s not one flat postcard. It’s layers: cultivated slopes, valleys cutting away, and peaks looming above.

This is the longest stop among the major sites, about 20 minutes. That extra time matters because you can actually slow down, look around, and take in how the valley feels at human scale—not just a dramatic distance view.

Ticket guidance: the Valley of the Nuns stop is listed as not included. Even so, you’ll likely be able to appreciate plenty from the roadside viewpoint areas; if paid access matters to you, check what’s required before you enter any ticketed zone.

Pastries, Liqueurs, and Local Craft: The Fun Stops That Need One Check

Part of the appeal here is the breaks between viewpoints. You get a stop to taste Portuguese pastries and liqueurs. This is the right kind of food stop for a tour like this: quick, local, and tied to Madeira’s culture rather than a generic snack stand.

One practical detail: these tastings can involve purchase. So if you’re on a strict food budget, expect that you might pay there even though it’s described as included in the experience.

Then there’s the wicker factory / wicker-craft stop. Local craft fits perfectly with a valley tour, because wicker making connects to everyday life and practical materials in a place where traditions stick around. But there’s a catch worth knowing: the operator has stated that the wicker factory was closed since 2019. That means your craft component may be more of a talk-and-spot situation than an in-factory visit on every departure.

If wicker matters to you, confirm directly with the provider when you book (or shortly before departure). For many people, the rest of the route still delivers the main value, but it’s better to know than to hope.

Timing Tips: How to Make the 4 Hours Feel Longer

This tour runs about 4 hours, and timing is everything. Depending on whether your day is Wednesday or Friday, you’ll be collected in the morning or afternoon. That changes how the light hits viewpoints—and it changes your temperature comfort.

Here’s how I’d plan it:

• Start your day with a light breakfast or snack if you’re going on a morning collection.
• If you go afternoon, plan for brighter sun later and cooler mountain air at viewpoints.
• Bring a rain layer. Cloud cover around high peaks is a real possibility.

Also, open-top means weather becomes part of the ride. Even on a mostly clear day, you can get mist at elevation.

The Guide Factor: When the Host Sets the Tone

The strongest part of this experience is often the person behind the wheel and the stories along the way. Guides like Nelson, Miguel, Hugo, Juan, and Spencer come up repeatedly in the kinds of feedback you want to hear: safety, friendly hosting, and lots of facts tied to what you’re seeing.

You’ll usually get commentary while you’re driving between viewpoints. Just keep in mind that an open-top 4×4 can mean more engine noise than a calm city stroll. If you care about every detail the guide shares, you may want to sit where you can hear best—often the back offers more space, but pick what makes listening easiest for you.

Who Should Book This Nun’s Valley 4×4 Tour

This is best for you if you want:

• A high-impact half day with real mountain driving
• View-first sightseeing (multiple viewpoints and one longer valley pause)
• A guide-led experience that connects history with what you can see today
• A small-group format where timing and photo stops feel manageable

It may not be the best match if you’re chasing one specific outcome, like a crystal-clear view from Pico do Arieiro every time. Clouds can change what’s visible, and the tour still keeps moving.

Should You Book This Tour?

Yes, if you like mountain views and you’re okay with Madeira weather shifting your exact payoff. For around $60 and a tight 4-hour window, you get pickup, small-group access, and a route built around some of the island’s most meaningful viewpoints—especially Curral das Freiras for story and human scale.

I’d book with extra confidence if your priorities are:

• getting from Funchal into the valleys without planning transport yourself
• learning the local connections behind places like Santa Clara and João Gonçalves da Câmara
• enjoying the food-and-drink tasting breaks during the drive

If the wicker factory stop is your main goal, confirm it before you go. Otherwise, the valley and viewpoint sequence still make this a solid Madeira half-day.

FAQ

What is the duration of the Nun’s Valley Open 4×4 Tour?

It lasts about 4 hours (approx.).

How much does the tour cost?

The price listed is $60.07 per person.

Where does the tour start in Funchal?

The meeting point is the Estátua de Cristiano Ronaldo, Av. Sá Carneiro 27, São Martinho, 9000-017 Funchal. The tour ends back at this meeting point.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Hotel/port pick-up and drop-off are included, with extra fees for pick-up outside Funchal and an additional €5.00 per person for cruise dock pick-up.

What’s the group size?

Your 4×4 has a maximum of 8 persons, and the overall activity has a maximum of 16 travelers.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Most travelers can participate, but the tour is not described as specifically designed for children.

Are entrance tickets included for the viewpoints?

No. Several stops list admission ticket not included, while Curral das Freiras is free.

What languages are guides available in?

This tour offers a multilanguage guide and is offered in English.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts.

You Might Also Enjoy

Lisboa – A Morte do Corvo, new immersive theatre, not spokenSafari 4×4 Pico Arieiro Santana in Small Group “FlowerEAST”Jeep Tour Amazing West to Natural Pools -Full-DayFrom Lisbon: Algarve, Benagil Sea Cave & Lagos Full-Day Tour