Climb through Funchal’s hillside streets on a private 90-minute tuk-tuk tour, with views over the city, the bay and the hills beyond, before arriving at the famous basket sledge starting area in Monte.

I’ll walk you through the history of this unique tradition, show you exactly where the ride begins, and share a few tips before you set off. Afterwards, we’ll continue through Funchal’s Old Town, passing painted doors, historic corners and local streets.

The basket sledge ride itself is operated by a separate official service, and tickets are not included in this tuk-tuk tour.

The Monte toboggan runs to its own schedule, but the rest of the route, especially the Old Town, can be shaped around what interests you most.

The basket sledge is one of those Madeira traditions that sounds unusual until you’ve seen it for yourself, I still enjoy watching people’s reactions the first time, before we head into the Old Town for a change of pace.