Monte Palace Garden & Old Town
Ride up to Monte with me for hillside views, then explore Monte Palace Tropical Garden at your own pace for around 1.5 hours. We return through the Old Town, with local stories along the way.
Minimum booking €90Monte Palace entrance ticket not included.
Plan your private tour
I’ll personally confirm availability and pickup details. Pay at the end of the tour, by cash or card.
2 × €45 · 1 Tuk-Tuk
Groups of 4–6 need two Tuk-Tuks. The second is driven by a colleague I trust and is subject to availability; I will confirm both before your booking is agreed.
Booking conditions
Up to 3 guests and 210 kg combined passenger weight per Tuk-Tuk. Children under 3 are not allowed.
The Monte Palace entrance ticket is not included. Buy it separately at the garden.
Highlights
- Take a scenic hillside ride to Monte
- Explore Monte Palace independently for around 1.5 hours
- Discover the Old Town and Rua de Santa Maria
- Enjoy local stories on the ride between Monte and Funchal
- Finish at your preferred drop-off point in Funchal
The route
Around 3 hours in total
Pickup in Funchal
We meet at the agreed pickup point and take the scenic hillside road up towards Monte.
By Tuk-Tuk
Miradouro dos Marmeleiros
A scenic pause to enjoy the views over Funchal and take a few photographs.
By Tuk-Tuk
Monte Palace Garden
Explore Monte Palace Tropical Garden independently, at your own pace.
Garden entrance ticket not included
Rua de Santa Maria
Discover the Old Town and Rua de Santa Maria on the way back, with local stories along the ride.
By Tuk-Tuk
Barreirinha Beach
OptionalA pause by the sea at Barreirinha, time and interest permitting.
Church of Saint Mary the Great · Socorro
OptionalA stop at the Church of Saint Mary the Great, if time allows.
End of the tour at the agreed spot
We finish at the agreed drop-off point in Funchal.
The Monte Palace Garden visit is independent and self-guided.
The times shown are approximate and cover each stop or Tuk-Tuk journey.
What’s included
- Private 3-hour tuk-tuk tour
- Local driver-guide
- Pickup within Funchal
- Flexible drop-off within Funchal
- Flexible itinerary tailored to your interests
- Photo stops along the route
- Local tips and personal recommendations
Exclusions
- Food and drinks
- Monte Palace Tropical Garden entrance ticket (€18 per adult; free for children under 15 when accompanied by an adult). Buy your ticket separately at the garden. Confirm current admission prices
Meet Virgílio
I’m Virgílio, born and raised in Madeira. After five years driving Tuk-Tuks, I started my own business to share the island’s streets, stories and viewpoints. I guide tours in English, Portuguese and Spanish.
What guests say
FAQ
Where’s pickup and drop-off?
Anywhere you like within Funchal. Pickup at the cruise terminal adds €5 per Tuk-Tuk: tick that option on the tour page and tell me your ship’s arrival and departure times. More for cruise passengers.
Will Virgílio be my guide?
Usually, yes. Groups of 4–6 ride in two Tuk-Tuks, and the second one is driven by a colleague I trust. On very busy days, a colleague may also guide your tour; if that happens, I’ll let you know before the tour.
Can I cancel or change plans?
Yes. Direct bookings have no prepayment and no cancellation fee. Just let me know on WhatsApp or by email, ideally at least 24 hours before. Bookings made on a platform follow that platform’s terms.
What if the weather is bad?
Madeira’s weather changes quickly, and a shower doesn’t always mean cancelling. If conditions aren’t right, we can switch to another tour of similar length and price, or find a new date together. We agree on this with you before the tour starts.