Nun’s Valley Open 4X4 Tour

What makes the Nun’s Valley 4×4 tour from Funchal so fun is the way it trades a smooth road for real Madeira driving, plus big sky views from an open-top vehicle. I like that it hits multiple viewpoint stops, including the famous heights around Pico do Arieiro, and still makes time to slow down in Curral das Freiras for the story and the local feel.

Two things I really appreciate: you get hotel pickup and drop-off (so you do not waste your half-day wrestling taxis), and the route is built for people who like to see how Madeira works, terraces, orchards, and all. One possible drawback: in bad weather or deep cloud, the high-peak views can turn into a lot of gray, and the vehicle noise can make the guide’s commentary harder to catch.

Key things to know before you go

• Open-top 4×4 comfort for the view, with stops that feel fast and focused rather than endless
• Small group size (max 16), which usually means more time at each stop
• Curral das Freiras history in context, tied to pirates, Santa Clara convent, and João Gonçalves da Câmara
• Pico do Arieiro cloud-watching potential, when the sky clears enough
• Food and drink may not be fully included, so bring a little spending flexibility for tastings
• One “craft stop” may be unavailable, because the operator notes the wicker factory has been closed since 2019

Why this open-top 4×4 route feels more Madeira than most half-days

This is not a sit-back-and-glance-out-a-window tour. It is an open-top 4×4 ride along rugged roads that take you into Madeira’s steep interiors. You feel the climb and the curves, and you also get a better sense of scale than you would from a bus.

The route is designed around viewpoints, but it is not just a string of lookouts. Curral das Freiras gives you a real change of pace. You are not only looking up at mountains, you are seeing how people live on the island’s slopes, with orchards and farming close to the road.

Still, set expectations. You will not control the weather, and because the vehicle is open-top and off-road, you might have trouble hearing every word when the engine is working hard. The upside is that even when visibility drops, the stops lower down can still offer an enjoyable tour with plenty of scenery.

Your 4-hour timeline from Funchal (and why pickup timing matters)

This is a half-day experience, about 4 hours. Pickup timing depends on whether your departure is on a Wednesday or a Friday, with morning or afternoon hotel collection. In practice, this means your day plan depends on the departure day, so I suggest you keep lunch or a light activity flexible after the tour.

The tour runs with hotel or port pickup and drop-off included in the base price, and you use a mobile ticket. The small group size, max 16 travelers, is important here. In a larger crowd, viewpoint time gets squeezed. With a smaller group, the driver can slow down just enough for photos and for a proper look around.

One more practical note: there are extra pickup fees for some areas outside central Funchal, and a separate fee if you’re joining from the cruise dock. If you’re staying farther out, it can be worth checking those details early so the day stays smooth.

Stop-by-stop: from Funchal Bay to Curral das Freiras to high clouds

The route is built as a climb-and-look sequence, each stop giving you a different angle on Madeira’s terrain. Here is how the main stops tend to land and what each one offers.

Miradouro Pico dos Barcelos (the 1950 viewpoint over Funchal Bay)

Your tour starts with Miradouro Pico dos Barcelos, a belvedere dating from 1950. At about 355 meters above sea level, it gives a panoramic view overlooking Funchal Bay.

This is a good first stop because it sets your bearings fast. You can see where you started and how the mountains rise right away behind the city. If you are the type who likes to understand geography before you move on, you will appreciate this early perspective.

Admission is listed as not included, which usually means there’s no must-buy ticket for a quick look. Either way, keep this stop short in your mind: it is about orientation and a strong opening photo.

Curral das Freiras (the nuns’ story and the valley’s farming life)

Next comes Curral das Freiras, and this is the emotional center of the day. The story goes back to 1566, when the nuns from the Santa Clara convent fled from pirates attacking Funchal and found seclusion here. The legend also includes that they brought the convent treasure with them.

You also get a specific historical anchor tied to local land ownership. The valley connects to Captain João Gonçalves da Câmara, who received the land and later gifted it to his daughters when they entered the Santa Clara convent.

This is also where you feel how isolated the parish is. The area is described as very isolated, and locals mainly live off what they grow. Even the mention of chestnuts matters because they are used in everyday cooking. That gives Curral das Freiras more weight than a quick scenic pull-off.

Time on this stop is about 10 to 20 minutes depending on the flow of the day, and it includes a quick look at the valley without rushing you out. The good news: this stop is free, so you do not have to spend time figuring out tickets.

Miradouros do Paredão (reforestation work you can see)

After the main valley, you move to Miradouros do Paredão. This area, Montado do Paredão, is linked to intensive reforestation works.

Reforestation might sound like a dry topic until you stand there and realize it is part of how Madeira maintains its hillsides. It also helps explain why some slopes look more structured than you might expect on an island road trip. This stop is shorter, around 5 minutes, so treat it like a quick visual chapter rather than a long cultural stop.

Pico do Arieiro (Madeira’s third-highest peak and the cloud view)

Then comes Pico do Arieiro, described as Madeira Island’s third highest peak. This is where the tour swings toward dramatic altitude. Most days, visitors can look down on clouds, and on a clear day you may be able to see Porto Santo, about 30 miles to the northeast.

You also get practical mountain conditions: the air is noted as fresh and clear, and the sun can be bright. That is great when the weather cooperates. If the sky is socked in, though, you may get limited views, and your time will feel more about the drive and the stops lower down than about the cloud ceiling.

The tour gives about 10 minutes here, and that’s usually enough to take photos quickly, check your timing, and then move on.

Valley of the Nuns (the final focus on the parish itself)

The tour description brings you back to the Valley of the Nuns area to wrap up the main experience. This is essentially the time you spend absorbing the geography and the story rather than the technical driving.

There’s a clear pattern: you get viewpoint height, then you get the human scale of the valley, then you return to higher ground. That loop makes the day feel complete, even when the weather is moody.

Liqueurs and pastries: what to expect and how to plan your budget

A tasting stop is part of the experience, with Portuguese liqueurs and pastries mentioned as a highlight. Here’s the key practical twist: the operator notes that the liqueur and pastry tasting happens, but pastries require payment and the bakery itself does not belong to the tour company.

So if you are thinking the $52.16 covers everything you snack on, it might not. I recommend you bring a little cash or card-ready spending buffer for whatever you decide to taste. The good value here is that you get the cultural break from driving, and you can choose what you actually enjoy.

If you like to try local flavors without turning it into a full meal, this is the right kind of stop. It’s short enough not to hijack the day, but it still gives you something besides photos.

Wicker factory stop: the craft stop you should verify before you trust it

One highlight promises a wicker factory visit. But the operator also states that the wicker factory has been closed since 2019.

So what does that mean for you? Plan on the possibility that the craft visit may not happen as advertised, or it may be replaced by something else in the route. If this stop is a must-have for you, I would confirm with the company before booking, or at least message them once you have your dates locked in.

This is exactly the kind of detail that matters on a half-day tour. When you have only 4 hours, every stop counts, and you do not want to spend time hoping for a closed attraction.

Price and pickup fees: when $52.16 is a fair deal

At about $52.16 per person for a 4-hour half-day, this tour can be strong value, mainly because hotel/port pickup and drop-off are included. You are also paying for an open-top 4×4 ride, not a bus, plus multiple viewpoints that would be hard to chain together on your own without spending time on logistics.

That said, there are extra pickup fees that can change the true cost depending on where you stay:

• Extra €5 per person for certain areas including Santo da Serra, Machico, Santa Cruz, Camacha, Jardim da Serra, Ponta do Sol, and Calheta
• Extra €10 per person for other areas like Caniçal, Porto da Cruz, Santana, Ponta Delgada, Porto Moniz, Ponta do Pargo, and Prazeres
• If you’re picking up from the cruise dock, there is an extra €5 per person

Also remember that some stops list admission as not included. Curral das Freiras itself is noted as free, which is helpful. But if any other stop has a fee on the day, your base price may not cover it.

Bottom line: it tends to make the most sense if you are staying close enough that you avoid the extra pickup fees, and if you value seeing the island by vehicle more than just ticking viewpoints off.

Guides make or break it, and here’s what you can look for

Most people remember this kind of tour for two things: how safe they felt in the vehicle and how much they learned from the driving stops. The tour’s own guide lineup includes names like Nelson, Juan, Miguel, Hugo, and Spencer, and the consistent thread is that many guides focus on clear explanations and a friendly, professional tone.

If you are worried about communication, here is the real-world factor: in open-top 4x4s, engine noise can make it harder to hear the commentary at certain points. That does not mean the guide is bad. It just means you might need to time your attention for the stops and listen up when the vehicle slows.

Also, a small timing hiccup can happen. One experience note highlights a late start with no communication, so I suggest you arrive at the pickup spot a few minutes early and keep your expectations flexible.

Weather reality: when Pico do Arieiro gets cloudy, the day can still work

Madeira mountains can change the view fast, and Pico do Arieiro is the kind of place that can turn into cloud cover. When that happens, the top view can be limited. The tour’s saving grace is that it still includes lower viewpoint stops and Curral das Freiras, which can stay worthwhile even if the cloud ceiling blocks the far-away views.

If you travel in wetter seasons or during periods when forecasts show cloud chances, you can reduce disappointment by treating the day as a mix of scenery and driving, not a guarantee of seeing the island’s cloud layers.

There’s also a practical note from the operator side: they mention that if weather shifts, it can affect visibility, and one guide response even references a forgotten remote control device used for moving clouds. That tells you the team understands the cloud factor is part of this tour’s magic, but also that control is limited.

Who should book this Nun’s Valley 4×4 tour

I think it fits best if you:

• Want a half-day activity that feels active, with 4×4 off-road driving and multiple viewpoint stops
• Like historical storytelling tied to places you can actually see, like the nuns’ flight and Santa Clara convent link
• Prefer small groups, max 16, where you get time to look around
• Are comfortable with the idea that weather can affect Pico do Arieiro views

It may be less ideal if:

• You need guaranteed high-peak visibility at Pico do Arieiro
• You specifically care about the wicker factory stop, since the operator says it has been closed since 2019
• You expect food and drinks to be fully included, since pastry tastings may involve paying at the bakery

Should you book this Green Devil Safari tour?

If you want an outdoor-minded, story-rich half-day and you’re excited by rugged roads and viewpoint breaks, I would book it, especially if you can get picked up from central Funchal with no extra fees. The combination of Curral das Freiras history, strong panoramic stops like Pico dos Barcelos, and the altitude potential at Pico do Arieiro makes this a good way to spend limited time on Madeira.

Just go in with two clear expectations. First, cloud can reduce what you see at the highest points. Second, the wicker factory may not happen, and pastries likely come with extra cost at the tasting location. If you’re fine with those realities, this is the kind of tour that gives you more than a photo, it gives you a feel for how the island’s terrain shaped its communities.

FAQ

How long is the Nun’s Valley 4×4 tour?

It runs for about 4 hours.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes, hotel or port pickup and drop-off are included. There are extra pickup fees for some areas outside central Funchal, and an additional fee if you pick up at the cruise dock.

What stops are included during the tour?

The route includes several viewpoint and valley stops, including Miradouro Pico Dos Barcelos, Curral das Freiras, Miradouros Do Paredao, and Pico do Arieiro, with time in the Valley of the Nuns.

Do I need to pay entrance fees at the stops?

Curral das Freiras is listed as free, while some other stops are listed with admission tickets not included.

Are liqueurs and pastries included in the price?

Liqueur and pastries are part of the experience, but the operator notes that pastries require payment at the bakery.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts. If you cancel within 24 hours, the amount you paid is not refunded.