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Madeira Taxi Tour To Nuns' Valley, Quick Facts
Madeira Taxi Tour, For Cruise Passengers
The classic half day on Madeira, done privately. A licensed Madeira taxi collects your group directly at the cruise port in Funchal, climbs past the viewpoints above the city to Eira do Serrado at a thousand metres, and drops into Curral das Freiras, the Nuns' Valley, a village at the bottom of a crater that had no road until the 1950s. About four to five hours, up to eight people, one price per taxi, and a driver who plans the day backwards from your all aboard time. We built this tour for cruise passengers only, so every detail is shaped around your ship and your few hours in port.
The valley from above, then the valley from inside, then chestnut cake. That is the whole tour, and it is enough.
Shore Excursion In Funchal, How Your Day Works
Cruise passengers in Funchal usually get two choices: a coach with fifty people and a fixed script, or the cable car and the market and back to the ship. The taxi tour is the third option. Same island, your own car, a driver who knows every bend of the mountain road, and a price for the taxi instead of per head. This is a cruise passengers only tour, so the whole day is timed to your ship, not to a fixed schedule.
Book With A Deposit
Pick your group size. You pay a small deposit online to hold the taxi. The rest is paid to the driver on the day, cash or card.
Send Your Ship Details
Give us your ship name and all aboard time in the booking form. Not sure? The Club Canary team looks it up for you.
We Confirm The Timing
We check the date with the taxi company, confirm your start time, and they arrange the port access for your taxi. You get the meeting spot and the car description.
Walk Off The Ship
Your driver is waiting at the port with the taxi, your group only. No taxi rank, no shuttle, no guessing.
Up To The Valley And Down Into It
About four to five hours: the viewpoints, Eira do Serrado, the village, and stops wherever the view deserves it.
Back At The Port
Back at the ship with time to spare, not at the last minute. The buffer is part of the plan.
Back Before Your Ship Leaves
This is the part people worry about, so let us be direct. The route is planned to finish with a buffer. If a stop runs long, the driver shortens a stop, never the buffer. A taxi with eight people can turn around on a mountain road; a coach cannot. Your driver knows your ship and your all aboard time, and plans the day backwards from it.
The Route To Nuns' Valley
Curral das Freiras sits at the bottom of a huge crater in the middle of the island. The nuns of Funchal hid here from pirates in the 1500s, and the village stayed cut off, reachable only on foot, until the road and later the tunnel arrived. Today the drive is the attraction: the climb above Funchal, the balcony at Eira do Serrado, and the drop into the valley.
🏔 Private Taxi Tour, about 4 to 5 hours
Viewpoints Above Funchal
The climb out of the city, with stops at the viewpoints over Funchal, the bay and your own ship below.
Eira do Serrado
The balcony at about 1,000 metres, looking straight down into the crater and the village at the bottom. The photo of the day. A short walk to the lookout.
Curral das Freiras
Down into the village: the church, the terraces, and the two things it is famous for, chestnut cake and cherry liqueur, at your own expense.
Back To Funchal
The road home, with time for one more stop if the ship allows, and back to the port with the buffer intact.
⏱ About 4 to 5 hours door to door. Stops and timing adapt to your ship, the weather and your group.
Short Port Day?
If your ship gives you less than five hours, tell us your hours in port and the driver shortens the route: Eira do Serrado for the view, the village for the cake, and back. Message us with your ship's times and we tell you honestly if it fits.
Madeira Taxi Tour Prices
One price per taxi, not per person. You reserve with a deposit online and pay the rest to the driver on the day, cash or card. No per-person surprises at the door.
| Group Size | Deposit Online | Pay The Driver | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 people | 40€ | 140€ | 180€ |
| 3 people | 55€ | 140€ | 195€ |
| 4 people | 70€ | 140€ | 210€ |
| 5 people | 80€ | 140€ | 220€ |
| 6 people | 90€ | 140€ | 230€ |
| 7 people, larger taxi | 95€ | 160€ | 255€ |
| 8 people, larger taxi | 105€ | 160€ | 265€ |
Why This Tour Is For Cruise Guests Only
Club Canary is a local tour platform from the Canary Islands. We sell what we know, on the islands where we live and work. Madeira is not one of them, so we do not sell holidays or activities to people staying on Madeira, out of respect for the local companies that do. What we do is look after our cruise guests for the whole itinerary: when your ship calls at Funchal between the Canary Islands, this taxi tour is the port day we arranged for you, with the same booking, the same policy and the same WhatsApp team as the rest of your trip. Cruising the Canaries on the same trip? The La Palma taxi tour and the Gran Canaria taxi tour work exactly the same way, and Tenerife has its own private tour from the Santa Cruz port.
A taxi not your thing for this port day? On the same Funchal cruise stop we also run the Madeira hop on hop off bus and a Madeira wine tasting, both for cruise passengers and both timed around your ship.
Best Price Guarantee, a small deposit now and the rest on the day, and real people on WhatsApp in more than ten languages, every day from 08:00 to 22:00. Club Canary is the official ticket seller, a licensed Madeira taxi company runs the tour. Rated 4.8/5 from 1,400+ verified reviews.
The practical stuff, tap a section to open it
What's Included And Not Included
- A fully private taxi tour, your group only, up to 8 passengers.
- Pick-up and drop-off directly at the Funchal cruise port, with the port access arranged for your taxi.
- A professional local taxi driver who knows the mountain roads, in English, French or Portuguese.
- About 4 to 5 hours: the viewpoints above Funchal, Eira do Serrado and the village of Curral das Freiras, with time to walk and take photos.
- Fuel, insurance and all driving costs.
- Timing planned around your ship's all aboard time.
- Best Price Guarantee from Club Canary.
- Food and drinks. The chestnut cake and the cherry liqueur in Curral das Freiras are at your own expense, and worth it.
- Entrance fees to anything you choose to visit on the way.
- A second taxi for groups of 9 or more, arranged on request.
Important Information
- Directly at the Funchal cruise port. The taxi company arranges port access for your booking, so your driver waits where you walk off. The exact meeting spot, the taxi description and a contact number are on your Club Canary e-ticket and sent again the day before.
- This tour is for cruise guests only. We do not offer it to visitors staying on Madeira.
- Send your ship name and all aboard time in the booking form. Without it we cannot confirm your start time.
- Book at least 48 hours ahead. Port access for the taxi is arranged per booking and cannot be done on the day.
- The route is planned to return you to the ship with time to spare, not at the last minute. If a stop runs long, the driver shortens a stop, never the buffer.
- You pay a deposit online to reserve the taxi and the date. The rest is paid to the driver on the day, cash or card: 140€ for up to 6 passengers or 160€ for 7 to 8.
- The deposit is part of the total price, not an extra charge.
- Your driver is a licensed Madeira taxi driver, not a certified tour guide. He knows the island and the roads, explains the main things along the way in English, French or Portuguese, and gives you the time at each stop. If you want a guide with full commentary at every stop, this is not that product, and we say so.
- A comfortable taxi for up to 6 passengers, or a larger taxi for 7 to 8. Your group only. Groups of 9 or more take two taxis; message us.
- Day bags and cameras are fine. This is a tour, not a transfer, so no suitcases.
- Children are welcome; tell us ages when booking so the right seats are in the car.
- Not wheelchair accessible as standard. Tell us about any mobility needs and we check what is possible.
- Eira do Serrado sits at about 1,000 metres and is cooler than Funchal, with cloud rolling in and out. Bring a light jacket, comfortable shoes, sun cream and water.
- Mountain roads and viewpoints can close in bad weather. The driver adapts the route for safety, and a stop may change on the day.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is the Madeira Taxi Tour only for cruise passengers?
Yes. The Madeira Taxi Tour is a Funchal shore excursion for cruise passengers only. Club Canary is a Canary Islands company, so on Madeira we look after guests calling at the Funchal cruise port by ship, not visitors staying on the island.
2. Does the Madeira Taxi Tour leave from the Funchal cruise port?
Yes. This Funchal cruise port taxi tour starts where you walk off the ship. Your driver meets you at the Funchal cruise terminal, so there is no transfer to arrange. The exact spot is on your e-ticket.
3. Will the Madeira cruise excursion get me back before my ship leaves?
Yes. We plan this Madeira cruise day tour backwards from your all aboard time, with a buffer. If a stop runs long, the driver trims a stop, never the buffer.
4. What makes the Madeira Taxi Tour a good private shore excursion?
A private driver and your group only. This private shore excursion in Madeira takes the narrow mountain roads a coach cannot, and reaches small viewpoints the big ship tours skip.
5. What will I see on this Nuns’ Valley tour from Funchal port?
The viewpoints above Funchal, the Eira do Serrado balcony over the crater, and the Nuns' Valley village of Curral das Freiras. A classic half day Funchal shore excursion, with time for photos and chestnut cake.
6. How many people fit on the Funchal taxi tour for cruise passengers?
Up to six in a standard taxi, or seven to eight in a larger one. Your group only. Groups of nine or more take two taxis, just message us.
7. How long is the Madeira cruise stop taxi tour?
About four to five hours, shaped around your ship. Enough time for the Nuns' Valley and the viewpoints, and you are back at the Funchal cruise terminal with time to spare.
8. Is there a guide on this Funchal cruise excursion?
Your driver is a licensed Madeira taxi driver, speaking English, French or Portuguese. He knows the roads and points out the main sights. Not a certified guide with full commentary, but a local who tells you the story.
9. What are the best things to do in Funchal on a cruise day?
Most guests never leave the port. The Madeira Taxi Tour takes you to the island behind it: the crater, the Nuns' Valley and the cliffs, then back to the ship in good time.
10. How do I pay for the Madeira Taxi Tour?
You reserve with a small deposit online and pay the rest to the driver on the day, cash or card. The deposit is part of the total, not an extra charge.
11. What should I bring on this Madeira shore excursion?
Comfortable shoes, a light jacket and water. Eira do Serrado sits high and is cooler than Funchal, with cloud rolling in and out. Food and drinks are at your own expense.
12. Can I book the Madeira Taxi Tour if my ship schedule changes?
Yes. Tell us as early as you can and we adjust the plan with the driver. If your ship cannot call at the Funchal cruise port at all, message us and your deposit comes back in full.
Booking & Cancellation Policy
Who This Tour Is For
- Club Canary is a Canary Islands company. We sell tours on Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Gomera and La Palma, the islands where we live and work.
- On Madeira we do not sell to people staying on the island, out of respect for the local companies that do. This Madeira Taxi Tour is for cruise passengers only, booked for the day your ship calls at the Funchal cruise port.
- If you are not sailing in on a cruise ship, this tour is not for you. By booking, you confirm you are a cruise passenger calling at Funchal.
Deposit & Payment
- Your deposit reserves the taxi, the driver and the date, and counts toward the total price.
- The balance is paid to the driver on the day, cash or card.
- Availability is confirmed before your booking is final. Club Canary confirms by WhatsApp or email within 24 hours.
Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 48 hours before your start time, or 72 hours for groups of 5 or more, by emailing office@clubcanary.com. Your deposit comes back in full.
- 24 to 48 hours before: you lose your full deposit. No exceptions.
- 12 to 24 hours before: you lose your deposit and pay 60% of the remaining balance. We send you a payment link.
- Less than 12 hours before, a no-show, or arriving too late: you lose your deposit and pay the full remaining balance (100%). We send you a payment link.
The Only Exception
- A real doctor or hospital paper that says you cannot take part, dated before the tour or the same morning. It covers the person named on it, not the whole group. For everything else, your travel insurance is the right route; ask us for a written booking confirmation for your claim.
Ship Schedule Changes
- If your ship's arrival or departure time changes, tell us as early as you can and we adjust the plan with the driver where possible.
- If your ship cannot call at Funchal at all, message us as soon as you know. You get a full refund of your deposit.
Weather And Route Changes
- Stops depend on weather, road access and time. The driver may change a stop for safety, and an alternative is always offered.
- If the tour cannot run at all, you get a free reschedule or a full refund.
Conduct And Belongings
- Please follow the driver's instructions. Guests behaving unsafely or under the influence may be refused service without a refund.
- The driver is not responsible for belongings left in the taxi.
Not sure your ship's timing works? Message the Club Canary team on WhatsApp and we check it for you, open daily 08:00 to 22:00.
Club Canary's Honest Take
Real talk from your local team in the Canary Islands
Funchal is a lovely port, and most cruise guests never leave it. The island behind it is the reason Madeira is famous: cliffs, cloud forest, and a village at the bottom of a crater that was cut off from the world until the road came. Nuns' Valley is the one half day trip that shows you that, and a taxi does it better than a coach, because the road is narrow and the viewpoints are small.
We keep it honest: your driver is a licensed taxi driver who knows the island, not a certified guide with a microphone. He talks, he stops, he waits while you eat chestnut cake. The company runs around ten taxis from this port, so there is always a car. For a group of six or eight it is cheaper per person than any ship excursion, and you are back with time to spare.
The valley, the viewpoints and the cake, in your own taxi, back before the ship. The easiest half day in Funchal.
Book Now WhatsApp Our Local TeamMade with love by the Club Canary Team.
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