Cliff roads in the sky of Madeira. I love how this open-top 4×4 tour turns the approach to Curral das Freiras into a front-row seat—serpentine roads, steep drop-offs, and big mountain views from Funchal toward the Valley of the Nuns.

Two things I really like: first, the guiding style—people have repeatedly described drivers like Nelson, Miguel, Spencer, Hugo, and Juan as friendly, safety-minded, and strong at explaining what you’re seeing. Second, you get enough time at each stop to actually look, breathe, and take photos instead of rushing through.

One consideration: Madeira’s mountains can hide the views fast. If cloud cover rolls in, Pico do Arieiro may be swallowed, and the wicker-factory stop may not happen because it has been closed since 2019 (so don’t build your day around seeing that workshop).

Key things you’ll remember from the Nun’s Valley Open 4×4 Tour

• Open-top 4×4 views from steep roads: you’ll feel the height and see Madeira’s slopes in real time
• Curral das Freiras has a pirate-and-convent backstory: nuns, seclusion, and local life
• Pico do Arieiro is built for cloud watching: on clear days, you can even see toward Porto Santo
• Liqueur and pastry stops are part of the day: tasting is available, but you should expect to pay at the place
• Short sightseeing stops add up to a full picture: viewpoints plus the valley village experience
• Max 16 travelers with pickup included: small enough to feel personal, not chaotic

Riding Madeira in an open-top 4×4 from Funchal

This is the kind of tour that makes sense if you like scenery but don’t want to drive the tight mountain roads yourself. From Funchal, you’ll climb into an open-top 4×4, then head out on rugged routes toward the interior valleys. It’s not just about getting from A to B. The fun is how the landscape shows up along the drive—terraced slopes, orchards, and sudden viewpoint turnoffs that feel made for stopping.

Because the roof is open, you’ll feel the wind and the changing weather. That means you’ll want to come ready to layer up and handle quick shifts between sunshine and mist. You also get a more “you are there” perspective than you’d get in a closed van—especially when the route swings around toward the bay and the higher ridges.

There’s also a practical comfort factor here: multiple guide-driver names came up in feedback (Nelson, Miguel, Spencer, Hugo, Juan) with the same theme—people felt safe and well looked after. In other words, this isn’t a “hope for the best” ride. You’re in a vehicle built for rough roads, with someone who knows the rhythm of the area.

Miradouro Pico dos Barcelos: your first panorama over Funchal Bay

One of the first viewpoint stops is Miradouro Pico dos Barcelos, a belvedere that dates from 1950. It sits around 355 meters above sea level and looks out over Funchal Bay. Even if you’ve already seen Funchal from the coast, this angle changes the whole shape of the city—like switching from a postcard view to a map view you can understand at eye level.

Plan on about 10 minutes here. That time is short on purpose. The goal is to help you get your bearings early, so later viewpoint stops mean something. You’ll get the sense of how the mountains rise right behind town, and how quickly the scenery turns from urban edges to steep agricultural terraces.

If it’s bright, it’s easy to spot contrast: darker hillsides, lighter orchard areas, and the coastal curve. If it’s hazy, you’ll still get useful depth cues, even if you can’t see as far. Either way, it’s a good warm-up before you go higher.

Curral das Freiras village: nuns, convent land, and real isolation

Curral das Freiras is more than a scenic valley name. It has a story that helps you understand why the place feels tucked away.

You’ll spend time here learning a bit of the background: the land was once connected to a captain of Funchal, João Gonçalves da Câmara, and later passed to his daughters when they entered the Santa Clara convent (which he also helped build). The tour also ties in the famous 1566 moment when the nuns fled pirates attacking Funchal and found seclusion in this isolated area.

That “isolated” part isn’t just trivia. It shows up in how the valley feels. The slopes are steep, the roads are winding, and the villages look spread out rather than compact. Locals mainly live from what they grow. The tour also highlights chestnuts as an everyday ingredient in local cooking, and that detail makes the valley feel less like scenery and more like a place where people actually live their routines.

This part is free of admission ticket requirements for the stop labeled Curral das Freiras. Plan on about 10 minutes. Use it to look around first, then decide what you want to focus on—views, the settlement layout, or the agricultural textures on the hillside.

Miradouros do Paredão (Montado do Paredão): quick stops, bigger meaning

Next you’ll hit Miradouros Do Paredao. This is connected to the Montado do Paredão area and its reforestation efforts. Even though your time here is brief—around 5 minutes—the point is to give you context for what Madeira has had to recover over time.

Reforestation is one of those themes you don’t see if you only drive the coastal road. But once you’ve spent time in the interior, it becomes obvious that slopes need constant management—between rainfall, erosion risks, and the work of keeping the land productive. This stop gives you a reminder that the scenery you’re enjoying isn’t just “nature happening.” It’s shaped by ongoing human choices.

Because it’s short, the best move is to keep your eyes open rather than trying to do everything. Look for how vegetation changes the feel of the hillside and how the slopes transition toward higher peaks.

Pico do Arieiro: Madeira’s third-highest peak and the cloud gamble

Pico do Arieiro is a big highlight: it’s Madeira Island’s third-highest peak. Most days, you can look down and see clouds. The air is often fresher higher up, and on clear days sunlight can feel strong.

This is the kind of stop that works best when your expectations are flexible. If the weather is clear, you get those dramatic cloud layers and the sensation of standing above the “sea level world.” On a clear day, you can even see the neighboring island of Porto Santo—about 30 miles to the northeast.

Your time here is about 10 minutes. That’s not long, but it’s usually enough to get a view, take a couple photos, and adjust to the altitude feel.

If weather is poor, this is where the tour can feel limited. Thick cloud can erase the horizon and make everything look gray and close. One of the most common frustrations in feedback was exactly this: poor mountain weather meant very little visibility at peaks. Still, even when visibility is low, you can often get a sense of the terrain from the way the road and valley shape guide your sightlines.

Bottom line: Pico do Arieiro is worth it, but it’s also a place where nature sets the rules.

Valley of the Nuns (Curral das Freiras): the longer look and the local rhythm

You’ll come back for the bigger part of the day at the Valley of the Nuns, Curral das Freiras. This is where the valley stops being a “story stop” and becomes your main experience.

You’ll learn more about why the parish is so isolated and how locals mainly grow their own livelihoods. The tour ties in that 1566 pirate flight again, positioning the valley as a place chosen for refuge and seclusion. And it adds that local chestnuts play a big role in everyday cooking, not just as a souvenir item.

This stop takes about 20 minutes and is listed as not requiring admission tickets in the provided details. That matters because you’re not stuck worrying about entry fees at the exact moment you want to focus on the view and the atmosphere.

A smart way to use the time: stand where you can see into the valley first, then move to one side to observe how the land is worked. From the road-level viewpoints, you can often spot terracing patterns and orchard textures. If you’re taking photos, this is one of the best opportunities on the day to get both depth and context—what the valley looks like, plus a hint of how people live inside it.

Liqueurs, pastries, and the reality of the craft stop

One of the promised highlights is sampling Portuguese liqueurs and pastries, plus a stop tied to local craftsmanship through a wicker factory visit. The tasting part is very much part of the tour’s feel: small-time indulgence after the viewpoints, a chance to slow down and taste Madeira’s flavors rather than just see them.

Here’s the key practical note: tasting does not mean it’s automatically free. One response explained that the pastry tasting is available for guests to sample, but the bakery isn’t operated by the tour company, so you should expect to pay on-site.

Then there’s the wicker factory. The same response clarified that the wicker factory has been closed since 2019. So if the tour description still lists it as a stop, don’t be surprised if you don’t get that exact workshop visit on your date. From a traveler’s perspective, the safe approach is to plan for a craft-related moment rather than guaranteeing a specific building tour.

Even without the wicker workshop, the mid-tour tasting gives you a nice counterbalance to the mountain intensity. If you like your days to include both scenery and a cultural flavor, this portion helps the tour feel more complete.

Timing, weather, and why some days feel bigger than others

Pickup depends on the weekday. On a Wednesday, you’re collected in the morning. On a Friday, you’re collected in the afternoon. Either way, the tour runs about 4 hours.

The route includes multiple short stops, so weather matters. A clear morning can make Pico do Arieiro feel huge. A foggy one can turn it into a brief, quiet “cloud-level” pause. The best mindset is to treat the day as two experiences: the views you get, plus the learning and atmosphere you still gain even when visibility is reduced.

Small-group size helps here. The maximum is 16 travelers. That means fewer headaches with timing at viewpoints, and it’s easier for the guide to manage the pace when people want photos.

One more practical thing: open-top vehicles mean sound can be an issue on windy or noisy stretches. If you’re relying on the guide’s commentary, it may take a little attention to catch everything over engine sounds. Still, feedback often praised guides for being clear and friendly—so you’re not left on your own.

Price and value: is $52.16 worth a 4-hour mountain mix?

At $52.16 per person for about 4 hours, this tour can be good value—especially if you want a 4×4 ride, hotel pickup/drop-off, and a tight mix of viewpoints plus the Curral das Freiras valley experience without planning your own driving route.

What makes it “value,” in plain terms:

• Pickup and drop-off are included (so you’re not stitching together taxis or renting a car)
• You cover several distinct lookouts in one half-day window
• You get a local flavor stop (liqueurs and pastries, with tasting available)

Where the budget needs attention: pickup extras. The tour lists an additional fee for some pickup areas. Certain zones charge €5 per person, other farther zones charge €10 per person, and cruise dock pickup adds €5 per person. If you’re staying outside central Funchal, confirm your pickup zone so you don’t get surprised.

Also, admission tickets are not included for several stops listed as such. One stop (Curral das Freiras) is free in the provided details, while others note ticket not included. That doesn’t make the tour “expensive,” but it means you should keep a bit of cash or card readiness for viewpoints/entry if applicable on your day.

Overall: for a half-day that combines transportation, viewpoints, and valley storytelling, it’s priced in a way that’s aimed at people who want convenience and scenery without a rental car.

Who this Nun’s Valley 4×4 tour suits best (and who should reconsider)

This is a great fit if you:

• Want the open-top 4×4 feeling and don’t want to drive Madeira’s narrower roads
• Like photo stops but also want a guided story behind the place (not just look-and-go)
• Enjoy a day that mixes viewpoints with something tastable like liqueurs and pastries
• Prefer smaller groups (max 16)

You might reconsider if:

• You’re very sensitive to noise or wind exposure in an open vehicle
• Your travel dates are heavy with low-visibility mountain forecasts. Pico do Arieiro can go from dramatic to muted fast.
• Seeing a specific craft workshop is the make-or-break moment for you. The wicker factory stop has been closed since 2019.

Families are welcome, with a simple rule: children must be accompanied by an adult. The tour notes that most travelers can participate, which suggests it’s not built as a hardcore hiking experience.

If your main goal is to do one perfect vista at one perfect time, you may end up wishing you had built a flexible self-drive plan. If your goal is a packed, guided, half-day taste of Madeira’s interior, this one fits.

Should you book Green Devil Safari’s Nun’s Valley Open 4×4 Tour?

If you want an efficient, scenic half-day built around Curral das Freiras and the high-peak atmosphere, I’d say book it—especially if you’re staying in or near Funchal and want hotel pickup. The combination of open-top mountain driving, real valley context, and a liqueur-and-pastry style break is a strong recipe for Madeira.

Just go in with two smart expectations: mountain weather can reduce visibility at Pico do Arieiro, and the wicker factory visit may not happen since it has been closed since 2019. If you can handle that, you’ll likely come away happy with the day’s mix of views and local flavor.

FAQ

How long is the Nun’s Valley Open 4×4 Tour?

The tour lasts about 4 hours.

Do I get hotel pickup and drop-off?

Yes. Hotel or port pickup and drop-off are included.

Where does the tour depart from?

Pickup is from your hotel or the port, with extra pickup fees listed for some areas. Cruise dock pickup has an extra fee.

Are there extra charges for pickup outside central Funchal?

Yes. Some areas charge an extra €5 per person, and other areas charge €10 per person. Cruise dock pickup also adds €5 per person.

What kind of vehicle is used?

You’ll ride in an open-top 4×4.

What stops are included during the tour?

The tour includes Miradouro Pico dos Barcelos, Curral das Freiras, Miradouros Do Paredao, Pico do Arieiro, and the Valley of the Nuns.

Is admission included for the viewpoints?

Admission is not included for several stops listed as ticket not included. Curral das Freiras is listed as free.

Is there a tasting included?

The tour includes stops for tasting Portuguese liqueurs and pastries, but you should expect to pay at the place where you taste.

What happens if the weather is poor on the mountains?

The tour still runs, but poor weather can reduce what you can see from higher viewpoints like Pico do Arieiro.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. If you cancel within 24 hours, the amount paid is not refunded.