One day in Madeira - maybe Tuk Tuk

We spent a lovely day with Tours by Locals guide Nicolau. Several TBL guides do shore excursions if you want to a bit more of the island. They would also be happy to guide you in Funchal, of course. Funchal is interesting enough and it’s pretty easy to get around, but the scenery outside the city is breathtaking. Are you on your ship’s roll call on Cruise Critic? If not, you might find others who are looking for shipmates to share tours.

We are interested in going to Madeira.
What ship are you on?
What are the start and end points of your cruise?
Thanks.

I can't answer for the OP - but we are in Maderia in August on the Queen Elizabeth sailing from the USA to Barcelona. We found this outfit - they are actually offering a cruise excursions via the cruise ship - but booking direct is around 1/2 the price http://www.tukxi.pt/ - we'll probably do it looks like a fun way to get around and save some serious hill climbs. Note their prices are per a vehicle up to 3 people not per person

Lissie, Thanks for your reply. That sounds like a great cruise!

hey hey all
madeira was one of our cruise stops on our transatlantic cruise from rome years back. i loved this gorgeous island, lush and green, botanical plants and flowers, friendly people, vineyards growing up the mountainside, mouth dropping views from below as well as high up.
we hired a taxi tour, nelson gomes taxi, for a 4-5 hour tour along with taking the tobaggan ride. i don't see his taxi company anymore and could have changed name to madeira taxi tour.
we were on cruise critic with the forums and asked who was interested in sharing tour? found a few people, shared cost 80E back then. went along coast (camara de lobos, ribeiro frio, nun's valley and monte garden for ride on tobaggan) with stops in these small villages for photo ops, gift shops/snacks/drinks. the tobaggan cost about 20-30E if i remember, one of our highlights, ride of a lifetime to look back on. bought picture at end of ride. make sure tour picks you up at end to bring back to town and cruise entrance. we stopped and had a nibble and drink before getting on ship. it was a known fact that the tour got us back on time to ship.
this tukxi tour is new, i would absolutely take a tour. decide the one you want and do the basket ride as add on if driver can. stop and have a glass of madeira wine at blandy's lodge or a cafe/bar. enjoy your day on the island, we loved it, one of best stops.
aloha

We met up with others via our Transatlantic Cruise Critic roll call to tour Madeira. Everything was arranged in advance, payment day of tour.

Lots of spectacular hills, wonderful sites, great small bus tour of about 5 hours. Can a Tuktuk handle that terrain ? I'd want a more powerful vehicle that could get me up and down all those hills. We saw a lot during our five hours, took the cable car up once, but all the rest by small van, including a winery in the back country where we bought bottles of...Madeira. You'll love it.

Warning: Think twice if you suffer from altitude anxiety.

You can take the cable car ("Teleférico") to the top, take another cable car to Madeira Botanical Garden, visit that and take the cable car back to the top. Maybe have lunch, but it's not the best restaurant in Funchal. Then go back to Funchal either by cable car or by sledge (not on Sundays).

It was over ten years ago, but we hired a car service for the day. We were in a resort for a few days. I suppose Tuk Tuk services might be cheaper, but (I'm older, and well-off) it seems kind of third-world for an island that was originally for privileged gentry, especially from England, I think. Make sure your non-ship tour is back in time for the ship departure, since they will leave without you.

Our car day, the trip to the highest driveable summit was a bust, because it was completely fogged in, visibility about 100 feet. We had no interest in a sledge ride, although my grandmother (!) told me about it. I thought the money for the car was well-spent.

As others noted, the green beauty of the island is remarkable. We had several good views of the llevadas and walkways. I wish we had had the time to walk some. It was (then) reported to be easy if not-level, hiking. Note that the island is rocky and not known for its beaches. Many of the aging luxury hotels have sea-view swimming pools beside a rocky drop-off. Some of the pools are seawater, I think.

Hello from Wisconsin,
Madeira...you could spend your day in the capital city of Funchal. We were on the island for a week and spent part of one day in Funchal. The painted doors were fun. There is a statue of Renaldo. A fairly big market. Or you could get up on the backbone of the island for sweeping views of snow capped mountains and grazing cows. The canals carved i stone speak of slave power.

Roads are few and slow as I recall.

wayne inWi

Hi again from Wisconsin,
We checked the price of a tuk-tuk while in Lisbon and found then the most expensive way to travel. A taxi mightbe as good and cost a lot less.
wayne inWI