Curral das Freiras is a small village surrounded by huge mountains in the heart of the island.
The cauldron on which this town sits was formed by erosion, as many believe, or by volcanic activity.
After passing the church of Santo António, we stop at the 355m Pico dos Barcelos viewpoint where you'll be dazzled by a magnificent view over Funchal.
We then cross the mountains to Eira do Serrado where there is a viewpoint over the Curral das Freiras valley at 1094m.
We visit the famous parish of Curral das Freiras and return to Funchal.
Schedule & prices
Runs
Thu and Sun
Next available
Sun, Oct 18
Adult (ages 12+)
$27
Child (ages 6–11)
$14
Infant (ages 0–5)
$14
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 13.
Tour Options
Nun's Valley Tour in Madeira
Pickup included
Itinerary
Curral das Freiras
45 min
Curral das Freiras is a small village, surrounded by huge mountains, in the heart of the island.
The cauldron on which this village sits was formed by erosion, as many believe, or by volcanic activity.
After passing the church of Santo António, we stop at the 355m Pico dos Barcelos viewpoint where you'll be dazzled by a magnificent view over Funchal.
We then cross the mountains to Eira do Serrado where there is a viewpoint over the Curral das Freiras valley at 1094m.
We visit the famous parish of Curral das Freiras and return to Funchal.
Miradouro Pico Dos Barcelos
20 min
Stop at the Pico dos Barcelos viewpoint overlooking the entire city of Funchal
What's included
Included
Air-conditioned vehicle
Not included
WiFi on board
Pickup Locations & Times
Free transfer from Funchal City Hotels
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
3.8
11 reviews
5
5
4
2
3
2
2
1
1
1
How it compares in Funchal
Starting price $27 is 63% below the typical $74 for tours of similar length in Funchal
Excurgo comparison of 578 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Specialized infant seats are available
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Nun's Valley Tour in Madeira take?
Nun's Valley Tour in Madeira lasts about 4 hours. The itinerary has 2 stops.
How much does Nun's Valley Tour in Madeira cost?
Prices start at $27 per person for this Funchal experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Nun's Valley Tour in Madeira run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Thursdays and Sundays.
How much does Nun's Valley Tour in Madeira cost for children?
Children aged 6–11 pay from $14, adults from $27.
Can I cancel Nun's Valley Tour in Madeira for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, pickup is offered. Free transfer from Funchal City Hotels Pickup points include Pestana Vila Lido, Pestana Miramar.
What languages is Nun's Valley Tour in Madeira offered in?
The experience is available in DE, PT, EN, FR, ES.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 16 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Specialized infant seats are available
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
Wheelchair accessible Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Reviews(11)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
D
Diddydoll
April 26, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Very informative and friendly guide.
Wonderful half day spent with Jon, he showed us many sites along the way and the minibus was comfortable. His driving was excellent and my sister and I felt safe travelling with him. We had a few stops on the way to the valley and were given time to explore and use a loo if needed. Jon was extremely knowledgeable and very interesting to listen to on the way. He spoke good English and used a mike which meant the people sitting further back in the bus could hear clearly. The valley was lovely and in full sunshine when we visited. All in all a good experience. Thank you Jon.
Operator response
Thank you very much for your lovely review.
We’re delighted to hear that you and your sister had such a positive experience on your half-day tour with Jon. It’s great to know you felt safe and comfortable throughout the journey, and that you enjoyed both the stops along the way and your time in the valley in such good weather.
We’re especially pleased that Jon’s knowledge, clear communication, and use of a microphone helped make the experience more engaging and enjoyable for everyone on board. Your kind comments about his driving and guiding will certainly be shared with him.
We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback, and we hope to welcome you again on another tour in the future.
K
K3086MLstefanb
February 28, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Not really worth it
Sounded like a great interesting tour. However, the story (the nuns' hideout) and the view of the valley is the most spectacular thing about this tour.
The place in the Nonnental is quite boring and there is simply nothing to see besides a small church.
If necessary. Should be supplemented by a varied hike or something. The way she is right now, she's rather superfluous and boring.
Operator response
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.
We’re glad to hear that you found parts of the tour interesting, particularly the story of the nuns’ refuge and the views over the valley. These are indeed highlights of the experience for many visitors.
However, we’re sorry to hear that the stop in the valley itself did not meet your expectations and felt less engaging. We appreciate your honest comments regarding the overall balance of the tour. Feedback like yours is very valuable and will be shared with our team as we continuously review how we can improve the experience and better showcase the area.
We also appreciate your suggestion regarding adding more variety, such as incorporating a walk or additional points of interest. Ideas like this help us consider how we can make future tours more engaging and rewarding for our guests.
Thank you again for your input, and we hope to have the opportunity to welcome you on another experience that better suits your expectations.
J
Johanna S
July 29, 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Not reliable, no airconditioning
We booked half day trip from another booking agency which uses Ilha Tours for nun's valley trip. Our trip was supposed to begin at the morning. We received every necessery documents from the booking agency.
After waiting for 30 minutes we were informed by the booking agency that they have been told by Ilha Tours that driver is coming to pick us up in few minutes. After waiting for another 30 minutes we received another information that driver is not going to pick us up since Ilha tours has not updated us to the pick up list.
We agreed with our booking agency to do the next tour later on the evening. This time driver showed up a bit late with a van without Air conditioning. During the trip we were shown couple sightseeing points were we visited these places by ourselves. Driver did tell us about the history of Madeira and showed us the Madeiran culture during the trip.
Trip was ok, but tour agency not reliable
Operator response
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience.
We are very sorry to hear about the confusion and delay with your pick-up, as well as the frustration this caused to the start of your tour. This is not the level of organisation or reliability we aim to provide, and we understand how disappointing this must have been, especially after you had already been informed and prepared for your original departure time. We sincerely apologise for the miscommunication between the booking agency and our operations team.
We also regret that the vehicle used for your rescheduled tour did not meet your expectations in terms of comfort. While we’re pleased to hear that your driver shared information about Madeira’s history and culture and that you were still able to visit several interesting viewpoints, we understand that these positive aspects do not fully offset the earlier issues you experienced.
Your feedback is important, and we will be reviewing this situation internally to ensure better coordination with our partners and to prevent similar issues in the future.
Thank you again for your honest review, and we’re sorry that your experience with us was not fully satisfactory.
K
Kalpna_M
July 28, 2025 · via Viator
This guides explanation...
This guides explanation was not very vocal. Couldn't understand what he was saying but the places he took us was good.
Operator response
Thank you for your feedback.
We’re sorry to hear that the guide’s commentary was not clear during your tour. Good communication is an important part of the experience, and we understand how this can affect enjoyment of the visit.
We’re pleased to know that you still enjoyed the places visited, and we will share your comments with our guiding team to help improve clarity and delivery going forward.
We appreciate you taking the time to let us know.
6
63susie
October 19, 2024 · via Tripadvisor
Half day tour with friendly driver
Brilliant trip,the guide was so knowledgeable and great fun.
Nuns Valley is well worth a visit,the views are amazing and following the sledges down a very steep hill was a great experience
Operator response
Dear customer,
Thank you very much for your comment.
It's good to know that our customers recognize the commitment of our Team and how important it is to us.
We hope to welcome you again in the future.
Compliments,
Ilha Tours Team.
A
ann0uschka
April 13, 2023 · via Tripadvisor
Beautiful views, good explanation by the guide, opportunity to take walk alone
The walk from Eira do Serrado to Valley of the nuns was not really included, but we had plenty of time to do it on our own. A convenient way to do a walk without a rental car. The driver was waiting for us at the end of the walk and we still had time to try the local chestnut beer and also try the different liqueurs.
Very funny guide, who also gave extensive explanations about the fauna and other facts about the island.
Operator response
Bedankt voor uw feedback Meneer/mevrouw! We zijn blij om te horen dat het een geweldige ervaring voor je was! We zijn blij dat je onze cultuur en likeuren van ons eiland hebt ervaren! Ik hoop je snel weer te zien!
D
derrickj662
February 27, 2023 · via Tripadvisor
Not a hike!
So I got a little fooled on this one and I am writing this review so you don't have the same thing happen to you. Judging by the photo I thought this was going to be a hiking tour. It is not. It's a fairly fast bus tour. It's nice, I guess I just wasn't paying enough attention, but don't let the picture fool you. It's from an overlook, not a trail.
Operator response
Dear Derrick
, your opinion is very important to us.
Unfortunately the aspects mentioned are not in our control. We provid Tour services all year long, and we´re sorry if something external to our services wasn´t as you wished.
Despite all, IlhaTours allways works to provide the best experience to the costumer.
We would be glad to see you again, maybe in another time of the year!
Best regards.
N
Nanysilva83
January 28, 2023 · via Tripadvisor
Curral das Monjas January 2023
Once again, the "Tony" tab was 5*.
Always helpful and available.
Well organized tour.
I like it.
Operator response
Prezada Sra,
Muito obrigado pelo seu relato e ficamos felizes que tenha gostado!
O
olof e
January 2, 2023 · via Tripadvisor
Tour bus never showed up
The tour bus never showed up. I emailed the company twice before the excursion to get the pickup time. No response. On the day of the tour the bus never showed up. We called and they said that they had been trying to reach out to me the same morning and claimed our mail and phone number didn’t work. But since it’s the same I have for TripAdvisor and that it worked here… I have my suspicions.
This was the only tour we booked for our trip and now it was to late to book something else since we are going home. Disappointed to say the least. Will wait and see that we get our money back as promised.
Operator response
Dear Olof,
We tried to email twice as sent;
De: Ilha Tours Website
Enviada: 31 de dezembro de 2022 15:09
Para: reservas@ilhatours.com
Assunto: Pedido de contato
Pedido de contato
Ilha Tours Website
Olá.
De seguida, o formulário de informação submetido na pagina web.
DADOS
Assunto:
Time for pickup
Nome:
Olof
Email:
Olof.engstrom1981@gnail.com
Mensagem:
Hi, we have booked a trip tomorrow for the valley of the nuns for 2p and a baby. Can’t find any time for pickup. can you please provide some more information regarding it? Thanks , olof
his message was created automatically by mail delivery software.
A message that you sent could not be delivered to one or more of its recipients. This is a permanent error. The following address(es) failed:
Olof.engstrom1981@gnail.com
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You have already been refunded
Thank you,
Best regards!
L
Louisa C
November 3, 2019 · via Tripadvisor
Fantastic tour operator
We used Ilhatours for 3 days when in Funchal: the friendly prices and our guide Carlos made our visit to Madeira a unique experience. Great tours of the Island, invaluable info thanks to Carlos. We would have never seen and learnt so much by ourselves. We loved it!
1 people found this helpful
Operator response
Thank you so much for your feedback,
we are glad that you enjoyed your tours with us
we hope to see you soon again,
Best regards
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