The cable car that ferries visitors up Loma Isabel de Torres in Puerto Plata has been running for more than fifty years. Now the Dominican Republic is giving it a complete overhaul, and the changes go well beyond new cabins.
Led by Minister of the Presidency José Ignacio Paliza, the modernization is being carried out by URBE — the government unit for redeveloping neighbourhoods and public spaces — together with a consortium pairing Austrian cable-car giant Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH with local builder Grupo Malespín. Doppelmayr is the world's biggest name in cable transport, responsible for lifts at ski resorts and city transit systems, so the project has serious engineering pedigree behind it.
The headline upgrade is capacity. The current cabins hold roughly 18 to 20 passengers each; the replacements are panoramic cars seating 55, nearly triple the load. Once running, the system is expected to move up to 430 passengers per hour in each direction — a big deal for a ride that routinely draws queues at the base station. The familiar route up Isabel de Torres stays exactly as it is, so the ride's iconic aspect remains: a long glide above the city to the botanical garden and Christ the Redeemer statue near the 793-metre summit.
It's not just the cars being swapped. The work covers the cable system itself, drives, control and monitoring gear, safety mechanisms, electrical infrastructure and both stations. Officials are billing it as a next-generation installation, and the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC) says it will verify the new setup meets strict technical and safety requirements before it carries anyone.
Timing matters if you're planning a trip: the new cable car is slated to enter service in the first quarter of 2028, after assembly and testing. Until then, expect the old system to be out of action, so check local updates before counting on the ride during a Puerto Plata visit.
For travellers, this is one of the north coast's signature experiences getting a serious upgrade. Puerto Plata has been working to reassert itself as a tourism hub — beaches, the Victorian-era old town, the Malecón — and a modern cable car with triple the capacity should mean shorter waits, better accessibility and a smoother ride to the mountain-top park. If you visited years ago and remember creaky cabins, the 2028 version will be a different experience entirely.
