URBE starts Puerto Plata Cable Car renewal on 3 October
Published on 10/11/2026 at 03:18 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSKey points in brief
- Work on Puerto Plata Cable Car began in Puerto Plata on 3 October 2026 as part of a comprehensive modernisation project.
- The replacement system will have two panoramic cabins for 55 passengers each and is planned to enter service in the first quarter of 2028.
- The route to Loma Isabel de Torres will remain, but travellers cannot use the cable car during the construction period.
Work on Puerto Plata Cable Car (Teleférico de Puerto Plata) in Puerto Plata entered a new phase on 3 October 2026, when authorities began a comprehensive modernisation of the attraction. The Dominican Republic project will replace the existing system while keeping its historic route to Loma Isabel de Torres.
The start of construction gives travellers a clear update for October 2026: the cable car is not available during the rebuilding period, and the renewed system is planned to enter service in the first quarter of 2028.
Puerto Plata Cable Car renewal began on 3 October
The Unit for the Redevelopment of Neighbourhoods and Environments, known as URBE, is carrying out the work with the DOMA Consortium. The project began on 3 October 2026 at an event led by Presidency Minister José Ignacio Paliza, according to URBE announcement of 3 October.
The current installation will be replaced by a bicable reversible system. Two new panoramic cabins will each carry 55 passengers, compared with approximately 18 to 20 in the existing cabins. The plan also covers new drive, control, monitoring and safety systems, as well as renewed cables, electrical infrastructure and stations.
The authorities say the new system will be able to transport up to 430 passengers per hour in each direction. Its entry into operation depends on assembly, technical testing and the procedures required before service can begin, with the first quarter of 2028 given as the planned timeframe in the official announcement.
The renewal keeps the route to Loma Isabel de Torres
The attraction connects Puerto Plata with Loma Isabel de Torres, the mountain above the city. The route is being preserved rather than moved, so the modernisation changes the transport system while retaining the landmark's established relationship with the summit.
The cable car was inaugurated in 1975, a detail also reported in an independent project report. A government location description places the cable railway south of Puerto Plata and identifies the hilltop botanical gardens and Christ the Redeemer statue as features at the top of the route.
That history gives the October 2026 works a specific significance for visitors: the project is not a new attraction in another location, but a replacement of the transport link that has served the mountain since the 1970s. The planned larger cabins and upgraded access arrangements are being applied to the same ascent.
Construction changes access until early 2028
- The modernisation began on 3 October 2026 in Puerto Plata and concerns the cable car route to Loma Isabel de Torres.
- The cable car is unavailable while the old system is replaced, and the renewed service is planned for the first quarter of 2028.
- The attraction lies south of Puerto Plata and ascends Loma Isabel de Torres, with the historic route retained in the new project.
- The replacement will provide two panoramic cabins with capacity for 55 passengers each, subject to completion, testing and approval before operation.
- Spanish is the official language of the Dominican Republic, and the national currency is the Dominican peso.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Puerto Plata Cable Car
What has changed at Puerto Plata Cable Car?
Modernisation work began on 3 October 2026, replacing the existing system, cabins, cables, stations and safety equipment.
When will Puerto Plata Cable Car reopen?
The new system is planned to enter operation in the first quarter of 2028 after assembly, testing and the required procedures.
Where is Puerto Plata Cable Car and how do you get there?
The attraction is in Puerto Plata, south of the city, and its route climbs Loma Isabel de Torres. The project retains that historic route, but the cable car is unavailable during construction.
