The wonderful cable car that offered tourists a thrilling trip up to the top of Isabel de Torres mountain in Puerto Plata city has been closed for nearly a year. The system had been refurbished at least twice since it opened more than 50 years ago. However, it appears that recent inspections have caused officials to take the cable cars out of service.
There is growing protest over the prolonged closure. Most of the protests came from the many merchants who sold items to tourists and whose livelihood depended on the operation of the system. There is a road up to the Botanical Gardens at the top of the mountain, but the ride up was the highlight that had people visiting.
It is, or was, aside from the beaches, one of the two most important natural tourist attractions on the North Coast, with the other being the 27 Falls at Damajagua.
In response to popular pressure as well as the obvious need for such a major attraction, President Luis Abinader just recently issued Decree 162-25 that created a public trust that was charged with the operation of the cable car system.
Minister of Tourism David Collado has announced the construction of a new, US$20 million system, but it appears to be a futuristic project.
In the meantime, last week, the town of Puerto Plata noted that the cable cars were running up and down the mountain, but unfortunately, they were told that the cars were empty, and it was a trial run to see just what was needed to get things running again safely.
The main concern for the Merchant’s Association is whether or not the facility will be privatized, but the current administration insists that it will never be privatized under President Abinader.
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Listin Diario
Listin Diario
21 July 2025