Teleférico Puerto Plata: Closed Since 2024 & What to Do Instead

The Teleférico Puerto Plata, the city's famous cable car up Mount Isabel de Torres, has been closed since June 2024 for repairs and modernization. As of 2026 it has not reopened. You can still reach the mountain on a guided hike or a 4x4 tour, or you can spend the day on the city's other attractions.

I still remember my first ride up. The old red gondola rattled out of the base station and swung over a carpet of royal palms. Then Puerto Plata shrank into a tidy grid of tin roofs, with the Atlantic stretching out like hammered pewter. At the top, cool air smelled of wet earth and ginger lilies, which feels unreal after the sticky heat of the Malecón.

These days the base station on the edge of town is quiet. Every few weeks a reader or a cruise passenger asks me if it's open again. This guide covers what I know, how to reach the summit anyway, and how to rework your day. For the bigger picture of the city, start with our Puerto Plata things-to-do guide.

What Happened to the Teleférico Puerto Plata?

The cable car stopped running in June 2024 and has been closed for rehabilitation work ever since. The system dates from the mid-1970s. Its cabins, cables and machinery needed serious work to meet modern safety standards, so the shutdown was planned, not a sudden failure.

The Puerto Plata cable car was long sold as the only one of its kind in the Caribbean. It climbed from roughly sea level to near the summit of Isabel de Torres in about 10 minutes. Two cabins worked in tandem, one going up while the other came down. On clear days it was easily the most photographed attraction in the city.

Is there a reopening date?

Not one I'd plan a trip around. Officials and local media have talked about reopening dates several times since 2024, and those dates came and went. When I asked at the base in late 2025, the guard just shrugged and said "todavía no" (not yet).

My honest advice for 2026 is to assume it's closed unless you confirm otherwise. Do that in person or with your hotel the day before you go.

A warning about outdated listings

Many booking sites, cruise excursion pages and older blog posts still advertise the teleférico as if nothing changed. Some "city tours" list it as a stop and then quietly drive past the closed gate. Before you pay for a tour, ask the operator straight out: "¿El teleférico está funcionando?" Get the answer in writing if you can.

Can You Still Visit Mount Isabel de Torres?

Yes. The mountain and its summit area are still there, but you have to get up without the gondola. Your realistic options are a guided hike or a 4x4/jeep excursion on the steep service road. Both need more effort and planning than the old 10-minute ride.

Isabel de Torres is a protected natural area that rises right behind the city. It's covered in humid subtropical forest and often wrapped in cloud by early afternoon. Christopher Columbus is said to have named the mountain on his first voyage. You can read more on the history of Puerto Plata and its mountain backdrop.

At the top you'll find:

• The Christ the Redeemer statue, a smaller version of the Rio de Janeiro original with its arms open over the city
• A botanical garden with ferns, bromeliads, orchids and a small pond, kept up to varying standards depending on the year
• Viewpoints looking over Puerto Plata, Playa Dorada, Cofresí and, on very clear mornings, the coastline toward Sosúa
• Old station buildings and a small café area, which may or may not be staffed while the cable car is shut

Option 1: Hiking up Isabel de Torres

The climb is steep, humid and properly tiring. Most guided hikes take 3–4 hours up and around 2–3 hours down. You'll go through cacao, coffee and secondary forest before reaching the cloud zone. Expect mud, loose rock and plenty of mosquitoes on the lower slopes.

I strongly recommend going with a local guide. The trails aren't well signposted, the weather changes quickly, and access to the protected area can be restricted. Guides usually also know which farmers will let you cross their land. Ask at your hotel, at tour desks along the Malecón, or at the base station area. Guided hikes generally cost about RD$2,500–4,500 (~$40–75 USD) per person, depending on group size and whether transport is included.

Option 2: 4x4 or jeep excursion

A rough service road winds up the mountain. Some local operators run open-top truck or jeep trips that reach the summit area or close to it. The ride is bumpy and dusty, or muddy after rain. In return, you get forest views and a few unplanned stops for fruit at roadside stands.

These trips usually run half a day and cost about RD$3,000–5,500 (~$50–90 USD) per person. Don't drive it yourself in a rental car. The gradient and road surface wreck clutches, and I've watched small sedans give up halfway.

Option 3: Admire it from below

This one sounds like a cop-out, but it isn't. Some of the best views of Isabel de Torres are from the Malecón at sunset. The mountain glows green-gold and the Christ statue catches the last light. The ramparts of Fortaleza San Felipe give you another great angle.

Comparing Your Options at a Glance

Here's how the ways to experience the mountain compare in 2026:

Prices are rough ranges from my own trips and conversations with local guides. They change with fuel costs and the season, so always confirm before you set off.

Is the Puerto Plata Cable Car Worth Waiting For?

When it reopens, yes. Just don't build a trip around it right now. At its best, the ride was a lovely, low-effort way to see the north coast from above, and it was cheap. But Puerto Plata has more than enough going on that a closed gondola shouldn't spoil your visit.

When it does restart, expect the rehabilitated teleférico Puerto Plata to have new cabins, updated safety systems and probably a higher ticket price. Old regulars like me will miss the slightly rickety charm. Few will miss the queues, though. On cruise days the wait at the base could stretch past an hour.

What I'd tell a cruise passenger

If you're arriving at Amber Cove or Taíno Bay, don't pay for a shore excursion that headlines the cable car without confirming it's running. Our Puerto Plata cruise port guide has tips on picking excursions that fit your hours in port. The jeep tour up Isabel de Torres is tight but doable on a full port day. The hike isn't.

What to Do Instead of the Teleférico in Puerto Plata

When visitors are disappointed about the cable car, these are the swaps I suggest. Most fit into a half or full day.

1. Walk the old town and Fortaleza San Felipe

The 16th-century fort sits on the point at the end of the Malecón. Its walls look straight across at Isabel de Torres. Pair it with Victorian gingerbread houses, the Parque Central and the colourful umbrella street. See our Fortaleza San Felipe and old town walking guide for a route. Entry to the fort is a few hundred pesos.

2. Climb the 27 Charcos de Damajagua

If you wanted adventure from the cable car, this delivers more. You hike upriver, then jump and slide back down through natural limestone pools. It's about 30–40 minutes' drive from the city. Read our full guide to the 27 Charcos de Damajagua waterfalls.

3. Escape to Cayo Arena

This tiny sandbar off Punta Rucia has some of the clearest snorkelling water on the north coast. It makes a long but rewarding day trip, roughly 1.5–2 hours west by road plus a boat ride. Details are in our Cayo Arena Paradise Island day trip guide.

4. Other easy swaps

• The Malecón at golden hour. Grab a chimi (Dominican burger) from a street cart and watch the mountain turn amber.
• Amber and rum. The city's small amber museum and the rum-making history around town make a good rainy-day pairing.
• Beaches nearby. Playa Dorada, Cofresí and Costambar are all within 15 minutes by taxi.
• Ocean World in Cofresí, for families who want an easy, structured outing.

Practical Details: Getting There and Getting Around

The cable car base station is on the southwestern edge of the city, about 3 km (10 minutes by taxi) from the Parque Central. A taxi or motoconcho (motorbike taxi) costs roughly RD$300–500 (~$5–8 USD) each way from downtown. Agree on the price before you get in.

From Amber Cove cruise port it's around 20–25 minutes by road, and from Sosúa about 30–35 minutes. From Puerto Plata's Gregorio Luperón International Airport (POP), allow 20–25 minutes.

Coming from the Samaná Peninsula? Las Terrenas to Puerto Plata is roughly 3.5–4 hours by road along the north coast. That's too far for a comfortable day trip. If you're going to make the move, you can arrange a transfer from Las Terrenas or Samaná for the first leg and stay a night or two in Puerto Plata.

Best time to go

The dry season from December to April gives the best chance of clear summit views and drier trails. May, October and November bring more rain, and the trails get very slippery. Whatever the month, early mornings on weekdays are best. Locals hike in big groups on Sundays and holidays, especially around Semana Santa.

For official tourism updates on the north coast, see the Dominican Republic tourism board.

Final Thoughts on the Teleférico Puerto Plata and Isabel de Torres

The teleférico Puerto Plata is closed for now, but Mount Isabel de Torres isn't going anywhere. If you're fit and curious, the guided hike gives you something the gondola never did: the smell of cacao in the lower forest, birdsong in the clouds, and a summit you earned. If you'd rather keep it easy, a 4x4 trip or a sunset on the Malecón still shows off the mountain beautifully.

My practical advice: confirm the cable car's status the day before, book a hike or jeep trip through your hotel or a trusted local guide, and plan a backup like the old town or the 27 Charcos. For more ideas on filling your days on the north coast, browse our guide to things to do in Puerto Plata. Then go see the mountain on your own terms.

Sources

• Wikipedia — Puerto Plata (city)
• Go Dominican Republic — Official Tourism Site