One of the Dominican Republic’s most beloved high-profile tourist destinations is set to undergo a major transformation, as the long-awaited full-scale renovation of the Puerto Plata Cable Car is scheduled to kick off this Saturday, October 3. Backed by a $20 million investment, this comprehensive modernization initiative is designed to address longstanding capacity constraints, cut travel times, and bring the iconic attraction’s operational and safety infrastructure up to 21st-century standards.
The project was officially unveiled jointly by José Ignacio Paliza, Minister of the Presidency, and David Collado, the nation’s Minister of Tourism. Funding for the rehabilitation effort will be split between the Ministry of Tourism (Mitur) and the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation (IDAC), marking a coordinated public sector investment to boost the country’s tourism sector.
The upgrade delivers sweeping changes across every core part of the cable car system. Most notably, the cable car cabins will undergo a full modernization that will more than double their passenger capacity, jumping from 18 passengers per cabin to 50. Project planners anticipate this expanded capacity will cut down on lengthy visitor wait times during peak travel periods and let the popular attraction accommodate far more tourists annually, supporting broader tourism growth in the Puerto Plata region.
Travel speed will also see a significant improvement. With the installation of an all-new high-performance electromechanical system capable of operating at 10 meters per second, the one-way trip to the summit of the mountain will shrink from the current eight minutes to just five minutes, creating a more efficient and convenient experience for guests.
The renovation work will be rolled out in three distinct phases to minimize disruption and ensure quality control: the first phase will cover pre-construction engineering studies and detailed design work, the second will focus on on-site renovation construction, and the third and final phase will involve the assembly and testing of the new cable car system. To support the upgraded infrastructure, the project also includes the build-out of a dedicated new electrical supply line that will ensure reliable power for the expanded system.
The full-scale modernization comes after the Puerto Plata Cable Car has been closed to the public since June 2024, when it was shut down for failing to meet required mandatory safety certification standards for public operations. Following the closure, Dominican authorities moved quickly to develop a plan to rehabilitate and upgrade the attraction, rather than simply repairing the existing system. The competitive bidding process for the construction contract was finalized earlier this year, clearing the final regulatory and administrative hurdle for work to get underway as scheduled.
When completed, the modernization project is expected to revive one of Puerto Plata’s flagship tourist draws, delivering a safer, more efficient, and higher-capacity experience that meets the needs of growing visitor numbers to the region, while supporting local tourism-dependent businesses and communities.