From $55Mount Isabel de Torres
What it is
Mount Isabel de Torres is the 800-metre peak that rises behind Puerto Plata, crowned by a white Christ the Redeemer statue and a botanical garden. A Swiss-built cable car, the only one in the Caribbean, carries visitors from the city up to the summit, where a terrace looks out over the cruise ports, the coastline and the green interior. It is the landmark most often paired with a Puerto Plata city tour from the terminals. The mountain is protected as a scientific reserve, so the slopes you ride over are dense subtropical forest rather than development. At the top, the gardens are laid out around the base of the statue, which echoes the more famous Christ of Rio de Janeiro on a smaller scale. On a clear day the view stretches along the entire Amber Coast, and you can trace the road back toward Maimon Bay where Amber Cove sits. For cruise passengers it is one of the few attractions that delivers a sweeping overview of the whole region in a single short visit.
How to visit
Most cruisers see Mount Isabel de Torres as one stop on a half-day city tour that also covers the Malecon, the central square and an amber or rum stop. The cable car ride up takes about ten minutes and runs frequently, though queues build when several ships are in, which is the main reason to book a tour with priority access rather than turning up independently. Allow forty-five minutes to an hour at the summit for the Christ statue, the manicured botanical gardens and the lookout terraces, where you can usually pick out your own ship moored in the bay below. There are small craft and snack stalls at the top if you want a souvenir or a cold drink. Mornings are clearer before cloud gathers around the peak in the afternoon, so an early city tour gives the sharpest photos. The summit air is noticeably cooler and breezier than the steamy port, so a light layer is worth carrying.
Hours & practical info
Cable car runs daily, roughly 8:30am to 5pm. Last ascent is in the late afternoon.
Insider tips
- ✓ Ride the cable car early to beat queues when multiple ships dock.
- ✓ Pair it with a city tour so the transfer is handled for you.
- ✓ Bring a light layer, the summit is breezy and cooler than the port.
Tours featuring this attraction
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do you get up Mount Isabel de Torres?
- A cable car from the edge of Puerto Plata runs to the summit in about ten minutes. It is the only cable car in the Caribbean and the easiest way up.
- Is Mount Isabel de Torres included in a city tour?
- Yes. Most half-day Puerto Plata city tours from the cruise ports include the cable car ride along with the Malecon, central square and an amber or rum stop.