CABLE CAR AND LOMA ISABEL DE TORRES

A cable car, inaugurated in 1975, makes it easy to climb this high hill - the Loma Isabel de Torres, a national park - which stands like a sentinel above Puerto Plata. Trujillo decided to build a fortress here because of its height (the hill rises to just under 900 metres above sea level) and the panoramic views it affords. By posting sentries here, the town was protected, or at least able to retaliate if attacked from the sea. In fact, although the summit (where you'll find a cafeteria) is often trapped in the clouds, today the mirador has become a tourist attraction in its own right: the panorama over the city and the entire bay is breathtaking! The statue of Christ the Redeemer, more modest than its counterpart on the Sugar Loaf in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, sits enthroned above the dome of this fortress, watching over the city. The other attraction of Loma Isabel de Torres is its botanical garden. Engineer Benjamín Paewonsky is responsible for this complete creation, which dates back to 1973. You can follow paths lined with no fewer than 600 local plant species (594 trees and flowers to be exact), while discovering the reconstruction of a traditional Taino habitat. A recommended visit, and a great way to cool down when the heat in the heart of the city becomes stifling.