Teleferico de Puebla. Image by S. Alexis.
With a population of more than 3.2 million residents, Puebla City is the fourth largest metropolis in Mexico and is the capital of Puebla state. Strategically located in the nation’s central region (about 2 hours drive from Mexico City), Puebla is rich in history and culture which helped it become 1 of 35 World Heritage Sites in the country.
To increase its tourist offerings, the city opened the Puebla Aerial Tram (Spanish: Teleférico de Puebla) in January 2016 to provide visitors with stunning panoramic views of its natural and urban landscape. The aerial tram, built with two 35-passenger cabins, connects the historically significant old military Forts of Loreto and Guadelupe (near the Zaragoza monument) and the new Exhibition/Convention Center.
One of the interesting design features of the ropeway is that the system’s terminals function both as a passenger station and as a tower — and therefore, have no intermediate towers between its 688m long route. For the station located near the Zaragoza monument (Fort station), passengers ascend 48m via an elevator before arriving at platform level. On the Exhibition Center side, the “station tower” is even taller at 58m.
Looking towards the 48m tall Fort station which is built with concrete. Image by Luis Alvaz.
Closer look at Fort Station (48m). Teleferico de Puebla. Image by Luis Alvaz.
Looking towards Exhibition Center station. Image by Luiz Alvaz.
As the cable lift soars above the entire city, riders can view the world’s largest urban mural and catch glimpses of the two nearby massive active volcanoes (Iztaccihuatl – 5,286m and Popocatepelt – 5,500m). As a tourist system, passengers are accompanied by a friendly guide in the cabin. To complete the visitor experience, the ropeway is located adjacent to other major attractions such as the Museum of Evolution, a planetarium and the Cable Car Park. Ticket-wise, prices are reasonably priced at US$1.50 (one-way) and US$2.50 (roundtrip).
While the system has proved popular with tourists, attracting 500,000 to 752,000 per year, the project was not completed without controversy. The system’s opening was delayed for a year and the final construction cost was more than 100% over budget.
Nevertheless, the aerial tram’s impressive design and unique ride experience makes it a top attraction in Puebla.
| Year opened | 2016 |
| Length (km) | 0.68 |
| Capacity (pphpd) | 692 |
| Speed (m/s) | 7.0 |
| Fare one-way (US) | $1.50 |