A new attraction has opened in Santiago’s Metropolitan Park: on February 28, another cable car line was officially inaugurated. Since March 3, the trial phase has been underway – interested visitors can register and ride the new route for free.

The goal is to give visitors the opportunity to experience the attraction before regular fares are introduced. After the trial period, prices will be set depending on the chosen route and possible combinations with other park offerings. Residents will benefit from lower fares compared to tourists.

The park already had an existing cable car line and a funicular. The new Pio Nono cable car is intended to complement these. It was built to improve connectivity and enhance the tourist experience on San Cristóbal Hill.

“The Parque Metropolitano de Santiago is a jewel for the city; a place where eight million people gather each year – from children to seniors. With the new cable car, we aim to bring additional vitality to this space and further diversify how the hill can be enjoyed,” said Carlos Montes, Chile’s Minister of Housing and Urban Planning, as cited by the media outlet 5 Noticias.

Route

The new connection includes three stations. The starting point is the National Zoo station, which features a café and several viewpoints. The line ends at the Plaza México station, just a few meters below the summit.

There, an open machinery room allows visitors to get a glimpse of the cable car’s technical workings.

The intermediate Chile Nativo station is temporarily closed to passengers due to ongoing construction as part of another project.

Technical Details

The cable car is equipped with 24 cabins, each offering eight seats. The approximately one-kilometer-long route takes around seven minutes to complete.

The system can transport up to 800 people per hour, with roughly 200,000 visitors expected per month.

The project involved an investment of 38 million USD.

About Santiago’s cable car

Santiago’s cable car is one of Chile’s top tourist attractions. It is located in the heart of Santiago’s Metropolitan Park, the largest urban park in Latin America.

From the cabins, visitors enjoy panoramic views of San Cristóbal Hill, the city of Santiago, and the Andes Mountains.