El Cojo station of the Humboldt-Macuto line of the Warairarepano Cable Car System seen in the late 1980's. Photo: FB/@laguairaenretrospectiva/File photo.
The president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to executing strategic projects that boost the productive economy and tourism, such as the long awaited La Guaira-Humboldt line in the Warairarepano Cable Car System.
This Monday, April 28, during the 77th episode of his program Con Maduro+, the president said the “La Guaira to Humboldt line is making steady progress, with its inauguration scheduled for December 2025.”
This project will boost tourism in the region and offer a new alternative for transport with unique panoramic views.
The Simón Bolívar International Airport serving Caracas is located in La Guaira state, and the project is expected to have a positive impact on tourism in both La Guaira and Caracas.
The head of state explained that the La Guaira-Humboldt line project will have two stations, including one in Galipán, and will include rest areas, restaurants, and recreational spaces to guarantee an outstanding experience for working people. In addition, technological improvements will be implemented to consolidate it as a high-level tourist destination.
Communal connection for People’s Power
The Venezuelan government not only promotes megaprojects, but also strengthens local infrastructure in the hands of organized people.
During the Communal People’s Power Consultation on April 27, a project was presented for the construction of rural roads and short highways connecting hamlets and communities. These roads will facilitate agricultural and tourist transportation, consolidating the communal economy.
With these actions, the Bolivarian Revolution reaffirms its direction: democratizing access to tourism, strengthening popular mobility, and ensuring that historically excluded communities are protagonists of national development.
Panoramic View Cabins to be Added to Venezuela’s Warairarepano Cableway System
Long awaited project
The El Cojo station in Macuto, along with all areas of the former La Guaira-Humboldt line, was inaugurated on September 29, 1955, and began operations on April 19, 1956. It remained functional until the late 1970s, when it was closed due to deteriorating infrastructure, despite the oil boom of that era.
The original system featured five stations (Maripérez – Ávila – El Irón – Loma de Caballo – El Cojo) divided into two sections. The first connected Caracas (900 meters above sea level) to the highest station on Cerro El Ávila (2,140 meters above sea level). From there, a subsystem of funiculars transported passengers to the Humboldt Hotel, located approximately 600 meters away on the hill of the mountain.
The second section ran from the Ávila station down the Caribbean-facing slope of Cerro El Ávila, passing over the village of Galipán and terminating at the El Cojo station in Macuto, La Guaira state.
In 1986, the system was briefly reactivated, but closed again in 1987 after only a year of operation. Since then, successive governments have repeatedly announced plans to complete the project, yet none have delivered on this promise.
Governments prior to the Bolivarian Revolution frequently pledged to reopen the line, allocating significant resources to no avail. Similarly, under Presidents Hugo Chávez and Nicolás Maduro, repeated commitments to revive this long-awaited project have yet to materialize, despite strong public demand from residents of La Guaira state.
(RedRadioVE) with Orinoco Tribune content
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/AU
