Puerto Rico travel Forum

Ponce
Catholic Church, Ponce © El Yunque Travel Guide
Lying a few miles inland, in the centre of Puerto Rico's south coast, the attractive city of Ponce is rich in Spanish colonial heritage and architecture, with a well-preserved 17th century historic heart. Pretty colonial homes and majestic churches surround the lovely city plazas where fountains gurgle in radiant sunshine.

The preservation of its neo-classical architectural heritage and several interesting attractions makes Ponce a worthy port of call for Caribbean cruisers and holidaymakers. The city has a busy port: the nearby Playa de Ponce Port is Puerto Rico's principal trade port. Tobacco, coffee, rum and sugar cane from all over the Caribbean are loaded aboard vessels here, and floods of sightseers are disgorged regularly from an increasing number of cruise liners that have added Ponce to their itineraries.

The city, dubbed 'the pearl of the south', also offers some interesting excursions, and a short drive out of town will take you to the lovely white sandy Playa de Ponce, where the clear waters are ideal for snorkelling. The city's built-up beachfront promenade area, a few miles south of the centre, is called La Guancha. The boardwalks, bars, souvenir shops, restaurants and snackeries surround hundreds of yachts and small boats moored in a saltwater estuary, and the area becomes very crowded with locals and visitors at weekends and holiday periods. Despite this, Ponce is determinedly laid-back and fairly quiet in the evenings, making it a great Caribbean holiday destination for visitors of all ages.




Attractions

Castillo Serralles © Daquella manera

Museo Castillo Serralles

Perched above the city of Ponce on El Vigia Hill is the restored residence of the Serralles rum-producing family. The multi-level Spanish-revival hacienda, designed by Pedro de Castro, is a beautiful example of the island's post-World War I architecture. The house surrounds an elegant...  see full details



Museo de la Música Puertorriqueña © Municipal of Ponce

Museum of Puerto Rico Music

This museum is dedicated to documenting the rich tapestry of the island's music history and pays tribute to Puerto Rican musicians. It explains the significance of the romantic danza music style, and the African-inspired popular forms of bomba and plenza. The museum features displays...  see full details



Parque de Bombas Fire Station © Jmoliver

Parque de Bombas Fire Station

A unique attraction on the central Plaza de las Delicias is the unusual Ponce fire station, a landmark wooden building painted in black and red stripes. The firehouse was built in 1882 and was tested to its limits just a year later when...  see full details



Allegory of War & Peace ca. 1560 © John Betancourt, Museo de Arte de Ponce

Ponce Art Museum

The 'Museo de Arte de Ponce' contains the largest art collection in the Caribbean, housed in a building designed by Edward Durrell Stone, who designed the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The impressive building is comprised of seven interconnected hexagons topped with...  see full details



Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center © Jami Dwyer

Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center

This ancient Indian site, still being excavated, is one of the most important archaeological sites in the West Indies. Apart from an ancient cemetery, it also features the remains of seven courts used by the Igneri (pre-Taino) people for a football-like game, two dance...  see full details



Excursions


Coffin Island

On weekends a ferry carries visitors from the pier at La Guancha on the Ponce waterfront to Coffin Island, a tiny uninhabited island five miles south of the city, where there are pristine beaches and a marked snorkelling trail. Visitors can also explore...  see full details

Dr Juan A Rivero Zoo

Although located in Mayaguez on the east coast of Puerto Rico - and so rather off the beaten tourist track in Puerto Rico - the Dr Juan A Rivero Zoo is a world-class establishment, and well worth a visit for animal lovers and...  see full details

San Germán

A historic town with a colourful past, San Germán was the second city founded in Puerto Rico by the Spanish. Its mountainous location made it an ideal escape for artists, poets and revolutionaries, and present-day San Germán still carries that lively spirit. It has...  see full details

Events

Ponce Carnival (Carnaval de Ponce)

The Caribbean version of Mardi Gras, the annual Carnaval de Ponce (Ponce Carnival) is a sensual feast that is guaranteed to delight visitors to Puerto Rico looking for a taste of authentic boricua culture. A week-long festival that ends on the day before Ash...  see full details


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