Ponce
Puerto Rico · 20 m
Description
Ponce is the second city of Puerto Rico and calls itself the Pearl of the South, a place with a distinct character built on nineteenth century sugar and coffee money. Its central plaza holds the Parque de Bombas, a former firehouse painted in red and black stripes that has become the emblem of the city. Around it stand neoclassical and criollo townhouses with wrought iron balconies. The art museum on the edge of town holds the strongest European collection in the Caribbean. Coffee estates and a Taíno ceremonial ground lie in the hills behind.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 1 to 3 days (optimal 2 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: December – April
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Parque de Bombas, the striped firehouse
- Plaza Las Delicias and the cathedral
- Museo de Arte de Ponce
- Ponce Creole townhouses of the historic centre
- Castillo Serrallés and the Cruceta del Vigía
- Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center(Day trip)
- Hacienda Buena Vista coffee estate(Day trip)
- La Guancha boardwalk
- Ponce carnival before Lent (approx. February)
- Caja de Muertos island and its snorkelling(Day trip)
- Mercado Juan Ponce de León
Getting there
- Airports:
- PSE
- Seaport:
- Reachable by ship or ferry