Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ponce & South Coast
POP 527,450
Includes »
Why Go?
The Caribbean-facing south coast offers the chance to unplug, escape the cruise ship crowds
and take a DIY journey into Puerto Rico's past.
The proud southern capital of Ponce - the so-called Perla de Sur (Pearl of the South) -
stands in elegant disrepair, where haute eateries neighbor slouching colonial facades. Along
coastal Hwys 2 and 3, crumbling chimneys of sugar mills stand beside their graying indus-
trial replacements - chemical and pharmaceutical factories. But for all these dichotomies,
there's a certain unpolished charm in picturesque southern towns.
The still waters of the south won't compare with the postcard-perfect beaches on the At-
lantic, but beyond a typical day at the beach, travelers can kayak the maze of mangroves,
hike the arid hills of the dry tropical forest and float in the surreal glow of the Bahía de Fos-
forescente.
When to Go
With some of the most consistent weather in the world, the dry, sunny climate is always in-
viting, though the June through August can be blisteringly hot. When school is out during
this period, Puerto Rican families fill the sun-washed plazas, wander through colonial build-
