Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
PONCE
Ponce native son and author Abelardo Díaz Alfaro famously called Ponce a
baluarte irre-
ductible de puertorriqueñidad
- a bastion of the irreducible essence of Puerto Rico. Strolling
around the sparkling fountains in the central square and narrow streets of the city's historic
center evokes the stately spirit of Puerto Rico's past. Unfortunately, the neighborhoods that
surround the square bear witness to some woeful characteristics of Puerto Rico's present:
irreducible snarls of congested traffic, economic stagnation and cookie-cutter urban sprawl.
Even though the honking and ceaseless construction are signs of the city's growth, the com-
munities surrounding San Juan have grown much faster, unseating Ponce's status as Puerto
Rico's second-most populated metropolis.
The city has a more easygoing spirit than other major cities on the island, with businesses
that open late and close early, couples who stroll circles around the city's fountains and
spend breezy evenings 2 miles south at the shoreline. There, at a developed facility called La
Guancha Paseo Tablado, clusters of restaurants and cafes draw families for open-air dinners
on the weekend. After the kids go to bed, the drinks flow and the area jumps with a booming
mix of reggaetón and salsa.
PLAN YOUR TRIP
» Book a tour at the Hacienda Buena Vista (
Click here
).
» Call ahead to nature reserve offices to check on trail conditions and seasonal vari-
ations in offerings.
» Look at the
www.seepuertorico.com
website to plan visiting one of the south's fam-
ous festivals.
History
Unlike many destinations in the north, where history buffs have to do some digging, Ponce's
celebrated past is a marquee feature. Present in preserved Spanish colonial buildings, statu-
ary and more than a dozen museums, history is most readily visible at the city's historic
