In my last blog I visited the mysterious waters of Vieques. In today’s post I visit the city of Ponce. A two hour drive from San Juan, Ponce is located on the southern coast of the Island. The drive is very picturesque as the freeway cuts through the mountain range which separates the north from the south. As you drive you’ll notice two quite distinct landscapes — one section is very lush and tropical while the other is desert-like.

Located on the Caribbean Coast, the Spaniards built Ponce into a bustling port city which exported sugar, rum, coffee and tobacco. Things changed after the Spanish-American War and the devastating hurricane of 1898 which hit the city. The aftermath resulted in most of the port operations moving to the north. Today, Ponce relies on the rum, oil, plastic and textile industries combined with a small income from tourism.

Parque de Bombas, Ponce, Puerto Rico

Ponce is a city full of history. Established in 1630 the city has spent over $500 million on restoring the old city to its former glory. The center of town focuses around Plaza Las Delicias, a beautiful tree-lined square which is home to Caterdal Nuestra Sennora de Guadalupe, a five story Cathedral and Parque de Bombas, an Arabian style, red-and-black-stripped building. You’ve probably seen the Parque de Bombas on postcards of Puerto Rico. Built in 1882 for an agricultural event, the building today is used as a fire museum.

Ponce, Puerto Rico

With the old city being quite small I recommend you park your car just outside the town and walk in.  This will enable you an opportunity to admire the architecture which I think is quite distinct from Old San Juan.  The only problem I ran into was the lack of food options in the center of Ponce.  While my trusty Lonely Planet guidebook mentioned many budget to mid-range eating options, all but one were closed down. But don’t panic there are plenty of fast-food restaurants!

Due to time restrictions I didn’t make it down to the port area of La Guancha but from what people have written on Trip Advisor the area is good for bars and restaurants. If you’ve been to La Guancha Boardwalk or Ponce and have some feedback I would love to hear it and links to photos and blogs are welcome. My next post on Puerto Rico is the last in the series and it will focus on the food and culture of the Island, you won’t want to miss it!