Ponce 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 dance in radiant sunshine.
The preservation of its neoclassical architectural heritage along with several interesting attractions make Ponce a worthy port of call for Caribbean cruisers and holidaymakers. The nearby barrio of Playa de Ponce is home to Puerto Rico's principal and busiest trade port. Tobacco, coffee, rum and sugar cane from all over the Caribbean are loaded aboard vessels here, and floods of sightseers disembark 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 silver beach of Playa de Ponce, whose clear waters make for ideal snorkelling excursions.
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 eateries 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 laid back and fairly quiet in the evenings, making it a great Caribbean holiday destination for visitors of all ages.
Things to do in Ponce
Laidback Ponce is small and easy to explore on foot. Most of its attractions are gathered around the main square of the Plaza las Delicias, which makes for ease of access for visitors who want to see the majority of Ponce's major attractions. These include the Parque de Bombas, Casa Alcaldia, Museum of Puerto Rican Music and the Catedral de la Guadalupe.
Although Ponce isn't located directly on the coast, it's near enough that travellers looking for fun on the beach can head to El Tuque, take guided snorkelling tours and have fun on jet skis, all of which are very popular among tourists. Relaxing in Ponce is certainly not a hard task, with the pace easy and the activities family-friendly.
Ponce is also ideally situated for trips to the beaches at Guanica, or the inland town of San German, so a day out exploring is always an option for the adventurous and curious among travellers. A beautiful old town with incredible architecture and culture, Ponce will not disappoint.
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 a number of pretty buildings dating back to the 16th century, including the Porta Coéli (Gate of Heaven) Church and the San Germán de Auxerre Church. Because of these, the town is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. There are also a few interesting museums, including the Lola Rodríguez de Tió Museum and the Ramírez de Arellano y Rosell Museum. San Germán also hosts several religious and cultural festivals throughout the year.
Ponce Art Museum
The Museo de Arte de Ponce contains one of the largest art collections in the Caribbean. It's housed in a building designed by renowned architect Edward Durrell Stone, who designed the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The impressive building comprises seven interconnected hexagons topped with glass cupolas. Inside its walls are more than 1,000 paintings and 400 sculptures covering classical, ancient and contemporary works. Among the prizes of the collection are works by Velasquez, Rubens and Rodin, as well as a celebrated assemblage of Pre-Raphaelite works and Puerto Rican pieces.
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. The island, also known as Dead Man's Chest, is part of the Reserva Natural Caja de Muertos natural reserve, thanks in part to its native turtle traffic. There are five pristine beaches, including Playa Ensenada, Playa Larga, Playa Blanca, Playa Chica and the blue flag-designated Playa Pelícano. Beaches on the east side of the island are roped off during turtle-nesting season. What's more, there are a number of spectacular hiking trails throughout the interior of the island and visitors can also explore the 19th-century lighthouse at Caja de Muerto.
Museum of Puerto Rico Music
The Museo de la Música Puertorriqueña is dedicated to documenting the rich tapestry of the island's music history and pays tribute to Puerto Rican musicians. The museum explains the significance of the romantic danza music style, and the African-inspired popular forms of bomba and plena. It also features displays of Indian, Spanish and African musical instruments, and memorabilia of local composers and performers, all housed in the attractive former residence of the renowned rum-producing Serralles family. Displays are in both English and Spanish.
Museo Castillo Serralles
Perched above the city of Ponce on El Vigia Hill is the restored residence of the Serralles rum-producing family. Designed by Pedro de Castro and built in 1930, the multilevel Spanish-revival hacienda is a beautiful example of the island's post-World War I architecture. The mansion surrounds an elegant courtyard featuring fountains, and is renowned for its splendidly carved dining-room ceiling. The mansion is set in magnificent terraced formal gardens with breathtaking views, making for a wonderful day-trip destination from Ponce.
Mayaguez Zoo
Also called the Dr Juan A. Rivera Zoo, the Mayaguez Zoo is found off the beaten tourist track in Mayaguez on the east coast of Puerto Rico. It's a world-class establishment and well worth a visit for animal lovers and those passionate about wildlife conservation. Its growing collection of rare and exotic animals include lions, tigers, jaguars, hippos, giraffes and rhinos, as well as many species of tropical birds and large and varied collections of butterflies, amphibians and snakes. Central to the zoo's growth has been a focus on conservation and several native species, including the Andean condor and the Puerto Rican crested toad.
Puerto Rico travel info
Electricity
Electrical current is 120 volts, 60Hz. Two-pin flat attachment plugs are in use.
Language
Spanish and English are the official languages of Puerto Rico.
Money
The United States Dollar (USD) is the unit of currency, which is divided into 100 cents. It is often referred to as the 'peso' in Puerto Rico. ATMs and bureaux de change are freely available and all major credit cards and travellers cheques are generally accepted. Banking hours are 9am to 3.30pm.
Tipping
Some restaurants and hotels automatically add a 10-17 percent service charge to the bill. If not, a 15 percent tip is expected. Taxi drivers and bar staff also expect tips.
Health
There are no vaccination certificates required for travel to Puerto Rico. Cases of dengue fever occur annually and mosquito protection measures are essential, while it's best to drink bottled water to avoid stomach upsets. Medical services are good but can be expensive so travel insurance is advised.
Safety
Puerto Rico is still recovering from Hurricane Maria with regular power and communication outages and unstable buildings.
Visits to Puerto Rico are usually trouble-free but travellers should take sensible precautions to avoid petty theft.
Many travel and health authorities classify Puerto Rico as having a high risk of Zika virus transmission. Visitors are advised to seek advice from health professionals before travel.
Local customs
Social etiquette in Puerto Rico is typically Latin American, with some North American influences such as a stronger sense of female independence, and a toning-down of the machismo ideal. Western visitors to the country should feel comfortable in most social situations.
Hygiene, cleanliness, and personal appearance are viewed as matters of self-respect, so travellers who've been on the road for a little while might consider neatening up their beards or trimming their hair, especially if they want to make a good first impression.
A final, important aspect of Puerto Rican social life, is the concept of relajo. Generally shy of direct confrontation and open criticism, relajo refers to the gentle, joking manner in which Puerto Ricans will bring up uncomfortable issues around each another. Visitors should be aware of this technique, as they may, on occasion, be required to read between the lines to discover what locals are really trying to express.
Doing business
Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory although the resemblance is closer to Latin America. English is understood by many on the island, but Spanish may also be the language in which business is conducted. Dress codes will vary according to different sectors, but suits are favoured on very formal occasions. Shaking hands is common for both men and women. Business hours are generally 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, with an hour taken at lunch.
Duty free
Puerto Rico's customs regulations are the same as those for the United States. Visitors over 21 may bring in the following items without paying duty: 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 2kg of tobacco; 1 litre of alcohol; and gifts valued up to US$100.
There is a long list of restricted and prohibited items which may not be imported or imported only under license, ranging from fireworks and matches to pre-Columbian sculpture and Cuban cigars. If in doubt, consult your nearest US Embassy for advice. Any merchandise from embargoed countries (Afghanistan, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Serbia and Montenegro and the Sudan) may not be brought onto US soil.
Communications
The international access code for Puerto Rico is +1 787 and +1 939. The outgoing code is 011 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 01144 for the United Kingdom). The outgoing code is not needed for calling the US, Canada, and most of the Caribbean. Mobile phones work throughout the island and local operators use CDMA networks that are not compatible with GSM phones, as used outside North America. Internet cafes are available in most towns and resorts.
Passport & Visa
All passport holders must have an onward or return ticket and documents necessary for further travel. Entry requirements for Puerto Rico are the same as for the United States of America. When arriving from mainland USA there is no immigration control. It is highly recommended that passports have at least six months validity remaining after your intended date of departure from your travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.
Entry requirements
Valid passport or passport replacing documents are required. Visa not required.
British citizens require a passport valid for period of intended stay. A visa is not required for stays of up to 90 days.
Canadian citizens require a passport valid for period of intended stay. No visa is required.
Australian citizens require a passport valid for period of intended stay. A visa is not required for stays of up to 90 days.
South Africans must hold a passport valid for period of intended stay and a visa is also required, unless holding a valid US visa.
Irish citizens require a passport valid for the period of intended stay. No visa is required for stays of up to 90 days.
New Zealand nationals require a passport valid for the period of intended stay. A visa is not required for touristic stays up to 90 days.
Useful contacts
The Puerto Rican Tourist Company, Old San Juan: +1 787 721 2400 or www.gotopuertorico.com
Emergencies: 911Embassies / consulates in other countries
United States Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7499 9000.
United States Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 238 5335.
United States Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6214 5600.
United States Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 431 4000.
United States Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 668 8777.
United States Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 462 6000.
Embassies / consulates in Puerto Rico
British Consulate, San Juan: +1 787 850 2400.
Canadian Embassy, Washington DC, United States (also responsible for Puerto Rico): +1 (202) 682 1740.
Australian Embassy, Washington DC, United States (also responsible for Puerto Rico): +1 202 797 3000.
South African Embassy, Washington DC, United States (also responsible for Puerto Rico): +1 202 232 4400.
Irish Embassy, Washington DC, United States (also responsible for Puerto Rico): +1 202 462 3939.
New Zealand Embassy, Washington DC, United States (also responsible for Puerto Rico): +1 202 328 4800.