Ponce is the second largest city in Puerto Rico, situated on the south coast. The city is rich in history and unique architecture, and has a charming laid-back atmosphere. Ponce's downtown is a single quaint city square around which most of the city sights are tightly packed.
Attractions around the main square include the Ponce Cathedral, and Parque de Bombas, an old fire house, now a museum. Other buildings around Ponce's main plaza include the Casa Alcaldía (Ponce City Hall), the oldest colonial building in the city, dating to the 1840s, and the Armstrong-Poventud Residence, an example of the neoclassical architectural heritage of the island.
Things to See and Do
* Parque de Bombas – old fire house
* Casa Alcaldia - City Hall
* Plaza Las Delicias - the town's main square
* Ponce Museum of Art
* Caja de Muertos (Coffin Island) - a small beach island with an 1887 lighthouse
General information
Cruise Season – Jan - Dec
Currency - United State Dollar (USD)
Language – Spanish and English
Population – 200,000 approx
Land Area – 297.13 km²
Electricity – 2 perpendicular flat pins USA style or with a round pin below
Time - GMT minus four hours
International Country Telephone Code – +787 and +939
Port Location – There port of Ponce is located in the southern tip of the city. A new tourist wharf for cruise ships is soon to be built at Eugenio Maria de Hostos Street.
Travel Links – Mercedita International Airport, a quick cab ride from downtown, offers up to 4 daily flights to the USA. Spirit,and Jet Blue offer low fares and service to the airport. For intra-island service, Cape Air has many daily flights to the capital in San Juan.
Ponce has a large público (bus) terminal at the intersection of Calle Union and Calle Vives, a few blocks north of Plaza las Delicias. Públicos (buses) to San Juan (1-2 hrs).