Ponce City Tour Bus ($2/Adult, About 45 Minute Ride)
Ponce is the second biggest city in Puerto Rico. There are many museums and Spanish influenced buildings to see. One day we walked from the harbor to downtown (about 7 miles each way) and found many abandoned buildings and houses. Locals told us that people leave Ponce for better opportunities somewhere, especially in the states. John described current Ponce as similar to ‘City of Detroit’ in the U.S. It needs a good two or three (including a Ferry Trip to Coffin Island) days to tour in Ponce and enjoy the nice weather.
Cathedral Guadalupe
Fire Station Museum in Ponce
Ponce Art Museum
Ponce Music Museum
La Guancha Boardwalk by Ponce Harbor
Puerto Ricans seem to love their music a lot. Ponce harbor is next to a local boardwalk called ‘La Guancha’. It reminds me of the ‘Hollywood Boardwalk’ in South Florida. Locals come here for food and drink, walking/jogging, and family picnics. We chose one restaurant and enjoyed ‘Seafood Mofongo’ (Mashed Plantains and Potatoes Topped with Seafood) and people watching. There is also an ‘Outdoor Zumba Classes’ from Monday to Thursday evenings at La Guancha. (@6:30 p.m. $3 per class). For the cruisers, Ponce harbor is known as a noisy place from Thursday to Sunday night. The trade wind sends a mixed music from all different restaurants to the anchorage almost until early morning. Because of it, we stayed here only five nights for sightseeing and last minute shopping before departing for Bonaire. A taxi ride from the harbor to downtown is about $10 (one way).
A Guitar
Chequere – A Percussion Instrument
Mayohuacan – Percussion Instrument
Things to do and see in Ponce:
- Visit Old Fire Station Museum at the Downtown Plaza
- Visit Cathedral de la Guadalupe next to Fire Station Museum
- Take a trolley from downtown at Old Fire Station Museum for a city tour (45 Minute Tour, $2/person)
- Walk to Ponce Art Museum (Open Wednesday to Monday, $6/Adult)
- Walk to Puerto Rican Music Museum (Open Wednesday to Sunday, Free)
- Walk to Ponce History Museum (Open Tuesday to Sunday, Free)
- Visit Castillo Serralles (Serralles Castle, Open Thursday to Sunday, $4.25/Adult, It’s worth to visit but we didn’t make it.)
- Visit La Guancha and Take a day trip Ferry to ‘Coffin Island’ (Isla Caja de Muertos, Roundtrip Ferry Ride: $25)
Public Bicycle Repair Station with Tools
A Church in Ponce
