Ponce, Puerto Rico’s second city, is often called “The Pearl of the South,” and indeed has an aristocratic air. Don’t miss its wonderful downtown historic area, its museums, and its rum factory. High on your list of top entertainment stops should be La Guancha, located a few miles out of town on the Caribbean Sea. Playa de Ponce is the city’s seaport and beach, and at night its long boardwalk, La Guancha, is the center of activity for everyone from teenagers to senior citizens. Getting there is half the fun. A “chu-chu” train makes erratic trips between the historic center of the city and La Guancha throughout the day and early evening. More reliable transportation can be taken from the nearby Ponce Hilton Hotel & Casino; ample parking is provided at the site. The boardwalk is across from the Ponce Yacht and Fishing Club and encompasses an impressively large area. The grand attraction, besides the cool breeze from the sea and the fun of mingling with crowds of young lovers, families and friends, is the food. Countless kiosks serve up frituras (fritters) stuffed with nearly every ingredient available from the land and from the sea. La Guancha is nothing fancy, but an evening spent here is sure to be thoroughly satisfying, relaxing, and fun!
How to Get There
From San Juan take Road 52 towards Ponce. Take the Ponce Playa exit, and continue on Road 14 to La Guancha.