10 Things to Do in Ponce, Puerto Rico: A Visitor's Guide

Are you looking for a vacation destination that offers something for everyone? Look no further than Ponce, Puerto Rico! This beautiful city has something to offer everyone, from amazing beaches and historical landmarks to delicious food and vibrant nightlife. In this blog post, we will take a look at 10 things you won't want to miss when visiting Ponce. So what are you waiting for? Pack your bags and get ready to experience the best of Puerto Rico!

Thank you to Discover Puerto Rico for hosting my stay in Ponce. While this was a media trip, all opinions are my own.

Grab Coffee at La Potoroca

Puerto Rico is known for its incredible rum and coffee. During my entire trip to Puerto Rico, my favorite cup of Joe was from La Potoroca. La Potoroca is an excellent spot to kick off your tour of Ponce, as it is located in the heart of Ponce's downtown and historic district. I highly recommend grabbing their omelet for breakfast. It's created in the traditional Puerto Rican style with yummy local sausages.

Take a Walking Tour with Isla Caribe

Whenever you visit a new place, it is always a good idea to take a walking tour. Not only will it help you get familiar with your surroundings, but it will also help you tune in to the local history in a way you wouldn't pick up from a simple Google search. Our guide from Isla Caribe was extremely informative and entertaining. I highly suggest booking a walking tour with this awesome woman-owned tour agency.

Tour of Castillo Serralles

Ponce is home to many beautiful and historical buildings. One of the most notable is Castillo Serralles, also known as El Castillo. This castle was built in the 1930s and, today serves as a museum that tells the story of the sugar cane and Don Q rum industry in Puerto Rico. In early 2022, Castillo began a rum tasing and cocktail-making experience using their famous Don Q rum. Of the two rum tours I took in my tour, this was top-notch. Not only do you get to explore the beautiful summer home, but I even got to try seven-year-aged rum straight from the barrel. As a cocktail nerd, this was truly incomparable.

Plus, the views from Castillo Seralle as unbeatable. It sits atop a hill looking over all of Ponce.

Refuel at Café Lucero

What I loved most about Café Lucero was the entrepreneurship of this women-owned business. Not only is the owner one of just a few coffee plantation owners, but she has worked away up through a traditionally male-owned field. After Hurricane Maria, she lost over 70% of her product. However, she has powered through and has created a thriving brunch restaurant and coffee production. I really enjoyed my ice latte and waffles and fruit. They also have an extensive lunch menu! If you're looking for a great women-owned business in Ponce to support, Café Lucero is an excellent choice.

Explore the Art Deco Architecture

Ponce is home to some of the best examples of art deco architecture in the world. A walking tour is a great way to see many of these buildings, but even just driving or walking around the city, you will notice the unique style. The Plaza de Mercado Ponce is one of the best examples of art deco in the city. Be sure to snap some photos of these beautiful buildings!

View Art at Centro Cultural de Ponce

The Centro Cultural de Ponce is a great place to see some of Puerto Rico's best art. The museum has a wide variety of exhibitions and even an art school that you can take a peak at. It is a beautiful building and a great place to connect with local artists.

Visit Parque de Bombas

Parque de Bombas is a historic firehouse that now serves as a museum. The building is painted in the traditional black and red colors of firehouses in Puerto Rico and is a beautiful example of Spanish colonial architecture.

Visit a Coffee Hacienda

Puerto Rico is home to some of the best coffee in the world, and there are many coffee haciendas that offer tours and tastings. Hacienda Pomarrosa is considered one of the best and provides a tour of their facilities as well as a tasting of their award-winning coffee. Note: Due to scheduling, I was unable to make it a Hacienda, but I've been told it's a great thing to do!

Visit a Bioluminescent Bay

Sadly, due to bad weather conditions, we couldn't visit the bay. But, if you are around on a good day, you need to check out the Bahía Bioluminiscente de La Parguera. This is one of only five bioluminescent bays in the world, and it is an experience you will never forget. But, did you know that three of the five are in Puerto Rico?!!

Dinner at Lola Eclectic Cuisine

It's sort of a well-hidden secret that Ponce is a gastronomical hub. Lola Eclectic Cuisine presents a delightfully modern take on traditional Puerto Rican food. Plus, it's located within an exceptionally historic building in downtown Ponce. The restaurant is small, but the food is big on flavor.