Summer is approaching, and the municipality of Ponce is getting ready to welcome it with a lineup of special events and activities for the whole family.
Since the arrival of the Icon of the Seas on May 7, La Ciudad Señorial has seen a notable boost in tourist, commercial and cultural activity.
In a conversation with Platea, Iván "Yuye" Rodríguez Colón, director of Ponce's Municipal Office of Tourism, Culture and Communications, outlined what residents of the southern coast and the rest of the Island can expect from the long-term projects planned for the Perla del Sur.
Construction begins at La Guancha
If you're from Ponce and miss the old days of strolling and playing at the Complejo Recreativo La Guancha, Rodríguez Colón announced that construction has officially begun on what will be the largest gastronomic and recreational park on the southern coast: La Guancha Food Park.
What is the concept?
It will cover about 114,000 square feet and has an initial investment of $1.9 million
It will be located on the lot between the Héctor Lavoe and Sonora Ponceña stages
It will include four wagons, for a total of 16 food stalls. These permanent stations will serve the 14 establishments that were temporarily relocated to food trucks after the 2020 earthquake.
Vendors will benefit from electrical connections, drainage areas and additional restrooms.
There will be space for entertainment, music, craft stalls and sports such as volleyball and beach tennis.
Fixed seating will also be installed for customers to eat, along with green areas for picnics and chess, and shaded zones with pergolas and umbrellas.
Rodríguez Colón and his team envision turning the lot into another space where simultaneous events can take place.
"While there's a setup on one of the stages, the other can keep the music going…," he said. The idea is to have two "venues in one," according to Rodríguez Colón.
The gastronomic and entertainment park is projected to be ready by December of this year.
🌳What other tourist areas can you enjoy at La Guancha?
Parque de los Niños: It has a green area with shade trees, swings for children and young people, a kiosk for playing music, and new structures will be added, Rodríguez Colón said.
Asociación de Pescadores: This well-known structure at the complex brings together fishermen and motorboat owners in the city. It has a working dock and a kiosk specializing in seafood cones and salads.
The beach: Although it is not suitable for swimming, visitors can enjoy outdoor activities.
In recent months, the beach has become a key spot for residents and visitors from neighboring municipalities.
"It's taking on an incredible life for yoga, meditation, storytelling that people didn't used to do there," Rodríguez Colón said.
On the Icon of the Seas' first visit
"Ponce shone in that regard, in that (the tourists) had a great time, fell in love with the historic downtown, the music, the activations that were created, and obviously the economic impact. More than 300 businesses in Ponce were positively affected, not counting our colleagues in the region," the Ponce tourism director pointed out.
Regarding the Icon of the Seas' next visit, the tourism director noted that La Ciudad Señorial is now officially part of the Royal Caribbean route, which includes:
Miami, Florida
Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
Ponce, Puerto Rico
CocoCay, Bahamas
Miami, Florida
On another note, this historic milestone has opened the door for large-scale cruise ships to carry out technical maintenance and vessel certifications at Puerto de Las Américas, given its depth: "it doesn't fit in many Caribbean ports; so we are a real option" for the international industry, he added.
What opportunities for improvement exist ahead of the upcoming visits on June 11 and 25?
Maintain open communication with small and midsize businesses so they extend their hours
Encourage travel agencies and tour guides to inform their clients about destinations and local spots to visit in the city
"I think the city had forgotten what it was like to receive a large number of tourists. To believe in tourism again, to bet on it and to see tourists walking through our streets. I think it's up to all of us to relearn."
– Iván "Yuye" Rodríguez Colón
🗓️ Events in Ponce you won't want to miss
To complement this renewed commitment to tourism, the "Perla del sur" has a calendar packed with cultural and recreational activities to enjoy over the coming months.
If you don't have plans, you can take advantage of these options starting this weekend:
Semana de la Danza (May 17-18): Celebrate la Danza, one of the Island's native musical and dance genres, at a folk concert by the Coral Municipal de Ponce. 👉 The event will pay tribute to musician Juan Morel Campos, father of Puerto Rican danza, and will take place tomorrow, Friday, May 17, at 10:00 a.m. at Plaza Las Delicias.
New pickleball courts: Enjoy pickleball on one of the nine new courts at Ciudad Deportiva Millito Navarro, in the urbanización Los Caobos. 👉 The newly inaugurated courts offer learning clinics Monday through Wednesday (reservations at 787-840-4400) and open play Thursday through Saturday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Admission to the recreational area is free for all residents.
The courts will be available for learning clinics by reservation Monday through Wednesday by calling the Secretaría de Recreación y Deportes at 787-840-4400.
🗓️ Events in June and August
Festival de Ritmos Isleños: The Festival de Ritmos Isleños will return on June 11, coinciding with the next visit of the Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, to the port of Ponce. The event will be split between La Guancha and the historic downtown of La Ciudad Señorial.
Arrival of the Star of the Seas: The sister ship of the Icon of the Seas will dock in Ponce from Aug. 6 to 11 for its first technical stop and maintenance verification as a vessel. From there, the Star of the Seas will head to Puerto Cañaveral, in Florida, for its first route.
Festival “Ponce, Cuna de la Salsa”: Close out the summer to the rhythm of salsa at the Festival "Ponce, Cuna de la Salsa" on Aug. 2 and 3. The event will be held at La Guancha and more details will be announced soon.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
