Getting Oriented in Ponce and the Porta Caribe

Ponce is the region's dynamic center, with a surrounding metropolitan area that includes a slew of vibrant attractions and sophisticated restaurants and hotels rivaled only by those in San Juan. Southeast of Ponce, the shoreline is rugged and the villages more rural and isolated. Seaside inns and some of the island's best seafood can be found here. Slightly inland are charming colonial towns and the beautiful historic city of San Germán, one of Puerto Rico's oldest settlements.

• Ponce. Reminiscent of Old San Juan before cruise ships, Ponce has a yesteryear charm and an increasingly cosmopolitan vibe that delight many visitors.
• Juana Díaz. This small town is worth at least a pit stop for its most famous drink, maví, a fermented beverage made from the ironwood tree.
• Coamo. Puerto Ricans come from all over the island to Coamo, where thermal baths offer a promise of relaxation.
• Salinas. Just off the main highway leading from San Juan to Ponce, Salinas is a destination for seafood lovers.
• Guayama. A stop in Guayama should include Casa Cautiño, a 19th-century home that tells the story of the colonial period in Puerto Rico.
• Patillas. Puerto Rico's "emerald of the south" is so named because of its green mountains to the north. It is also, though, a beach town, and its sunsets are stellar, so time your visit accordingly.
• Guánica. Even though most Americans have probably never heard of it. Guánica is believed to be the spot where Columbus landed when he arrived in 1493; it's also where U.S. troops arrived to wrest Puerto Rico from the Spanish in the Spanish–American War.
• La Parguera. This unassuming southern coastal town is home to one of Puerto Rico's three bioluminescent bays, best seen when there's no moon.
• San Germán. Architecture buffs won't want to bypass this town, whose squares and surrounding neighborhoods offer examples of every kind of architectural style.