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Puerto Rico South Coast Region - Best things to Do Guide

The most popular town is Ponce, the second-largest city in Puerto Rico.  Depending on your interests you can spend a day or a full week exploring the southern region.  Because of the region’s central location, if you choose accommodations on the south side and get a car rental, you will have easy access to other attractions around the island in the west and east regions.

Best Things to Do & Top Attractions

Puerto Rico South Region

Go Sailing & Explore Bahia de Jobos Nature Reserve in Guayama

Along the southeast coastal towns of Salinas & Guayama, visitors can sail to explore Bahia de Jobos (Jobos Bay).  Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve consists of mangroves, coral reefs, seagrass beds, mudflats and evergreen littoral forests.  Bahia de Jobos is a rich natural educational resource for students and researchers on the island.  Visitor Center offers a few exhibits where individuals can learn about the nature reserve and its history.

Locals love exploring the cays and snorkeling the coral reefs by kayak or boat.  Visitors can book a sailing trip to explore the cays.  Locals from the area love visiting and enjoy eating traditional food at local prices at the many restaurants nearby and scattered along the coast.

See Video

Visitor Center Information

Hours

  • Monday: 8 am – 3:30 pm
  • Tuesday: 8 am – 3:30 pm
  • Wednesday: 8 am – 3:30 pm
  • Thursday: 8 am – 3:30 pm
  • Friday: 8 am – 3:30 pm
  • Saturday: 7:30 am – 12 pm & 1 pm – 3 pm

Address

PR-705. km. 2.3
Aguirre
Salinas, PR, 00751

(see Map location at end of the page)

Contact

  • Tel: (787) 853-3569
  • Email: eolivares@drna.gobierno.pr

    Bahia de Jobos Nature Reserve Tours

    Caja de Muertos Island

    Caja de Muertos Island - Best places to visit in South Coast Region - Puerto Rico

    For beach lovers, head to Caja de Muertos Island, an offshore secluded island with a gorgeous beach, hiking trails, and great snorkeling.   There are a few more beaches to explore in the area which mostly get a local crowd. 

     + Caja de Muertos Island - Puerto Rico

    Top Rated Tours to Caja de Muertos & Nearby Islands on the South Coast

    Visit Hacienda de Café Pomarrosa

    If you’re a coffee-lover, make a call to make a reservation and head up to the mountains for a tour of a charming Hacienda with passionate coffee growers.  Learn about the island’s coffee history, coffee production in their plantation, and a fun tasting at the end.  Their coffee is delicious and best of all you will be able to grab a bag of fresh coffee to take home.  Tours are from Tuesday – Saturday from 11 am – 1 pm.  Be sure to call and make a reservation in advance to secure a spot.

    • Tel: 787-844-3541
    • Cost of Tour: $20 per p/p /  Children (10 and under) – $10. (Prices subject to change)

    Top Rated Tours to Hacienda Pomarosa & More Coffee Tours

    Plaza Las Delicias (City Square) – Ponce

    Ponce Plaza / Square - Best things to do in South Region of Puerto Rico

    Ponce is the most visited town on the south coast.  In Ponce, you’ll find the most popular tourist attractions and things to do.  Ponce is an elegant town with elegant architecture, various museums, rich cultural events, historic sites.   The best place to start is by visiting the plaza (Square) of Ponce.  Ponce did suffer damage from the earthquakes in 2020, so you may find various buildings destroyed around town.

    + Ponce Puerto Rico

    Top Rated Tours to Ponce, Puerto Rico

    Visit the Colorful Hills of Yauco – Macromural Brisa Tropical / Yaucromatic

    The Colors of Yauco - Best places to visit in South Region of Puerto Rico

    If you ask anyone about the town of Yauco, they’ll first tell you about the colorful hillside.  For the past few years, Yaucromatric, a non-profit organization began to take abandoned and not so attractive spaces in town and converted them into works of art.  Their colorful eye-catching work began to change the look of the town, turning it into an attraction and pulling residents from all over the island to visit the town.  The art has helped the economy of Yauco and revived the spirit of the residents, especially life with Hurricane Maria, the colors certainly were uplifting.

    We invite visitors to take a drive along the south and make a stop in Yauco.  The most visited area is “Macromural Brisa Tropical“, a street full of colors, every house, stairway, and wall are painted in the happiest colors.  Samuel Gonzalez led the community with this fun project.  On Sundays, the street is filled with music, a few street vendors, and just happy people walking around and taking selfies in the most colorful street on the island.

    Top Rated Tours w/ stop in Yaucromatic

    Travel to the South Region of Puerto Rico

    Flying Options

    • San Juan Airport, offering the most daily flight and choice of airlines (about 45 minutes away).
    • Meredita International Airport in Ponce – Many locals fly into Ponce and budget-savvy travelers may want to check rates.

    Driving from San Juan

    From the San Juan International Airport (Luis Munoz Marin), head south on Rt. 52. Most towns are easily accessible from Rt. 52.

    Map - Best Things to Do & Top Places to Visit

    South Region - Puerto Rico

    Popular Tours in Puerto Rico 

    Puerto Rico ⎮ Puerto Rico Best Things to Do ⎮  Puerto Rico South Coast Region