There really is not much in the way of resorts on the ocean down near Ponce. The biggest is the Hilton, and I think the beach gets so-so feedback.

Copamarina is about 30 minute drive west of Ponce and is a nice resort-They have a very nice spa there-recently renovated/upgraded. spa. Their beach is not great for swimming, but there are other beaches within walking distance where the swimming is beter. Not sure if Copamarina would give you the night life you would be interested in, and it is nestled in a remote area that is very beautiful. If you are into more low-key, you would find it perfect. A plus about the area, it is in a dry coastal desert so you are just about guaranteed to have sunshine every day.

Suggest you find the Copamarina hotel review and look at the guest photos posted by Trip Advisor members. I always find that helpful when you want to get the lay of the land.

It's better if you stay in Ponce and then do day trips to other nearby beach towns like Guanica, Lajas and even Cabo Rojo.

The Ponce Hilton is a great property with beautiful and well maintained grounds, excellent pools and regular beach. They have a GREAT Sushi Bar. This hotel offers some nightlife, but for me, it's kind of bland. The SPA is very good.

You will need to rent a car, but if you want to go out at night I recommend you take a taxi, there are plenty in Ponce at any hour. Nightlife in Ponce starts on wednesday in places like:

Trova & Tapas - Live music, very nice place, they have an Hors D'ouvres menu.

Bar Code - Regular bar for a yunger crowd.

La Casa De Las Tias - By day is a restaurant, By night it is a Bar/Lounge.

Rincon Argentino - This is an Argentinian Restaurant, but they have a Lounge area, very nice and upscale.

Hollywood - Regular bar, Live music on fridays, they have an Hors D'ouvres menu.

Doble Seis - Sports Bar and Restaurant.

There are many museums and places to go in Ponce like:

Serralles Castle - http://www.castilloserralles.org/

Museum of Art - http://www.museoarteponce.org/

La Guancha Boardwalk - with many places to eat, live music and great for people watching.

phew... need more info? Try:

http://www.ponceweb.org/

http://travelandsports.com/

ChinaS lives there, so she knows her stuff! She was very helpful when I was planning my visit.

We just got back from a visit to Ponce. The city offers a nice tour where they take you around the city, tell you about the sites, the stop at 3 places (tour with other tour guides). At the stop to the market, look for the lady that sell Limbers (delicious frozen pop sickle like things). They cost 35 cents, taste great and cool you off well.

The tour starts tickets are available at the Firehouse.

We also went to Serralles Castle (very nice!) and La Cruceta. We had wanted to visit Tibes,but didn't get there.

The Hacienda Buena Vista has a nice tour, but you need reservations.

The Hilton is the place as SMS stated above, although the beach is not great. The city of Ponce is not known for great beaches, but it offers a lot of other attractions.

Just to add:

La Guancha (the Ponce boardwalk at the port) is a local gathering spot, especially on Friday and Saturday nights when live salsa/merengue bands play. You can sample some local fare at the food kiosks.

Take the trolley guided tour of the city of Ponce, there are some beautifully restored neo-classical residences and pastel buildings and historic sites you will never encounter unless you take the tour.

The Serralles residence (former residence of the Serralles family, founders of the Don Q rum empire), now a museum with millions of dollars of art and furnishings. There is a commanding panoramic view of the city of Ponce below and the ocean in the distance. There is a better view from the cross tower (La Cruceta )across the street.

Hacienda Buena Vista. A restored colonial coffee plantation in the mountains just above the city. Reservations are required beforehand from the Puerto Rico Conservation Trust.

The Ponce Museum of Art. Make sure you visit the Puerto Rican painters gallery.

From Ponce drive west to the Cabo Rojo lighthouse state park. There are 200 ft. cliffs that drop dramatically to the ocean below. Great panoramic views and breath-taking. There is a white sand beach in the cove below the lighthouse.

If you are really adventuresome, you can take a hiking tour of the San Cristobal Canyon. It's not close to Ponce, but it is a site to see. There is a beautiful waterfall that plunges about 300 ft into the canyon. Some outfits provide a walking tour of the outside of the canyon and others go rapelling right insde.

Ponce's best beaches are located just offshore at the Caja de Muertos (Coffin Island) State Park. The island's park is currently closed, but the beaches are available to boaters. I am not sure if you can hire a boat to take you there at the port.

The Hilton is the place as SMS stated above, although the beach is not great. The city of Ponce is not known for great beaches, but it offers a lot of other attractions.

Just to add:

La Guancha (the Ponce boardwalk at the port) is a local gathering spot, especially on Friday and Saturday nights when live salsa/merengue bands play. You can sample some local fare at the food kiosks.

Take the trolley guided tour of the city of Ponce, there are some beautifully restored neo-classical residences and pastel buildings and historic sites you will never encounter unless you take the tour.

The Serralles residence (former residence of the Serralles family, founders of the Don Q rum empire), now a museum with millions of dollars of art and furnishings. There is a commanding panoramic view of the city of Ponce below and the ocean in the distance. There is a better view from the cross tower (La Cruceta )across the street.

Hacienda Buena Vista. A restored colonial coffee plantation in the mountains just above the city. Reservations are required beforehand from the Puerto Rico Conservation Trust.

The Ponce Museum of Art. Make sure you visit the Puerto Rican painters gallery.

From Ponce drive west to the Cabo Rojo lighthouse state park. There are 200 ft. cliffs that drop dramatically to the ocean below. Great panoramic views and breath-taking. There is a white sand beach in the cove below the lighthouse.

If you are really adventuresome, you can take a hiking tour of the San Cristobal Canyon. It's not close to Ponce, but it is a site to see. There is a beautiful waterfall that plunges about 300 ft into the canyon. Some outfits provide a walking tour of the outside of the canyon and others go rapelling right insde.

Ponce's best beaches are located just offshore at the Caja de Muertos (Coffin Island) State Park. The island's park is currently closed, but the beaches are available to boaters. I am not sure if you can hire a boat to take you there at the port.

If you are a group of tourist girls under 30, you will be bored to death staying in Ponce (sorry people.....) There are some sights like the firehaouse, the museum, etc, but Ponce it is not a place for young tourism. You can go to the west beaches and mingle with the locals, but that is daytime stuff, like surfing, beach bumming and things like that. At night, there is nothing to look forward to if away from San Juan anyways. Ponce is just over one hour from San Juan, if you want to visit, you can go for a day and do tourism there. But if you stay in Ponce, don't expect much to do at night unless you know many locals.. and still....

^ Sure miaacm, because San Juan is the only town in PR with Nihtlife...

I don't know what the HECK miaacm is talking about "no night life in Ponce".

I went to college in Ponce, and met my share of "girls under 30" at the local pubs. Trust me, Ponce DOES have a night life...

Just off the top of my head, and without any extensive research I've been to:

Shots

Doble 6

Trova y Tapas

Bar Code

El Patio Colonial

Blues Kafe

La Guancha Boardwalk

...and these were my REGULAR spots. Many more are available, but it'll all depend on what you're looking for. You'll find it hard not to have fun at any of the pubs I mentioned. You wanna go "XTREME", come to Ponce during "Las Justas", which dwarf "Las Fiestas de la Calle San Sebastian".

In fact, miaacm, if you're ever in Ponce, let me know. I'll buy you a beer.

Ok jessicalacey: It seems you will have to go to Ponce and reach you own conclusions. Please let us know your opinion afterwards, especially about nightlife, beaches and spas you find in Ponce.

Thanks for the invite, Bijol... lol... but I must pass. Been there, done that & more....

I totally agree with you on the Justas "extreme" in nature, and in spite of all, you must agree with me that it is not really "nightlife" but an intercollegiate sports event that is used as an excuse to overdrink and some nighttime activities might even be dangerous for tourists. I would nor recommend it to any tourist, regardless of age or gender. It's not for nothing the local commerces board their windows and doors as if a hurracaine was comming insteas of the Justas......

College kids that board in Ponce might find some nightlife, of course, as well as locals. But to tell a tourist that Ponce has nightlife.....?.... totally misleading.....It is not a city with a nightlife like San Juan or other similar tourist destinations. And as for nice beaches, NONE in Ponce. Spas???? I don't think Ponce is known for it's spas either....