A paper tray in your hand, still warm, stacked with golden tostones, crisp at the edges and soft in the center, salted just enough. Next to them, a row of empanadillas, their shells blistered and crackling, giving way to hot fillings the moment you break them open. Then the heavier bite — alcapurrias, fried deep and dense, the outer layer crisp while the inside stays rich and seasoned, the kind of thing you eat slowly without realizing it. And somewhere in the mix, usually larger than everything else, a bacalaito, thin and wide, fried until it snaps when you pull it apart. (For what it’s worth, our editor says it’s one of the best things he’s ever eaten).

That’s how you eat in Ponce — standing, sitting on a bench, or leaning against a counter, moving from one thing to the next without overthinking it.

The streets fill in quickly — rows of pastel neoclassical buildings, arched windows, wrought-iron balconies stretching across entire blocks. In the center, the Parque de Bombas, painted in red and black, stands in the plaza across from the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, with people moving between cafés, storefronts, and shaded benches.

A short drive away, the Museo de Arte de Ponce opens into gallery after gallery, with a collection that holds you there longer than expected.

This is Puerto Rico’s Second City. And now you can fly straight into it.

JetBlue Adds A New Way To Reach Ponce

JetBlue Airways is launching a new daily nonstop route between Fort Lauderdale and Ponce, beginning in July, creating a direct link into southern Puerto Rico. The new route, which starts July 9, is a direct move to fill the void of former Spirit Airlines routes (Spirit had been operating FLL to Ponce).

The flight lands at Mercedita International Airport, just outside the city. From the airport, it’s a short drive into the historic center. You’re more than just crossing the island. You’re already there.

At the same time, JetBlue is expanding its service into Aguadilla and adding a new route from Baltimore to San Juan, building out more ways to reach different parts of Puerto Rico without relying on a single entry point.

Where You Stay In Ponce

In Ponce, the hotel landscape stays focused, and one property stands out right now.

The Aloft Ponce (which opened back in 2021) is the most current option in the city, with modern rooms, a rooftop pool, and a location just outside the historic core that keeps you close to everything while giving you space. It’s the easiest starting point if you’re flying in for a short stay. Rooms here are a pretty good value in my view, at about $187 per night, based on what I found on Google Hotels. There’s a casino, too.

Along the coast, The Hilton Ponce Golf & Casino Resort gives you a different setting, with beachfront access, open grounds, and a larger resort footprint just outside the city.

Each one puts you into a different version of Ponce, all within a short distance.

What You Do When You’re There

Once you’re in Ponce, you don’t need a plan to start.

You walk through the Plaza Las Delicias, pass the firehouse and the cathedral, and keep moving into the surrounding streets where the architecture stays consistent block after block. The city holds together without interruption.

The Museo de Arte de Ponce becomes a stop that takes longer than expected, with galleries that extend well beyond a quick visit. I should note that this is almost unquestionably the best art museum in the Caribbean, and continues to set the standard.

From there, the southern coast opens up within a short drive, with quieter beaches and fewer crowds than the north side of the island.

Everything stays close.

Eating Your Way Through Ponce

You start with something quick — a fried empanadilla from a counter near the plaza, still hot, the shell breaking the moment you bite into it. Then you sit down.

In the center of the city, Lola Eclectic Cuisine inside The Ponce Plaza Hotel is one of the most reliable tables, with a menu that runs from mahi mahi in lobster sauce to duck a l’orange, all in a smaller dining room that keeps things quiet and consistent. A few steps away on the square, Campioni Pizza Birra & Tapas fills quickly, with brick-oven pizzas, tapas, and cold beer in a restored historic space that stays active through the evening.

For something more local, El Negocio de Panchi draws a steady crowd for Puerto Rican dishes with a heavier, Creole edge, with regulars asking about the off-menu specials that change week to week. Nearby, La Casa del Chef leans into seafood and traditional cooking, with plates like lobster a la criolla and mofongo coming out of a compact kitchen lined with local art.

More Flights To Puerto Rico’s West Coast

JetBlue is also increasing service between Fort Lauderdale and Aguadilla, adding more flights into Puerto Rico’s west coast.

When you land in Aguadilla, you’re within minutes of a different part of the island. Rincón, Isabela, and the surrounding coastline come up quickly, with long beaches, surf breaks, and smaller towns spread along the water.

The distance between the airport and the coast stays short. You land, pick up your car, and head straight out. More flights mean more options when you book, with more availability across different travel dates.

Where You Stay On The West Coast

The west coast stays defined by smaller, beachfront hotels and open space.

In Rincón, The Villa Cofresí Hotel sits directly along the water, with rooms facing the beach and a bar that fills through the afternoon. Nearby, The Rincon Beach Resort gives you a quieter stretch of coastline, with a pool and open views across the water that keep you in one place for most of the day.

In Isabela, The Royal Isabela spreads out along the coast with standalone casitas and wide ocean views, giving you more space and a longer stay feel (although the story here is really the golf.)

You’re not moving between large resort areas here. You stay where you are. You live it.

A New Route From Baltimore To San Juan

Starting in November, JetBlue will launch a new nonstop flight between Baltimore and San Juan, adding another major gateway into Puerto Rico.

From Baltimore/Washington International Airport, the route connects a wide part of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastdirectly to the island. It also links into JetBlue’s network, making it easier to connect through a single airline.

San Juan remains the main hub, and this adds another direct way to reach it.

Where You Stay In San Juan

Even with new routes across the island, San Juan remains a central base.

In Condado, The Condado Vanderbilt Hotel sits along the water with multiple restaurants and direct beach access, placing you close to both the shoreline and the main strip.

Nearby, The La Concha Resort keeps everything within reach, with pools, restaurants, and rooms facing the ocean.

In Old San Juan, The El Convento Hotel (which is celebrating its 375th birthday) places you inside the historic district, steps from the city’s main landmarks and streets.

Each one keeps you close to a different part of the capital.

What This Means When You Book

The new routes change how you plan from the start.

You can fly into Ponce and stay in the south. You can land in Aguadilla and base your trip on the west coast. You can still use San Juan and move from there.

More flights also mean more availability when you search, with more options across different travel dates.

The island opens up in more than one direction.

Fares Right Now

With new routes and expanded service, fares begin to spread across more options.

Flights from Fort Lauderdale to Puerto Rico tend to offer some of the most consistent pricing, particularly for direct routes into Ponce and Aguadilla. Travelers connecting from other cities can route through Fort Lauderdale or Baltimore, depending on where they’re coming from.

You find more options when you search, with more ways to match your dates.

What Changes When You Land

You land closer to where you want to be.

In Ponce, you’re in the city within minutes. In Aguadilla, you’re on the west coast without crossing the island. In San Juan, you’re still at the center of everything.

And once you arrive, the rest of the trip starts right away. And you discover whole different sides of Puerto Rico.