Just 75 miles southwest of the major Puerto Rican capital of San Juan lay the so-called "The Pearl of the South": Ponce. Founded in 1692, Ponce is named after LoÃza Ponce de León, great-grandson of the man who attempted to discover the fabled "fountain of youth." Ponce is Puerto Rico's principal shipping port on the Caribbean, thus, a major hub for visitors. The hotels and restaurants here are spectacular, as managers strive to keep up with the ever-growing tourist industry. Thankfully, prices are competitively low in most of the venues around town, though the revitalization of the 1990's which brought Ponce into the limelight did cost a pretty penny. The city, while a busy port, retains an Old World charm which is hard to find in today's modern world.
