Paseo Tablado La Guancha facts for kids
Paseo Tablado La Guancha
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| Location | Ponce, Puerto Rico |
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| Coordinates | 17°57′55.3674″N 66°36′52.128″W / 17.965379833°N 66.61448000°W |
| Opened | 1998 |
| Owner | Ponce Municipal Government |
| Operating season | Year-round |
| Attractions | |
| Water rides | Paddle boats, Ferries to Caja de Muertos and Isla Cardona, Kayak rentals |
Paseo Tablado La Guancha, also known as La Guancha Boardwalk, is a fun place in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is a boardwalk located in the Playa area, right by the Caribbean Sea.
The boardwalk was opened on June 23, 1998. It was built when Rafael Cordero Santiago was the mayor of Ponce. The project cost about $2.6 million to complete. More than 750,000 people visit La Guancha every year!
In September 2017, Hurricane Maria caused some damage to the boardwalk. The part closest to the water was closed off for safety. However, other parts of La Guancha stayed open. In January 2020, the boardwalk and its nearby park closed completely. This happened after strong earthquakes caused more damage. As of June 2020, it remained closed for repairs.
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What Can You Do at La Guancha?
La Guancha Boardwalk is located right on the seashore in Ponce. It was built in the 1990s. From the boardwalk, you can see the Club Náutico de Ponce, which is a boating club.
Food and Fun
The boardwalk has many restaurants and small shops called kiosks. These places sell tasty local foods and drinks. You can try "bacalaitos," which are fried cod fish fritters. There are also "empanadillas," which are fried turnovers filled with meat or cheese.
Besides the food, La Guancha is a great spot to relax. You can enjoy a nice walk and feel the cool sea breeze.
Exciting Activities
At one end of the boardwalk, there is a lookout tower. From here, you get a great view of La Guancha and the water. You might even spot large fish called tarpons swimming below.
Just outside the boardwalk, there are fun playgrounds for kids. There is also a cool arcade with games. Ponce's beach is very close by, so you can easily walk to it.
Water Adventures
La Guancha also has a marina. Here, visitors can rent pedal boats and kayaks. This is a fun way to explore the bay. There is also an open stage for events and activities.
From the observation tower, you can see the Cardona Island Lighthouse. You can also take a 45-minute boat ride to Caja de Muertos. This is a small island with an old lighthouse from 1887. The island also has several beautiful beaches to explore.
The Lively Atmosphere
Paseo Tablado La Guancha is a wonderful place to meet local people from Ponce. Many visitors simply enjoy watching the water and feeling the cool breeze.
On weekends, the boardwalk becomes very lively. You can often hear live salsa music playing. Large crowds gather, making it a great place for people-watching. Except for Mondays and Tuesdays, La Guancha is usually a very active and fun spot.
Recent Events and Repairs
In September 2017, Hurricane Maria caused damage to the boardwalk. This led to parts of it being closed for safety.
On January 7, 2020, La Guancha was hit again. A strong 6.4 magnitude earthquake caused more serious damage. Because of this, about twenty-four businesses in the area had to close down. Efforts are ongoing to repair and reopen this popular attraction.
