Ponce in January

November through April gives you the best weather — temperatures hover around 82°F with lower humidity and almost no rain. December and January see the most visitors, but Ponce never feels overcrowded like San Juan does. February brings Carnaval Ponceño, the island's biggest carnival celebration. Streets fill with colorful masks, live music, and food vendors. Hotel prices jump during carnival week, but the energy makes it worth the extra cost. May through October means heat, humidity, and afternoon thunderstorms. But here's the upside — you'll have museums and historic sites mostly to yourself, and restaurant servers actually have time to chat. Hurricane season runs June through November, though direct hits on the south coast are rare. Avoid September and October if you're risk-averse.