Central region · Puerto Rico
Aguas Buenas
~14 mi from San JuanInland
Aguas Buenas is an inland town in central Puerto Rico, set in the Central Mountain Range about 14 miles from San Juan. It covers 30.1 square miles divided into nine barrios plus the Aguas Buenas Pueblo, with 23,614 people (Census estimate, 2020–2024). The town lies north of Cidra, south of Bayamón, Guaynabo and San Juan, east of Comerío, and northwest of Caguas, and it forms part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Founded in 1838, Aguas Buenas is popularly known as "La Ciudad de las Aguas Claras," or "The City of Clear Waters," a nickname tied to its mountain setting. Its position within the Central Mountain Range and proximity to the San Juan metro area give it a character shaped by both rural terrain and integration into the wider metropolitan region.
For visitors
- Hiking
- Fiestas patronales
For living hereResidents live in a mountainous, inland town that remains closely connected to San Juan and the surrounding metro area while retaining a town-and-barrio structure.Living in Aguas Buenas: rent, commute, schools & safety
At a glance
- Region
- Central
- Setting
- Inland
- Distance
- ~14 mi from San Juan
- Population
- 23,614 (Census estimate, 2020–2024)
- Founded
- 1838
- Median rent
- $468/mo
- Median income
- $23,072/yr
- Area
- 30.1 sq mi (77.9 km²)
- Fiestas patronales
- Our Lady of Montserrat · September 8
- Guide spots
- 0
- Stories, last 30 days
- 4
- Water & power
- Water by sector · Power outages
- Living here
- Rent, commute, schools & safety
Right now in Aguas Buenas
Road closures in Aguas Buenas
No closures reported in Aguas Buenas as of 1:08 PM AST on Thu, Nov 12.
Water rationing in Aguas Buenas
No rationing plan names Aguas Buenas. None of the plans the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (AAA) has published includes the town, as of Nov 12. Repairs and breaks cut service sector by sector: search your sector
Power outages in Aguas Buenas
Not among the 7 towns with the most interruptions on LUMA’s morning reading of Nov 12, when 0.5% of customers island-wide were without power. Aguas Buenas was on that list on one of the last 7 mornings. Outages right now, town by town
News from Aguas Buenas
Town of the Week
Latest stories
19-Year-Old Shot in the Arm While Riding Motorcycle in Aguas Buenas
Man Charged in Puerto Rico with Stealing the Car of 'Gongo Fishing’s’ Father
Unlicensed Mechanic Faces Charges for Failing to Restore a 1970 Jeep
Magos de Aguas Buenas Dedicate New Season to Children with Disabilities
Governor Approves Updated Land-Use Plans for Aguas Buenas, Guayama and Morovis
Every story that names Aguas Buenas Follow Aguas Buenas by RSS
Our analysis
- Fiesta Calendar · Earlier8 Patron-Saint Fiestas and 10 Events in September
Things to do in Aguas Buenas
No guide picks are placed in Aguas Buenas yet. Explore the full guide.
Outdoors and sports
Trails in and near Aguas Buenas
No trail we list starts in Aguas Buenas. The nearest four are within 14 mi of the town center, as the crow flies.
- In Caguas, 5 mi awayAltos de San LuisModerate 0.3 mi each way, 20 to 30 minSan Luis heightsNot confirmed: ask firstCommunity-mapped
- In Bayamón, 9 mi awayPaseo Lineal Río BayamónModerate 5.2 mi each way, 4 h 10 min to 6 h 15 minBayamón River linear parkWalk in, no bookingCommunity-mapped
- In Cataño, 13 mi awayMalecón de CatañoEasy 1.9 mi each way, 1 h 30 min to 2 h 15 minCataño waterfrontWalk in, no bookingCommunity-mapped
- In San Juan, 14 mi awayRecorrido Autoguiado Reserva Natural Estuarina de la Laguna del CondadoEasy 1.4 mi loop, 30 to 50 minSelf-guided walk, Condado Lagoon estuary reserveWalk in, no bookingCommunity-mapped
Bills and recovery money
Bills about Aguas Buenas
- RS 287Order the Senate Committee on Housing and Social Welfare to Conduct a Comprehensive InvestigationPassed a chamber, Nov 11
- RCS 176Reassign $100,000 to Aguas Buenas MunicipalityBecame law, Sep 25
Recovery money in Aguas Buenas
$52 million committed by FEMA to 202 projects filed under Aguas Buenas since 2001: $2,203 per resident, 36th of 78 towns.
Every project located in Aguas Buenas, the island-wide agencies’ included
32% paid out: Puerto Rico's Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resiliency (COR3), which pays out the federal disaster recovery money, has paid $25.5 million of the $80.7 million committed.
32%31.0% paid out on the town government’s own rebuilding: $10.7 million of $34.6 million, the projects it runs itself, as of Oct 14, 2026. Our FEMA story charts this figure for every town.
31.0%- Immediate needs Funds Debris CollectionDebris removal$5.1 million
- Colegio Catolico San Antonio de GuayamaPublic buildings$3.8 million
- Cantalicio and Jacana Road DamagesRoads and bridges$1.7 million
The town government’s largest projects in implementation, and what has been paid
- Immediate needs Funds Debris Collection$5.1M of $5.1M100%
- Emergency protective measures$1M of $1M100%
- Damaged Roads Bo. Sumidero 3$46K of $799K5.8%
- Project PW-05032$149K of $771K19%
Every town and the island-wide agencies
FEMA Public Assistance data, as of Nov 11, 2026. Obligated by FEMA: committed to the project and drawn as the work is done. Paid out: COR3’s transparency portal, as of Nov 4, 2026.
Living in Aguas Buenas
Crime in Aguas Buenas
20 violent crimes and 4 homicides reported to the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPD) in Aguas Buenas, January 1 – September 30, 2026; in 2025, 12.3 violent crimes per 10,000 people, in the second-lowest fifth of towns.
- Homicides
- 4 YTD
- Violent crimes
- 20 YTD
- All serious crimes
- 61 YTD
- Violent crimes per 10,000 people (2025)
- 12.3
Flood zones in Aguas Buenas
FEMA’s flood map sets who must carry flood insurance, street by street. Check an address in Aguas Buenas
Phone alerts for Aguas Buenas
Our weekly reads: Daily Water Watch · Grid Watch · Safety Watch
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