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Carolina, Puerto Rico

San Juan metro · Puerto Rico

Carolina

Airport gateway & Isla Verde beaches~11 mi from San JuanCoastal

Happening in Carolina

All events

Carolina is a city on the northeastern coastal plain of Puerto Rico, about 11 miles east of San Juan and part of the San Juan metropolitan area. It borders Trujillo Alto, Gurabo, Juncos, Canóvanas, and Loíza, and is made up of 12 barrios plus the downtown administrative center of Carolina Pueblo, covering 45.4 square miles.

Founded in 1857, Carolina is now the third-most populous town in Puerto Rico, with 152,204 residents (Census estimate, 2020–2024). Its coastal district of Isla Verde is a resort and residential area that also hosts the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, the island’s main air gateway. The town’s coast is also home to Paseo Piñones, a waterfront promenade, along with local nightlife spots like Ocean Lab Brewing Co. and Old Harbor Brewery.

Carolina
All 78 towns
Known for
For visitors

Visitors come for the Isla Verde beach and resort scene, proximity to the international airport, the oceanfront Paseo Piñones promenade, and local breweries like Ocean Lab and Old Harbor.

Hiking
Outdoors
Beaches and water
Eat and drink
Nightlife
Fiestas patronales
For living hereResidents live in a densely populated coastal city within the San Juan metro area, with a mix of urban downtown life in Carolina Pueblo and beachside living in Isla Verde.Living in Carolina: rent, commute, schools & safety

At a glance

Region
San Juan metro
Setting
Coastal
Distance
~11 mi from San Juan
Population
152,204 (Census estimate, 2020–2024)
Founded
1857
Median rent
$677/mo
Median income
$36,958/yr
Area
45.4 sq mi (117.5 km²)
Fiestas patronales
Saint Ferdinand · May 30
Guide spots
7
Stories, last 30 days
46
Water & power
Water by sector · Power outages
Living here
Rent, commute, schools & safety

Nearby towns

Browse the full guide →See on the news map →All 78 towns →

Right now in Carolina

Road closures in Carolina

No closures reported in Carolina as of 9:08 PM AST on Thu, Nov 12.

All road closures on the island

Water rationing in Carolina

Paused. Carolina is on the rationing plan of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (AAA) for the Sergio Cuevas plant, paused since Sep 2; the town’s sectors are in Zone 1 (68 sectors) and Zone 2 (52 sectors). Carolina’s sectors and schedule

The metro rotation is paused. On September 1, Gov. Jenniffer González Colón announced a pause for Carraízo customers (Zones 1 and 2) after the reservoir rose. On September 28, the drought committee the governor appointed decided not to restart rationing in the metro area for now, after rain lifted Carraízo, and asked everyone to keep cutting back on water. Its next meeting is set for October 23. AAA has not canceled the plan, so it can return if the reservoirs drop again.

Power outages in Carolina

1 sector out on LUMA’s morning reading of Nov 12, among the 7 towns with the most interruptions. Carolina was on that list on one of the last 7 mornings. Outages right now, town by town

Beach water

Within limits: Balneario de Carolina. Last tested Nov 3.

Not sampled recently: Balneario de Carolina-Oeste and Balneario Isla Verde. Last tested Mar 15, 2024.

Beach water quality

News from Carolina

Latest stories

Every story that names Carolina Follow Carolina by RSS

Our analysis

Every Weekend Watch Every Grid Watch Every Safety Watch

Things to do in Carolina

Beaches & Chill
Playa Isla Verde

Playa Isla Verde

Beach

Playa Isla Verde, also known as Isla Verde Beach or El Alambique, is a beach in Carolina with nearby parking and dining options. It offers a convenient beach experience with amenities within walking distance.

Google Maps
Nature spots
Eat & Drink
Bakery / panaderíaIsla Verde

Panadería España

Spanish bakery and restaurant since 1972

Panadería España is a Spanish bakery and restaurant in Isla Verde, open since 1972 and housed in the Centro Comercial Villamar along Avenida Baldorioty de Castro. The bakery side produces bread, while the dining room serves Spanish and Puerto Rican dishes, from classic sandwiches and soups to hot plates. A wine list is available to go with meals, and the kitchen also prepares party trays for gatherings.

Website Reviews on Google Maps
Italian restaurantIsla Verde

Sottovento Ristorante

Contemporary Italian cooking

The contemporary Italian dining room of the Royal Sonesta hotel on the Isla Verde strip, cooking traditional recipes with produce from local farmers. It drew two nominations in the 2026 World Culinary Awards.

Reviews on Google Maps

More Eat & Drink across the San Juan area

Nightlife & Music
Brewery / taproomIsla VerdePrice level 2 of 4

Ocean Lab Brewing Co.

Tropical craft ales brewed steps from the beach

  • Craft beer
  • Waterfront
  • First in PR

Ocean Lab Brewing Co. is a nightlife spot in Isla Verde, Carolina, Puerto Rico. It is Puerto Rico's first production craft brewery, producing tropical-inspired ales and lagers. The brewery has a taproom with a full menu, and it serves as a hub for the island's growing craft beer scene, offering beers brewed steps from the beach.

Website Reviews on Google Maps
Brewery / taproomPrice level 2 of 4

Old Harbor Brewery

Being among the island's first craft breweries, with house beers at its Carolina taproom

  • Craft beer
  • Taproom
  • Since 1996

The Old Harbor Brewery is a nightlife spot in Carolina, Puerto Rico. It operates a brewery, taproom, and restaurant, serving house beers alongside food. This establishment is known for being one of the island's first craft breweries, offering its house beers at the Carolina taproom.

Website Reviews on Google Maps

More Nightlife & Music across the San Juan area

Events coming up in Carolina

All events across Puerto Rico

Outdoors and sports

On the water near Carolina

Marinas, surf breaks, dive sites, wind spots and paddling in Carolina or within 12 mi of the town center, as the crow flies.

All of On the Water

Trails in and near Carolina

No trail we list starts in Carolina. The nearest four are within 11 mi of the town center, as the crow flies.

  • In Caguas, 9 mi awayAltos de San LuisModerate 0.3 mi each way, 20 to 30 minSan Luis heightsNot confirmed: ask firstCommunity-mapped
  • In San Juan, 9 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
  • El Yunque, Río Grande, 9 mi awayEl Toro TrailHard 2.5 mi each way, 2 h 40 min to 4 hVereda El ToroWalk in, no bookingListed openEl Toro Peak
  • In Cataño, 11 mi awayMalecón de CatañoEasy 1.9 mi each way, 1 h 30 min to 2 h 15 minCataño waterfrontWalk in, no bookingCommunity-mapped

See all 7 trails on the north coast

Sports in Carolina

  • Winter leagueGigantes de Carolina 4-3Next: Fri Nov 13, time TBA at SanturceLast: Nov 11: Lost 2-3 at Caguas

Local results

The winter league The island scoreboard

Data © MLB Advanced Media, L.P.

Bills and recovery money

Bills about Carolina

All 6 bills about Carolina

Recovery money in Carolina

$188 million committed by FEMA to 222 projects filed under Carolina since 2001: $1,238 per resident, 61st of 78 towns.

Every project located in Carolina, the island-wide agencies’ included

27% paid out: Puerto Rico's Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resiliency (COR3), which pays out the federal disaster recovery money, has paid $99.5 million of the $374 million committed.

27%

30.4% paid out on the town government’s own rebuilding: $27.7 million of $91.3 million, the projects it runs itself, as of Oct 14, 2026. Our FEMA story charts this figure for every town.

30.4%
  • Carolina Church Main Building - Building and Equipment DamagesPublic buildings$29.3 million
  • Building, Contents, and SitePublic buildings$18.6 million
  • Estadio Roberto Clemente Walker(Roberto Clemente Walker Stadium) - DonorParks and other$18.4 million
The town government’s largest projects in implementation, and what has been paid
  • Estadio Roberto Clemente Walker (Roberto Clemente Walker Stadium)$4.5M of $18.4M25%Parks and other · last paid Aug 25, 2026
  • Debris Alternative Procedures, Public Assistance Alternative Procedures$15.1M of $15.1M100%Debris removal · last paid Jul 17, 2025
  • Emergency protective measures$7.9M of $7.9M100%Emergency measures · last paid Aug 28, 2026
  • Escuela Jose. E. Aponte de la Torre (Pa' los Duros) Main Building$951K of $3.8M25%Public buildings · last paid Aug 25, 2022

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 Carolina

Crime in Carolina

291 violent crimes and 10 homicides reported to the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPD) in Carolina, January 1 – September 30, 2026; in 2025, 26 violent crimes per 10,000 people, in the highest fifth of towns.

Homicides
10 YTD
Violent crimes
291 YTD
All serious crimes
1,152 YTD
Violent crimes per 10,000 people (2025)
26

Every town on the map

Flood zones in Carolina

FEMA’s flood map sets who must carry flood insurance, street by street. Check an address in Carolina

Phone alerts for Carolina

Our weekly reads: Daily Water Watch · Grid Watch · Safety Watch

Photo credits