San Juan metro · Puerto Rico
Cataño
~4 mi from San JuanCoastal
Cataño is a small town on the northeastern coastal plain of Puerto Rico, sitting across San Juan Bay from the capital and forming part of the San Juan metropolitan area. It lies west of San Juan, east of Toa Baja, and north of Bayamón and Guaynabo, with its downtown at Cataño Pueblo spread among seven barrios. It is the smallest town in Puerto Rico by land area, covering 4.8 square miles, and has 22,467 people (Census estimate, 2020–2024).
Founded in 1927, Cataño’s proximity to San Juan, only about 4 miles away, ties it closely to the capital’s daily life and economy. The town is home to Casa Bacardí, a cultural site tied to the well-known rum brand, as well as the Museo de Arqueología Indígena, which reflects local interest in Puerto Rico’s indigenous heritage.
For visitors
Visitors come for Casa Bacardí and the Museo de Arqueología Indígena, both easily reached from San Juan just across the bay.
- Hiking
- Fiestas patronales
For living hereResidents live in a compact, coastal town within the San Juan metro area, close to the capital while retaining its own distinct barrios and downtown center.Living in Cataño: rent, commute, schools & safety
At a glance
- Region
- San Juan metro
- Setting
- Coastal
- Distance
- ~4 mi from San Juan
- Population
- 22,467 (Census estimate, 2020–2024)
- Founded
- 1927
- Median rent
- $564/mo
- Median income
- $25,508/yr
- Area
- 4.8 sq mi (12.5 km²)
- Fiestas patronales
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel · July 16
- Guide spots
- 2
- Stories, last 30 days
- 5
- Water & power
- Water by sector · Power outages
- Living here
- Rent, commute, schools & safety
Right now in Cataño
FerrySan Juan to CatañoAbout 10 minutes
Next out of San Juan
Next back from Cataño
Every departure both ways, and whatever the ferry company has posted against today’s sailings.
Ferry scheduleRoad closures in Cataño
No closures reported in Cataño as of 1:08 PM AST on Thu, Nov 12.
Water rationing in Cataño
No rationing plan names Cataño. 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 Cataño
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. Cataño was on that list on none of the last 7 mornings. Outages right now, town by town
News from Cataño
Latest stories
Man, 34, Shot Dead on San Sebastián Avenue; Separate Shooting Wounds Man in Cataño
Cataño Mayor Cancels Eight Municipal Contracts Worth $913,000 a Year
DRNA Faces $84,748 in Fines for Safety Violations at San Fernando Pumping Station
Cataño: A Hidden Gem in Puerto Rico
Hiram Torres Montalvo to Be Sworn in as Cataño Mayor This Saturday
Things to do in Cataño
Culture & Events
Museo de Arqueología Indígena
Indigenous Archaeology Museum
The Museo de Arqueología Indígena is a museum located in Cataño, in the San Juan metro area. It is dedicated to the indigenous archaeology of the area.
Casa Bacardí
Rum-distillery tours, the "Cathedral of Rum"
Casa Bacardí, across San Juan Bay in Cataño, is the visitor home of one of the world's largest rum distilleries, so prolific it's nicknamed the 'Cathedral of Rum.' The Bacardí family, which traces its rum-making to 19th-century Cuba, has produced here in Puerto Rico for generations. Guided tours walk through the brand's history, the distilling and aging process, and the story behind the bat logo, typically ending with tastings or a cocktail-making session. It's an easy half-day from Old San Juan; many visitors ride the short ferry across the bay from Pier 2 and continue by taxi to the grounds.
Outdoors and sports
On the water near Cataño
Marinas, surf breaks, dive sites, wind spots and paddling in Cataño or within 12 mi of the town center, as the crow flies.
- Sailing5 near
- Safe Harbor San JuanMarina · 4 mi away
- San Juan: northwest of La Puntilla, or Anchorage DAnchorage · 5 mi away
- Club Náutico106–117 slips · 5 mi away
- Surf
- La OchoReef break · 5 mi away
- Pine GroveBeach break · 10 mi away
- Diving4 near
- EscambrónSnorkel spot · 5 mi away
- Escambrón Marine ParkDive site, to 40 ft · 5 mi away
- Condado LagoonSnorkel spot · 6 mi away
- Kite and wind
- Punta SalinasWorks in E winds · 3 mi away
- Ocean ParkWorks in ENE, E winds · 7 mi away
- Punta Las MaríasWorks in ENE, E winds · 8 mi away
- Paddle
- Laguna del CondadoLagoon · 6 mi away
- Laguna Torrecilla and the Piñones mangrovesMangroves · 11 mi away
Trails in and near Cataño
1 trail starts in Cataño; the nearest three in other towns are within 14 mi of the town center, as the crow flies.
- In CatañoMalecón de CatañoEasy 1.9 mi each way, 1 h 30 min to 2 h 15 minCataño waterfrontWalk in, no bookingCommunity-mapped
- In Bayamón, 4 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 San Juan, 6 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
- In Caguas, 14 mi awayAltos de San LuisModerate 0.3 mi each way, 20 to 30 minSan Luis heightsNot confirmed: ask firstCommunity-mapped
Bills and recovery money
Bills about Cataño
- RCC 421Transfer Cataño Municipality Ownership of a Lot for $1In committee, Oct 15
- RC 718Investigation into New Port Construction in Toa Baja and CatañoPassed a chamber, Sep 1
- RS 575Condolences to Julio Alicea Vasallo's FamilyPassed a chamber, Aug 17
Recovery money in Cataño
$36.2 million committed by FEMA to 77 projects filed under Cataño since 2001: $1,613 per resident, 49th of 78 towns.
Every project located in Cataño, the island-wide agencies’ included
24% paid out: Puerto Rico's Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resiliency (COR3), which pays out the federal disaster recovery money, has paid $26.3 million of the $112 million committed.
24%32.0% paid out on the town government’s own rebuilding: $8.5 million of $26.7 million, the projects it runs itself, as of Oct 14, 2026. Our FEMA story charts this figure for every town.
32.0%- Coliseum Cosme Beitia SalamoParks and other$7.1 million
- 54102 - MCAT008 diagnostic and treatment center Job AndujarPublic buildings$4.4 million
- Debris Alternative Procedures, Public Assistance Alternative ProceduresDebris removal$4.2 million
The town government’s largest projects in implementation, and what has been paid
- Project PW-01492$1M of $7.1M14%
- Diagnostic and treatment center Job Andujar$4M of $4.4M90%
- Debris Alternative Procedures, Public Assistance Alternative Procedures$4.2M of $4.2M100%
- Parque La Esperanza y Sports Complex$890K of $3.6M25%
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 Cataño
Crime in Cataño
37 violent crimes and 4 homicides reported to the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPD) in Cataño, January 1 – September 30, 2026; in 2025, 22.7 violent crimes per 10,000 people, in the second-highest fifth of towns.
- Homicides
- 4 YTD
- Violent crimes
- 37 YTD
- All serious crimes
- 105 YTD
- Violent crimes per 10,000 people (2025)
- 22.7
Flood zones in Cataño
FEMA’s flood map sets who must carry flood insurance, street by street. Check an address in Cataño
Phone alerts for Cataño
Our weekly reads: Daily Water Watch · Grid Watch · Safety Watch
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