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West region · Puerto Rico

Isabela

~60 mi from San JuanCoastal

  • 76° · Mainly clear · 3.5 ft seas

Isabela is a coastal town in the north-western region of Puerto Rico, bordered by San Sebastián to the south, Quebradillas to the east, and Aguadilla and Moca to the west. It lies about 60 miles from San Juan and is organized into 13 barrios plus Isabela Pueblo, its downtown and administrative center, and forms part of the Aguadilla-Isabela-San Sebastián Metropolitan Statistical Area. With a population of 42,890 across an area of 55.3 square miles, it is a sizable coastal town rather than a small village.

Founded in 1725, Isabela takes its name from Queen Isabella I of Castile. Its coastal setting has shaped a local scene built around outdoor activity and beachside eating and drinking, reflected in spots like Jobos & Shacks and other outdoor areas, along with eat-drink venues such as Ocean Front and Yia’s by Chef Tino, and nightlife at Half Quart.

Isabela
All 78 towns
For visitors

Visitors come for the coastal outdoor spots like Jobos & Shacks along with the town's eat-drink and nightlife options such as Ocean Front, Yia's by Chef Tino, and Half Quart.

Hiking
Beaches and water
Eat and drink
Nightlife
Fiestas patronales
For living hereResidents live in a coastal town spread across 13 barrios with a downtown center in Isabela Pueblo, within the wider Aguadilla-Isabela-San Sebastián metropolitan area.Living in Isabela: rent, commute, schools & safety

At a glance

Region
West
Setting
Coastal
Distance
~60 mi from San Juan
Population
42,890 (Census estimate, 2020–2024)
Founded
1725
Median rent
$582/mo
Median income
$23,266/yr
Area
55.3 sq mi (143.3 km²)
Fiestas patronales
Saint Anthony of Padua · June 13
Guide spots
5
Stories, last 30 days
12
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 Isabela

Road closures in Isabela

No closures reported in Isabela as of 4:02 AM AST on Fri, Nov 13.

All road closures on the island

Water rationing in Isabela

No rationing plan names Isabela. 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 Isabela

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. Isabela was on that list on none of the last 7 mornings. Outages right now, town by town

News from Isabela

Latest stories

Every story that names Isabela Follow Isabela by RSS

Things to do in Isabela

Beaches & Chill

Playa Montones

Protected beach

  • Family
  • Daytime

Playa Montones in Isabela is a beach where a coral formation shelters part of the shoreline, creating a calmer protected area on the inland side while waves break against the reef on the ocean side and throw up large sprays of water. The sheltered section is what makes it workable for families with children. Development is minimal, with a single place to eat or drink close by, so it works as a day visit centered on the water and the view of the surf.

Google Maps
On the Water

Jobos & Shacks, Isabela

  • Surf
  • Kite

Jobos and Shacks are neighboring surf breaks on the Isabela coast. Jobos produces powerful waves close to shore, while Shacks is a reef break. Both work best from December to April, when winter swells from the north typically bring waves of 4 to 10 feet. The same season brings trade winds of roughly 18 to 28 knots (21 to 32 mph), which make Shacks a kitesurfing spot for experienced riders. Summer is gentler and better suited to beginners.

Google Maps
Eat & Drink
Bar / pub

Ocean Front

Restaurant

Ocean Front is a hotel bar and restaurant on Carr. 4466 in the Bajuras barrio near Playa Jobos, on Isabela's north coast. It offers an indoor setting for a drink or meal.

Reviews on Google Maps

More Eat & Drink across the West

Nightlife & Music
Bar / pub

Half Quart

  • Lively
  • Late night

Half Quart is a sports bar in Isabela, offering an indoor setting for watching games and drinking into the late hours.

Reviews on Google Maps

More Nightlife & Music across the West

Outdoors and sports

On the water in Isabela

All conditions

On the water near Isabela

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

All of On the Water

Trails in and near Isabela

1 trail starts in Isabela; the nearest three in other towns are within 9 mi of the town center, as the crow flies.

  • In IsabelaCaminata del Túnel GuajatacaModerate 2.2 mi each way, 1 h 50 min to 2 h 45 minGuajataca tunnel walkWalk in, no bookingCommunity-mappedTunnel
  • In Quebradillas, 5 mi awayTúnel NegroEasy 1.4 mi each way, 1 h 10 min to 1 h 45 minThe black tunnelWalk in, no bookingCommunity-mappedTunnel
  • In Aguadilla, 8 mi awaySurvival BeachEasy 1.0 mi each way, 55 min to 1 h 20 minReservation neededCommunity-mapped
  • In Aguadilla, 9 mi awayPunta Borinquen TrailEasy 1.5 mi each way, 1 h 15 min to 1 h 50 minWalk inCommunity-mapped

See all 20 trails in the west and Rincón

Sports in Isabela

Local results

The island scoreboard

Bills and recovery money

Bills about Isabela

Every bill we follow

Recovery money in Isabela

$32.8 million committed by FEMA to 72 projects filed under Isabela since 2001: $764 per resident, 70th of 78 towns.

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

8.2% paid out: Puerto Rico's Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resiliency (COR3), which pays out the federal disaster recovery money, has paid $50.3 million of the $611 million committed.

8.2%

47.3% paid out on the town government’s own rebuilding: $10.6 million of $22.5 million, the projects it runs itself, as of Oct 14, 2026. Our FEMA story charts this figure for every town.

47.3%
  • CIMA HospitalPublic buildings$6.9 million
  • Debris Alternative Procedures, Public Assistance Alternative ProceduresDebris removal$4.4 million
  • Jose Buga Abreu ColiseumPublic buildings$3.1 million
The town government’s largest projects in implementation, and what has been paid
  • CIMA Hospital$4M of $6.9M58%Public buildings · last paid Apr 7, 2026
  • Debris Alternative Procedures, Public Assistance Alternative Procedures$4.4M of $4.4M100%Debris removal · last paid Jul 11, 2025
  • Jose Buga Abreu Coliseum$1.8M of $3.1M57%Public buildings · last paid Jan 18, 2024
  • Isabela, Debris removal$1.2M of $1.2M100%Debris removal · last paid Jan 13, 2026

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 Isabela

Crime in Isabela

37 violent crimes and 0 homicides reported to the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPD) in Isabela, January 1 – September 30, 2026; in 2025, 18 violent crimes per 10,000 people, in the middle fifth of towns.

Homicides
0 YTD
Violent crimes
37 YTD
All serious crimes
106 YTD
Violent crimes per 10,000 people (2025)
18

Every town on the map

Flood zones in Isabela

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

Phone alerts for Isabela

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