West region · Puerto Rico
San Sebastián
~59 mi from San JuanInland
San Sebastián is an inland town in the western region of Puerto Rico, situated south of Isabela, Quebradillas and Camuy, north of Las Marías, east of Moca and Añasco, and west of Lares. It lies about 59 miles from San Juan and is organized into twenty-four barrios plus San Sebastián Pueblo, with 39,088 people (Census estimate, 2020–2024).
Founded in 1752, San Sebastián is one of the principal cities of the Aguadilla-Isabela-San Sebastián Metropolitan Statistical Area. The nearest hiking route, Trail 4, is in neighboring Isabela.
For visitors
- Hiking
- Fiestas patronales
For living hereResidents live in an inland western town of about 39,100 people, about 59 miles from San Juan.Living in San Sebastián: rent, commute, schools & safety
At a glance
- Region
- West
- Setting
- Inland
- Distance
- ~59 mi from San Juan
- Population
- 39,088 (Census estimate, 2020–2024)
- Founded
- 1752
- Median rent
- $508/mo
- Median income
- $19,920/yr
- Area
- 70.4 sq mi (182.4 km²)
- Fiestas patronales
- Saint Sebastian · January 20
- Guide spots
- 0
- Stories, last 30 days
- 3
- Water & power
- Water by sector · Power outages
- Living here
- Rent, commute, schools & safety
Right now in San Sebastián
Road closures in San Sebastián
No closures reported in San Sebastián as of 1:08 PM AST on Thu, Nov 12.
Water rationing in San Sebastián
No rationing plan names San Sebastián. 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 San Sebastián
1 sector out on LUMA’s morning reading of Nov 12, among the 7 towns with the most interruptions. San Sebastián was on that list on 2 of the last 7 mornings. Outages right now, town by town
News from San Sebastián
Latest stories
San Sebastián Mayor Reopens Road Closed Since Hurricane Maria in $1.4 Million Project
Two San Sebastián Police Officers and Ex-Sergeant Sue Mayor Over Alleged Retaliation and Discrimination
Judge Finds Probable Cause to Arrest Man Accused of Trying to Kill Mother and Grandfather in San Sebastián
San Sebastián Struggles to Capture Stray Dogs After Attack on Boy, Mayor Says State Funds Unused
Pack of Seven Dogs Attacks 11-Year-Old Boy at Puerto Rico School During Athletics Practice
Every story that names San Sebastián Follow San Sebastián by RSS
Things to do in San Sebastián
No guide picks are placed in San Sebastián yet. Explore the full guide.
Outdoors and sports
On the water near San Sebastián
Marinas, surf breaks, dive sites, wind spots and paddling in San Sebastián or within 12 mi of the town center, as the crow flies.
- Surf
- GuajatacaReef break · 11 mi away
- Diving
- Shacks and the Blue HoleSnorkel spot · 11 mi away
- Shacks Beach cavernsDive site · 11 mi away
Trails in and near San Sebastián
2 trails start in San Sebastián; the nearest two in other towns are within 11 mi of the town center, as the crow flies.
- In San SebastiánCaminata El Pesca'oModerate 1.9 mi each way, 2 h 5 min to 3 h 5 minEl Pesca'o walkNot confirmed: ask firstCommunity-mapped
- In San SebastiánCaminata La SollerModerate 3.3 mi loop, 1 h 25 min to 2 h 10 minLa Soller walkNot confirmed: ask firstCommunity-mapped
- In Quebradillas, 11 mi awayTúnel NegroEasy 1.4 mi each way, 1 h 10 min to 1 h 45 minThe black tunnelWalk in, no bookingCommunity-mappedTunnel
- In Isabela, 11 mi awayCaminata del Túnel GuajatacaModerate 2.2 mi each way, 1 h 50 min to 2 h 45 minGuajataca tunnel walkWalk in, no bookingCommunity-mappedTunnel
Bills and recovery money
Bills about San Sebastián
- RS 508Order Senate Committee on Planning, Permits, Infrastructure and Urbanism to InvestigatePassed a chamber, Oct 8
- RCS 159Name State Highway PR-447 Justo Medina EstevesPassed a chamber, Oct 5
Recovery money in San Sebastián
$36.3 million committed by FEMA to 104 projects filed under San Sebastián since 2001: $929 per resident, 67th of 78 towns.
Every project located in San Sebastián, the island-wide agencies’ included
49% paid out: Puerto Rico's Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resiliency (COR3), which pays out the federal disaster recovery money, has paid $34.6 million of the $70.6 million committed.
49%39.8% paid out on the town government’s own rebuilding: $12 million of $30.2 million, the projects it runs itself, as of Oct 14, 2026. Our FEMA story charts this figure for every town.
39.8%- Vado Sector Abrahonda, PR-451 Int.Roads and bridges$4.9 million
- Magos, Calabazas Bridge Carr. 438 Int.Roads and bridges$4.9 million
- Puente Pozas. Carr. 111 Km. 15.3 Interior (Puente Nuevo)Roads and bridges$2.7 million
The town government’s largest projects in implementation, and what has been paid
- Vado Sector Abrahonda, PR-451 Int.$4.9M of $4.9M100%
- Puente Pozas. Carr. 111 Km. 15.3 Interior (Puente Nuevo)$1M of $2.7M39%
- Debris Alternative Procedures, Public Assistance Alternative Procedures$1.8M of $1.8M100%
- Emergency Protective Measures$1.6M of $1.6M100%
- Cuesta de Mon Roman Sector Medina$760K of $1.4M53%
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 San Sebastián
Crime in San Sebastián
44 violent crimes and 3 homicides reported to the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPD) in San Sebastián, January 1 – September 30, 2026; in 2025, 14.8 violent crimes per 10,000 people, in the second-lowest fifth of towns.
- Homicides
- 3 YTD
- Violent crimes
- 44 YTD
- All serious crimes
- 91 YTD
- Violent crimes per 10,000 people (2025)
- 14.8
Flood zones in San Sebastián
FEMA’s flood map sets who must carry flood insurance, street by street. Check an address in San Sebastián
Phone alerts for San Sebastián
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