North region · Puerto Rico
Toa Baja
~10 mi from San JuanCoastal
Toa Baja is a coastal town on Puerto Rico’s northern coast, situated north of Toa Alta and Bayamón, east of Dorado, and west of Cataño, about 10 miles (roughly 25 minutes by car) from San Juan. It spans 23.2 square miles and is organized into five barrios, including Toa Baja Pueblo, with 73,039 people (Census estimate, 2020–2024).
Founded in 1745, Toa Baja is part of the San Juan-Caguas-Guaynabo Combined Statistical Area, tying it closely to the capital region’s economy and daily life. The town’s nightlife scene includes El Clásico, a notable local spot.
For visitors
Visitors can head to El Clásico for nightlife while enjoying easy access from San Juan, just a short drive away.
- Hiking
- Beaches and water
- Eat and drink
- Culture
- Nightlife
- Fiestas patronales
For living hereResidents benefit from a coastal setting combined with close integration into the greater San Juan metropolitan area, making commuting to the capital region straightforward.Living in Toa Baja: rent, commute, schools & safety
At a glance
- Region
- North
- Setting
- Coastal
- Distance
- ~10 mi from San Juan
- Population
- 73,039 (Census estimate, 2020–2024)
- Founded
- 1745
- Median rent
- $713/mo
- Median income
- $32,017/yr
- Area
- 23.2 sq mi (60.2 km²)
- Fiestas patronales
- Saint Peter · June 30
- Guide spots
- 5
- Stories, last 30 days
- 12
- Water & power
- Water by sector · Power outages
- Living here
- Rent, commute, schools & safety
Right now in Toa Baja
Road closures in Toa Baja
No closures reported in Toa Baja as of 1:08 PM AST on Thu, Nov 12.
Water rationing in Toa Baja
No rationing plan names Toa Baja. 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 Toa Baja
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. Toa Baja was on that list on one of the last 7 mornings. Outages right now, town by town
Beach water
Within limits: Punta Salinas. Last tested Nov 3.
Beach water qualityNews from Toa Baja
Latest stories
Woman Assaulted, Threatened with Rifle in Toa Baja Carjacking
Toyota of Puerto Rico to Invest $55 Million Expanding Its Toa Baja Distribution Center
Two Hooded, Armed Men Rob a Texaco Gas Station in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico
Toa Baja Mayor Pushes Private Airport at Former Sabana Seca Naval Base
Toyota to Invest $55 Million Expanding Its Distribution Center in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico
Our analysis
Things to do in Toa Baja
Beaches & Chill
Punta Salinas
Beach resort
Punta Salinas, also known as Balneario Punta Salinas, is a public balneario in Toa Baja managed by the Departamento de Recreación y Deportes' Parques Nacionales program. Set on a natural beach along the coastline near San Juan, it offers a managed bathing area with a mapped parking spot nearby. The beach has been selected as a pilot site for the Blue Flag program's 2025-26 season, marking it for environmental and safety standards among Puerto Rico's balnearios.
Parque Nacional Isla de Cabras
Recreational park
Parque Nacional Isla de Cabras is a recreational park on a small peninsula in Toa Baja, set at sea level and facing El Morro across the water. The grounds include a shooting range and the ruins of a former leper colony, so the site combines open waterfront with remnants of its earlier use. The view toward El Morro is the main visual draw.
Eat & Drink
Café Dos Ruedas
Specialty espresso
Specialty coffee in the middle of Levittown since 2021: espresso drinks and matcha alongside baked empanadas, croissants and deli sandwiches for breakfast and lunch. The same crew brings a coffee cart to events.
Nightlife & Music
El Clásico
A bar in Toa Baja, El Clásico, also known as The Classic, is an indoor spot known for its lively and late-night atmosphere, located on PR 865.
Culture & Events
Fortín San Juan de la Cruz
Historic fortress
Fortín San Juan de la Cruz, also called El Cañuelo, is a historic fortress and UNESCO site in Toa Baja.
Outdoors and sports
On the water near Toa Baja
Marinas, surf breaks, dive sites, wind spots and paddling in Toa Baja or within 12 mi of the town center, as the crow flies.
- Sailing4 near
- Safe Harbor San JuanMarina · 10 mi away
- San Juan: northwest of La Puntilla, or Anchorage DAnchorage · 11 mi away
- Club Náutico106–117 slips · 11 mi away
- Surf
- La OchoReef break · 11 mi away
- Diving4 near
- Cerro GordoDive site, 0–33 ft · 5 mi away
- EscambrónSnorkel spot · 11 mi away
- Escambrón Marine ParkDive site, to 40 ft · 11 mi away
- Kite and wind
- Punta SalinasWorks in E winds · in Toa Baja
- Paddle
- Laguna del CondadoLagoon · 12 mi away
Trails in and near Toa Baja
No trail we list starts in Toa Baja. The nearest four are within 12 mi of the town center, as the crow flies.
- 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, 9 mi awayMalecón de CatañoEasy 1.9 mi each way, 1 h 30 min to 2 h 15 minCataño waterfrontWalk in, no bookingCommunity-mapped
- Reserva Natural Laguna Tortuguero, Vega Baja, 11 mi awayCaminata por TortugueroEasy 1.1 mi each way, 50 min to 1 h 15 minWalk through TortugueroWalk in, no bookingCommunity-mapped
- In San Juan, 12 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
Sports in Toa Baja
Local results
Bills and recovery money
Bills about Toa Baja
- RCC 199Order DRNA and OGPe to Study Gema Recycling Services in Toa BajaPassed a chamber, Nov 6
- RC 712Investigate A.A.A. Water Distribution in Toa BajaPassed a chamber, Oct 27
- RC 710Order House Municipal Affairs Committee to Investigate Infrastructure Failures in Toa BajaPassed a chamber, Oct 23
- RCC 419Transfer Sector Monserrate to Toa Baja MunicipalityIn committee, Oct 15
- RS 597Order Tourism, Natural Resources, and Environmental Commission to InvestigateOn the floor, Oct 13
Recovery money in Toa Baja
$53.5 million committed by FEMA to 69 projects filed under Toa Baja since 2001: $733 per resident, 72nd of 78 towns.
Every project located in Toa Baja, the island-wide agencies’ included
45% paid out: Puerto Rico's Central Office for Recovery, Reconstruction and Resiliency (COR3), which pays out the federal disaster recovery money, has paid $93 million of the $205 million committed.
45%2.5% paid out on the town government’s own rebuilding: $1 million of $39.8 million, the projects it runs itself, as of Oct 14, 2026. Our FEMA story charts this figure for every town.
2.5%- Basketball Court'sParks and other$9.7 million
- Baseball FieldsParks and other$6.4 million
- DEBRIS ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURESDebris removal$4.4 million
The town government’s largest projects in implementation, and what has been paid
- Debris alternative procedures$4.4M of $4.4M100%+*
- Emergency Protective Measures$2.3M of $2.3M100%+*
- Light Poles$0 of $1.5M0%
- Emergency Protective Measures$664K of $664K100%
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 Toa Baja
Crime in Toa Baja
107 violent crimes and 5 homicides reported to the Puerto Rico Police Bureau (PRPD) in Toa Baja, January 1 – September 30, 2026; in 2025, 20.4 violent crimes per 10,000 people, in the second-highest fifth of towns.
- Homicides
- 5 YTD
- Violent crimes
- 107 YTD
- All serious crimes
- 404 YTD
- Violent crimes per 10,000 people (2025)
- 20.4
Flood zones in Toa Baja
FEMA’s flood map sets who must carry flood insurance, street by street. Check an address in Toa Baja
Phone alerts for Toa Baja
Our weekly reads: Daily Water Watch · Grid Watch · Safety Watch
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