Loíza, Puerto Rico

Loíza is a coastal town of 32,500 inhabitants (2000 census), located in northeastern Puerto Rico. Loíza is located north of PR Road #3. It is accessible from Carolina and Rio Grande on PR Road 187 west and from Canóvanas on PR Road # 188 north.

Loiza has a long oceanfront and some very important ecological resources.

The patron saint for Loíza is "San Patricio", celebrated on March 17.

Loíza also celebrates, the last week in July, las fiestas de Santiago Apóstol with a carnival that is visited by people from all over the island.

Loíza is the only municipality in Puerto Rico where most of the population is African American. Loiceños are very proud of their ancestry and keep their traditions very much alive. The carnival, a blend of Catholic rites and ancient African traditions, is, mildly put, picturesque.