Province · Antofagasta Region
# El Loa Province

El Loa Province is a province of Chile in Antofagasta Region. It had an estimated 205,672 people in 2022 on 42,074 km² (about 4.9 per km²). Its main town is Calama. It is divided into 3 communes. 153 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 1,007 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 205,672 people (2022)
- 42,074 km²
- 3 communes
- 1,007 mapped services

## How many people live in El Loa Province?

El Loa Province had an estimated 205,672 people in 2022 — 29.0% of Antofagasta Region, 28th of 56 provinces. There are 986 women for every 1,000 men (close to the Antofagasta Region figure of 988). Spread over 42,074 km², that is about 4.9 people per km², 43rd of 56 provinces.

21.5% of people are children under 15 and 7.5% are 65 or older; the median age is about 33 years (it is 33 across Antofagasta Region). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 41 children and older people.
- 0–4 14,585
- 5–9 14,516
- 10–14 15,191
- 15–19 13,356
- 20–24 14,300
- 25–29 19,272
- 30–34 20,365
- 35–39 17,710
- 40–44 15,616
- 45–49 14,434
- 50–54 12,140
- 55–59 10,245
- 60–64 8,428
- 65–69 6,494
- 70–74 4,163
- 75–79 2,224
- 80+ 2,633

Source: UNFPA and Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas de Chile (INE) via OCHA HDX, population 2022 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO).

## Where is El Loa Province?

El Loa Province lies in Antofagasta Region, Chile. It borders 3 other provinces: Antofagasta Province, Tamarugal Province and Tocopilla Province. By area it is the 4th largest of 56 provinces in Chile. It covers 33.4% of Antofagasta Region. The centre of El Loa Province is about 1,222 km in a straight line from Santiago, the capital. It is about 222 km from Antofagasta, the main town of Antofagasta Region. The centre point is at 22.6301° S, 68.5311° W.

Source: La Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile (BCN) via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO).

## Things to see in and around El Loa Province

OpenStreetMap lists 183 named sights in El Loa Province: 49 viewpoints; 38 volcanos; 38 attractions; 16 archaeological sites; 14 nature reserves; 9 memorials; 8 museums; 4 ruins; 2 hot springs; 2 monuments; 1 theme park; 1 gallery; 1 national park.
- Meteor Museum · museum
- Museo Arqueológico Gustavo Le Paige · museum
- Museo Caspana · museum
- Museo Indígena Atacameño de Arqueología y Etnografía Alto Loa - Valle de Lasana · museum
- Museo Votivo de Ayquina · museum
- Museo de Historia Natural y Cultural del Desierto de Atacama · museum
- Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos -Sector Laguna Chaxa · museum
- Valle de la Luna · museum
- Alero de Taira · archaeological site
- Estancia Abulea · archaeological site
- Geoglifos de Chug Chug · archaeological site
- Gigante de ChugChug · archaeological site
- Pucará de Turi · archaeological site
- Puerta del Sol · archaeological site
- Pukará de Quitor · archaeological site
- Ruinas Incas Tata Maico Licanco · archaeological site
- Ruinas de Catarpe · archaeological site
- Sector Dos Petroglifos de Hierbas Buenas · archaeological site
- Sector Uno Petroglifos de Hierbas Buenas · archaeological site
- Taller Lítico Ghatchi · archaeological site
- Yacimiento Lítico de Ghatchi 1A · archaeological site
- Yacimiento Lítico de Ghatchi 1B · archaeological site
- Yacimiento Lítico de Ghatchi 2B · archaeological site
- Yacimiento Lítico de Ghatchi 2C · archaeological site
- Los Flamencos National Reserve · national park
- Atacama Astronomical Park · nature reserve
- Atacama Large Millimeter Array Science Preserve · nature reserve
- Bien Nacional Protegido Laguna Lejía · nature reserve
- Humedal Urbano Río Loa · nature reserve
- Reserva Elemental Puri Beter · nature reserve

…and 153 more.

Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements.

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: El Loa Province
- Time zone UTC−3 (summer UTC−4) · America/Santiago
- Currency Peso (CLP)
- Country calling code +56
- Languages Spanish
- Plug types Type C, L · 220 V
- Driving side Right
- Postcode format 7 digits (#######)

### Nearest airports
- El Loa Airport (CJC) · Calama 41 km
- Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport (ANF) · Antofagasta 216 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 13.5 hours, sunrise around 06:43) and shortest in Jun (about 10.8 hours, sunrise around 08:11, sunset around 18:56).

Source: GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03; OurAirports (public domain).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Communes of El Loa Province
| Commune | People | per km² | Area km² | Localities | Services |
| Calama | 194,575 | 13 | 15,533 | 81 | 619 |
| San Pedro de Atacama | 10,818 | 0.5 | 23,611 | 62 | 380 |
| Ollagüe | 279 | 0.1 | 2,931 | 10 | 8 |

Source: La Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile (BCN) via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO); UNFPA and Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas de Chile (INE) via OCHA HDX, population 2022 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO).

## Villages and localities in El Loa Province

Open gazetteers list 153 villages, towns and localities in El Loa Province. The largest with a recorded population: Calama (166,334), San Pedro de Atacama (10,960) and Ollagüe (199). Settlements here lie between about 1,950 m and 5,285 m above sea level (median 3,212 m).
- Agua Larga
- Aimani
- Aiquina
- Amincha
- Ascotán
- Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array
- Ayaviri
- Ayllu de Solcor
- Ayquina
- Baños de Turi
- Britania
- Buenaventura
- Béter
- Cabana
- Calachuz
- Calama
- Calina
- Camar
- Campamento Andino
- Campamento Aucanquilcha
- Campamento El Laco
- Caracote
- Caspana
- Catarpe
- Cebollar
- Chacana
- Chaxas
- Checar
- Chela
- Chitigua
- Chiuchiu
- Chiuchíu
- Chorrillos
- Chunchurri
- Chuquicamata
- Collo
- Compañía
- Conchi
- Conchi Viejo
- Condeduque
- Condominio Borde Río
- Condominio El Alto
- Condoroma
- Cosca
- Coyo
- Cuchabrache
- Cucuter
- Cupo
- Cúcuter
- Desierto
- Dupont
- El Ojo de San Pedro
- El Peuco
- Estación San Pedro
- Gran Avenida Sur
- Guatín
- Inacaliri
- Isla Grande
- Jalquinche
- La Banda
- Lagunita
- Larache
- Lasana
- Lequena
- Lever
- Licán
- Linzor
- Machuca
- Matancilla
- Ministro Hales
- Núñez
- Ollagüe
- Orilla Solor
- Pajonales
- Paniri
- Peine
- Peñaliri
- Peñaloza
- Población Alto Jama
- Población Conde Duque
- Población El Carmen
- Población Licancabur
- Población Los Algarrobos
- Poconche
- Pocor
- Portal del Inca V
- Puerto Seco
- Puquios
- Quetena
- Quitor
- Ramadas
- Río Grande
- Río Loa
- Salar Pampa Blanca
- San Bartolo
- San Francisco
- San Pedro de Atacama
- Santa Juana
- Santa Rosa
- Sector Aduana
- Sequitor
- Socaire
- Solcor
- Solor
- Soncor
- Sólor
- Talabre
- Tambillo
- Tapiche
- Tilomonte
- Tilopozo
- Toconao
- Toconce
- Toma Campamento Indigena 1
- Toma Campamento Indígena 2
- Toma La Quentena
- Toma Proyecto Asociación Indigena del Loa
- Toma Quebrada de Quentena II
- Toma Vega del Sailao
- Toma campamento Cobija
- Toma campamento San Salvador
- Topain
- Tulor
- Turi
- Turicapur
- Turipite
- Vegas de Turi
- Villa Alemania
- Villa Atacama
- Villa Caspana
- Villa Chuquicamata
- Villa Covadonga
- Villa El Alto Mirador
- Villa El Loa
- Villa Gabriela Mistral
- Villa Huaytiquina
- Villa Independencia Norte
- Villa Kamac Mayu
- Villa Las Vegas
- Villa Lomas Huasi
- Villa Los Salares
- Villa Los Transportistas
- Villa Los Volcanes
- Villa Los Yacimientos
- Villa Oasis
- Villa René Schneider
- Villa San Rafael
- Villa Solor
- Villa Tucnar Huasi
- Villa Vista Hermosa
- Yaye
- Yuma
- Zapar

Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features; © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements.

## Landscape and landmarks of El Loa Province

Named natural and historic features inside El Loa Province, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

61 rivers and streams; 18 lakes; 1 reservoir or tank.
- Arroyo Paco-Paco
- Conchi Dam
- Estero Cueva Pintada
- Estero Poquis
- Estero de la Cueva Blanca
- Lago Verde
- Laguna Barros Negros
- Laguna Brava
- Laguna Chaxa
- Laguna Hedionda
- Laguna Helada
- Laguna La Punta
- Laguna Lejía
- Laguna Miscanti
- Laguna Miñiques
- Laguna Seca
- Laguna Sico
- Laguna Tebinquiche
- Laguna Trinchera
- Laguna Tuyajto
- Laguna Verde
- Laguna de Aguas Calientes
- Laguna de Cejas
- Quebrada Agua de la Teca

…and 56 more.

### Coast and islands

9 lagoons.
- Laguna Baltinache
- Laguna Chita
- Laguna Chiuchiu
- Laguna Colorada
- Laguna El León
- Laguna El Toro
- Laguna Grande
- Laguna Zapaleri
- Lagunita

### Hills and mountains

252 mountains; 26 mountain passes; 15 hills; 2 valleys.
- Cerro Aucanquilcha · 6,153 m
- Cerro Acamarachi · 6,024 m
- Cerro Palpana · 6,014 m
- Cerro Polapi · 5,945 m
- Cerro Pajonales · 5,935 m
- Cerro Paniri · 5,931 m
- Cerro Lejía · 5,777 m
- Cerro Aguas Calientes · 5,775 m
- Cerro Miñiques · 5,743 m
- Cerro Colorado · 5,735 m
- Cerro Cebollar · 5,691 m
- Cerro del Azufre · 5,680 m
- Cerro Pajonales · 5,653 m
- Cerro Purico · 5,621 m
- Cerro Colachi · 5,619 m
- Cerro Cumbre Negra · 5,617 m
- Cerro Lena · 5,604 m
- Cerro Tumisa · 5,585 m
- Cerro El Chascón · 5,578 m
- Cerro Toco · 5,573 m
- Cerros del Inca · 5,571 m
- Cerro Aguilucho · 5,561 m
- Cerro Miscanti · 5,559 m
- Cerro Chiliques · 5,557 m

…and 271 more.

### History

6 ruins.
- Campamento Pinchal
- Churqui
- El Taira
- La Isla
- Palpana
- Ruinas del Pucará Lasana

### Getting around

16 railway stations; 3 airports; 3 airfields.
- Amincha
- Ascotán
- Carcote
- Conchi Viejo
- El Loa Airport
- Estación Augulo
- Estación Cebollar
- Estación Cere
- Estación Cerritos Bayos
- Estación Conchi
- Estación Cosca
- Estación Polapi
- Estación Puquios
- Estación Río Loa
- Estación San Pedro
- Estación San Salvador
- Misnal Airport
- Peine
- Salar de Atacama Airport
- San Martín
- San Pedro
- San Pedro de Atacama

Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features.

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in El Loa Province and the best time to visit

In El Loa Province, the warmest month is Jan (average 17 °C) and the coolest is Jul (10 °C). About 33 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Feb (9 mm) and the driest Jun (0 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are August to June.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
| Month | Average °C | Rain mm |
| Jan | 17 | 8 |
| Feb | 16 | 9 |
| Mar | 16 | 6 |
| Apr | 14 | 1 |
| May | 11 | 2 |
| Jun | 10 | 0 |
| Jul | 10 | 1 |
| Aug | 11 | 1 |
| Sep | 13 | 0 |
| Oct | 14 | 0 |
| Nov | 16 | 1 |
| Dec | 16 | 4 |

Source: NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29.

## Hospitals, banks and other services in El Loa Province

Places mapped inside El Loa Province in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.
- Hospitals 35
- Banks 33
- ATMs 5
- Petrol pumps 21
- Hotels 352
- Shopping malls 18
- Schools 109
- Colleges and universities 15
- Cinemas 2
- Pharmacies 29
- Restaurants 328
- Police stations 21
- Dental clinics 39

Source: Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Quick answers
- Where is El Loa Province? In Antofagasta Region, Chile
- What is the population of El Loa Province? 205,672 (2022 estimate)
- What is the median age in El Loa Province? About 33 years (2022 estimate)
- What is the population density of El Loa Province? About 4.9 people per km²
- What borders El Loa Province? Antofagasta Province, Tamarugal Province and Tocopilla Province
- What is there to see in El Loa Province? Acceso a Río, Acesso Puerto Libre, Achaches, Aldea de Tulor
- What time zone is El Loa Province in? UTC−3 (summer UTC−4)
- What currency is used in El Loa Province? Peso (CLP)
- What language is spoken in El Loa Province? Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in El Loa Province? 153 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of El Loa Province? Settlements lie between 1,950 m and 5,285 m
- How many reservoirs and tanks are in El Loa Province? 1 named in GeoNames
- What is the highest point in El Loa Province? Cerro Aucanquilcha (6,153 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit El Loa Province? August to June
- How many hospitals are in El Loa Province? 35 mapped
- How many banks are in El Loa Province? 33 mapped
- How many ATMs are in El Loa Province? 5 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in El Loa Province? 21 mapped
- What is the P-code of El Loa Province? CL022 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: Province
- Area: 42,074.4 km²
- P-code: CL022
- Region: Antofagasta Region
- Main town: Calama

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Canonical: https://wherepedia.org/chile/antofagasta/el-loa/ · Updated 2026-11-03 · Data: national censuses and statistics offices (sources named in each section); © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); Overture Maps; GeoNames; NASA POWER.