Commune · El Loa Province
# Calama

Calama is a commune of Chile in El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region. It had an estimated 194,575 people in 2022 on 15,533 km² (about 13 per km²). 81 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 619 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 194,575 people (2022)
- 15,533 km²
- 619 mapped services
- 3,238 m typical elevation

## How many people live in Calama?

Calama had an estimated 194,575 people in 2022 — 94.6% of El Loa Province, 27th of 345 communes. There are 986 women for every 1,000 men (close to the El Loa Province figure of 986). Spread over 15,533 km², that is about 13 people per km², 238th of 345 communes.

21.7% of people are children under 15 and 7.5% are 65 or older; the median age is about 33 years (it is 33 across El Loa Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 41 children and older people.
- 0–4 13,876
- 5–9 13,793
- 10–14 14,496
- 15–19 12,865
- 20–24 13,583
- 25–29 17,940
- 30–34 18,997
- 35–39 16,550
- 40–44 14,760
- 45–49 13,667
- 50–54 11,569
- 55–59 9,799
- 60–64 8,031
- 65–69 6,205
- 70–74 3,943
- 75–79 2,067
- 80+ 2,434

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

## Where is Calama?

Calama lies in El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile. It borders 6 other communes: María Elena, Ollagüe, Pica, San Pedro de Atacama, Sierra Gorda and Tocopilla. By area it is the 11th largest of 345 communes in Chile. It covers 36.9% of El Loa Province. The centre of Calama is about 1,280 km in a straight line from Santiago, the capital. The centre point is at 22.1026° S, 68.5202° 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 Calama

OpenStreetMap lists 45 named sights in Calama: 11 volcanos; 7 viewpoints; 6 memorials; 6 attractions; 5 archaeological sites; 4 museums; 2 hot springs; 2 nature reserves; 1 theme park; 1 monument.
- 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
- Alero de Taira · archaeological site
- Geoglifos de Chug Chug · archaeological site
- Gigante de ChugChug · archaeological site
- Pucará de Turi · archaeological site
- Pukará de Quitor · archaeological site
- Humedal Urbano Río Loa · nature reserve
- Santuario de la Naturaleza Quebrada Ojo de Opache · nature reserve
- Bajada de Taira · viewpoint
- Caspana · viewpoint
- El Sifon · viewpoint
- Geyser El Tatio · viewpoint
- Inka Coya · viewpoint
- Mina · viewpoint
- Toconce · viewpoint
- Campo Geotérmico Géiseres del Tatio · attraction
- Observatorio de Arqueoastronomía Andina Paniri Caur · attraction
- Ojo de Opache · attraction
- Pictograbados de Taira · attraction
- Pukará de Lasana · attraction
- Pukará de Turi · attraction
- Bernardo O'Higgins · memorial
- Cerro Chao · volcano
- Cerro Toconce · volcano
- Cerro del León · volcano
- Cierre del Campamento de Chuquicamata · memorial
- Dinosaurio Pterosaurio · theme park

…and 15 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: Calama
- 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 59 km
- Diego Aracena International Airport (IQQ) · Iquique 245 km

### Nearest railway station

Conchi (Calama), about 13 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 13.5 hours, sunrise around 06:45) and shortest in Jun (about 10.8 hours, sunrise around 08:10, sunset around 18:57).

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.

## Villages and localities in Calama

Open gazetteers list 81 villages, towns and localities in Calama. The largest with a recorded population: Calama (166,334). Settlements here lie between about 1,950 m and 4,161 m above sea level (median 3,238 m).
- Agua Larga
- Aimani
- Aiquina
- Ayaviri
- Ayquina
- Baños de Turi
- Britania
- Cabana
- Calachuz
- Calama
- Calina
- Caspana
- Chacana
- Chela
- Chitigua
- Chiuchiu
- Chiuchíu
- Chorrillos
- Chunchurri
- Chuquicamata
- Conchi
- Conchi Viejo
- Condominio Borde Río
- Condominio El Alto
- Condoroma
- Cupo
- Dupont
- El Ojo de San Pedro
- El Peuco
- Estación San Pedro
- Gran Avenida Sur
- Inacaliri
- Isla Grande
- Jalquinche
- Lasana
- Lequena
- Linzor
- Ministro Hales
- Núñez
- Paniri
- Portal del Inca V
- Puerto Seco
- Quetena
- Ramadas
- Río Loa
- Salar Pampa Blanca
- Santa Juana
- Tapiche
- 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
- Turi
- Vegas de Turi
- Villa Alemania
- Villa Atacama
- Villa Caspana
- Villa Chuquicamata
- Villa Covadonga
- 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 Tucnar Huasi
- Villa Vista Hermosa

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

## Landscape and landmarks of Calama

Named natural and historic features inside Calama, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

31 rivers and streams; 1 reservoir or tank; 1 lake.
- Arroyo Paco-Paco
- Conchi Dam
- Laguna Seca
- Quebrada Agua de la Teca
- Quebrada Amarilla
- Quebrada Aucanquil
- Quebrada Ayerna
- Quebrada Carcanal
- Quebrada Casicsa
- Quebrada Cerraqui
- Quebrada Chaihuiri
- Quebrada Divisoco
- Quebrada El Aguilucho
- Quebrada El Arenal
- Quebrada Linzor
- Quebrada Linzor
- Quebrada Macho Muerto
- Quebrada Mal Paso
- Quebrada Muricala
- Quebrada Pacopaco
- Quebrada Pallinga
- Quebrada Panizo
- Quebrada Pedregal
- Quebrada Puente de Madera

…and 9 more.

### Coast and islands

1 lagoon.
- Laguna Chiuchiu

### Hills and mountains

106 mountains; 7 mountain passes; 5 hills.
- Cerro Aucanquilcha · 6,153 m
- Cerro Palpana · 6,014 m
- Cerro Paniri · 5,931 m
- Cerro Cebollar · 5,691 m
- Cerro Cumbre Negra · 5,617 m
- Cerro Polan · 5,420 m
- Cerro Toconce · 5,411 m
- Cerro de las Cuevas · 5,296 m
- Cerro Negro · 5,257 m
- Cerro Gordo · 5,176 m
- Cerro Volcán · 5,162 m
- Cerro de Tatio · 5,157 m
- Cerro Chaihuiri · 5,057 m
- Cerro Pabellón · 5,047 m
- Cerro Silaguala · 4,930 m
- Cerro Laylay · 4,915 m
- Cerro del Carcanal · 4,879 m
- Cerro Negro · 4,837 m
- Cerro Hojalar · 4,827 m
- Cerro Alconcha · 4,813 m
- Portezuelo El Pabellón · 4,801 m
- Cerro Copacoya · 4,788 m
- Portezuelo Palpana · 4,689 m
- Alto Ojo de Cáblor · 4,684 m

…and 94 more.

### History

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

### Getting around

9 railway stations; 1 airport.
- Conchi Viejo
- El Loa Airport
- Estación Cere
- Estación Cerritos Bayos
- Estación Conchi
- Estación Polapi
- Estación Río Loa
- Estación San Pedro
- Estación San Salvador
- San Pedro

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 Calama and the best time to visit

Using the climate of 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.

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Calama
| Need | Nearest mapped | Distance | |
| Hospital | Policlinico Minera Radomiro Tomic - Codelco · Calama | 37 km | Map |
| Hotel | Sol Atacama · Calama | 29 km | Map |
| School | Escuela Básica San Andrés · Calama | 21 km | Map |

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

Straight-line distance from the centre of the division, within 40 km.

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Calama

Places mapped inside Calama in open map data, by type.
- Hospitals 34
- Banks 32
- ATMs 3
- Petrol pumps 19
- Hotels 124
- Shopping malls 18
- Schools 96
- Colleges and universities 15
- Cinemas 2
- Pharmacies 26
- Restaurants 200
- Police stations 11
- 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.

## Other communes in El Loa Province
- Ollagüe
- San Pedro de Atacama

## Quick answers
- Where is Calama? In El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile
- What is the population of Calama? 194,575 (2022 estimate)
- What is the median age in Calama? About 33 years (2022 estimate)
- What is the population density of Calama? About 13 people per km²
- What borders Calama? María Elena, Ollagüe, Pica, San Pedro de Atacama, Sierra Gorda and Tocopilla
- What is there to see in Calama? Alero de Taira, Bajada de Taira, Bernardo O'Higgins, Campo Geotérmico Géiseres del Tatio
- What time zone is Calama in? UTC−3 (summer UTC−4)
- What currency is used in Calama? Peso (CLP)
- What language is spoken in Calama? Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Calama? 81 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Calama? Settlements lie between 1,950 m and 4,161 m
- How many reservoirs and tanks are in Calama? 1 named in GeoNames
- What is the highest point in Calama? Cerro Aucanquilcha (6,153 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Calama? August to June
- Where is the nearest hospital to Calama? Policlinico Minera Radomiro Tomic - Codelco, about 37 km from the centre
- How many hospitals are in Calama? 34 mapped
- How many banks are in Calama? 32 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Calama? 3 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Calama? 19 mapped
- What is the P-code of Calama? CL02201 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: Commune
- Area: 15,533.2 km²
- P-code: CL02201
- Province: El Loa Province
- Main town: Calama

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