Province · Atacama Region
# Huasco Province

Huasco Province is a province of Chile in Atacama Region. It had an estimated 82,302 people in 2022 on 18,204 km² (about 4.5 per km²). Its main town is Vallenar. It is divided into 4 communes. 233 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 304 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 82,302 people (2022)
- 18,204 km²
- 4 communes
- 304 mapped services

## How many people live in Huasco Province?

Huasco Province had an estimated 82,302 people in 2022 — 25.9% of Atacama Region, 40th of 56 provinces. There are 984 women for every 1,000 men (close to the Atacama Region figure of 982). Spread over 18,204 km², that is about 4.5 people per km², 44th of 56 provinces.

21.4% of people are children under 15 and 14.5% are 65 or older; the median age is about 37 years (it is 34 across Atacama Region). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 56 children and older people.
- 0–4 5,226
- 5–9 5,904
- 10–14 6,497
- 15–19 4,660
- 20–24 4,474
- 25–29 5,841
- 30–34 6,667
- 35–39 5,678
- 40–44 5,171
- 45–49 5,118
- 50–54 5,273
- 55–59 5,097
- 60–64 4,745
- 65–69 4,100
- 70–74 3,005
- 75–79 2,095
- 80+ 2,751

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

## Where is Huasco Province?

Huasco Province lies in Atacama Region, Chile. It borders 2 other provinces: Copiapó Province and Elqui Province. By area it is the 12th largest of 56 provinces in Chile. It covers 24.0% of Atacama Region. The centre of Huasco Province is about 523 km in a straight line from Santiago, the capital. It is about 155 km from Copiapó, the main town of Atacama Region. The centre point is at 28.7501° S, 70.5354° 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 Huasco Province

OpenStreetMap lists 31 named sights in Huasco Province: 5 viewpoints; 4 attractions; 4 nature reserves; 4 archaeological sites; 4 beachs; 3 museums; 3 memorials; 2 ruins; 1 cave; 1 gallery.
- Edificio Los Portales · museum
- Museo del Huasco "Alfonso Sanguinetti Mulet" · museum
- Sala Museográfica Quebrada de Pinte · museum
- Las Pircas · archaeological site
- Pintadas de Capote · archaeological site
- Pircas del Rubio Mugre · archaeological site
- Sitio Arqueológico de Pinte · archaeological site
- Humedal Urbano Desembocadura del Río Huasco · nature reserve
- Humedal Urbano Paseo Ribereño de Vallenar · nature reserve
- Parque Nacional Llanos de Challe · nature reserve
- Santuario de la Naturaleza Humedal Costero Carrizal Bajo · nature reserve
- Playa Blanca · beach
- Playa Carrizal · beach
- Playa Garay · beach
- Playa Grande · beach
- Acantilados Playa Carrizalillo · viewpoint
- Caleta Vieja · viewpoint
- Desembocadura · viewpoint
- Embalse Santa Juana · viewpoint
- Mirador Pirámide de Pinte · viewpoint
- Campo Dunar de Punta Negra · attraction
- Casa Chango Robe · attraction
- Chimeneas de Labrar · attraction
- El Carrizo · attraction
- Cavernas · cave
- Don Ambrosio O'Higgins · memorial
- La Vendimia · memorial
- Ruinas del poblado de Labrar · ruins
- Sala de Exposición Museográfica Roberto Álvarez · gallery
- Santuario del Minero · memorial

…and 1 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: Huasco 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
- La Florida Airport (LSC) · La Serena-Coquimbo 145 km
- Desierto de Atacama Airport (CPO) · Copiapo 167 km

### Nearest railway station

Vallenar (Vallenar), about 30 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 14.0 hours, sunrise around 06:38) and shortest in Jun (about 10.3 hours, sunrise around 08:32, sunset around 18:51).

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 Huasco Province
| Commune | People | per km² | Area km² | Localities | Services |
| Vallenar | 57,301 | 7.9 | 7,224 | 66 | 203 |
| Huasco | 11,455 | 7.1 | 1,604 | 37 | 46 |
| Freirina | 7,779 | 2.4 | 3,214 | 45 | 26 |
| Alto del Carmen | 5,767 | 0.9 | 6,162 | 91 | 29 |

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 Huasco Province

Open gazetteers list 233 villages, towns and localities in Huasco Province. The largest with a recorded population: Vallenar (44,895), Huasco (8,977), Freirina (6,038) and Alto del Carmen (5,034). Settlements here lie between about 5 m and 3,763 m above sea level (median 779 m).
- Agua Amarga
- Agua Dulce
- Agua Patiño
- Agua de Doro
- Agua de Lazo
- Albaricoque
- Algarrobal
- Almireses
- Altiplano Norte
- Alto del Carmen
- Altos del Valle
- Arenilla
- Atacama
- Bahía Carrizalillo
- Barranquilla
- Bodeguilla
- Buena Esperanza
- Cachiyuyo
- Caleta Angosta
- Caleta Ardiles
- Caleta Chañaral de Aceituno
- Caleta Los Bronces
- Caleta Punta de Lobos
- Camarones
- Campamento Pastos Largos
- Canto de Agua
- Canto del Agua
- Caracol
- Carretera Panamericana
- Carretera Panamericana Sur
- Carrizal Alto
- Carrizal Bajo
- Carrizalillo
- Cavancha
- Centinela
- Cerro Alegre
- Cerro Blanco
- Challe
- Chanchoquin Chico
- Chanchoquín
- Chanchoquín Grande
- Chañar Blanco
- Chañar Quemado
- Chañaral
- Chañaral de Aceituna
- Chañarcillo
- Chehueque
- Chiguinto
- Chihuinto
- Chollay
- Chorrillos
- Colpe
- Conay
- Crucecita Baja
- Crucecita alta
- Cuatro Palomas
- Cuatro Palomas Sur
- Cuesta Alta
- Desvío
- Domeyko
- Duraznito
- El Algarrobo
- El Algodón
- El Berraco
- El Bronce
- El Carrizo
- El Chacay
- El Churcal
- El Colmo
- El Corral
- El Duraznito
- El Encontrón
- El Escorial
- El Hinojo
- El Jilguero
- El Maitén
- El Olivo
- El Parrral
- El Pedregal
- El Pino
- El Pollo
- El Portillo
- El Sauce
- El Sombrío
- El Ternerito
- El Terrón
- El Toro
- El Tránsito
- El Verraco
- El Zapallo
- Espantajos
- Estación Nicolasa
- Estación Romero
- Fragüita
- Freirina
- Hacienda Atacama
- Higuerita
- Horcón Quemado
- Huasco
- Huasco Bajo
- Imperial Alto
- Imperial Bajo
- Incaguasi
- Incahuasi
- Jarilla
- Junta de Valeriano
- La Angostura
- La Arena
- La Arena Alta
- La Arena Baja
- La Cachina
- La Camelia
- La Cobaltera
- La Compañía
- La Coquimbana
- La Cuesta
- La Falda
- La Florida
- La Fragua
- La Higuera
- La Higuerita
- La Laguna
- La Laja
- La Majada
- La Marquesa
- La Pampa
- La Plata
- La Plata Baja
- La Posada
- La Puntilla
- La Reserva de Huasco
- La Retama
- La Totora
- La Tunilla
- La Vega
- La Verbena
- La Verde
- Labrar
- Las Breas
- Las Losas
- Las Marquesas
- Las Perdices
- Las Pircas
- Las Porotas
- Las Tablas
- Las Ánimas
- Leoncito
- Llanos de Ferrera
- Llanos de Soto
- Llanos del Lagarto
- Loncomilla
- Longomilla
- Los Barros
- Los Canales
- Los Chacayes
- Los Choros
- Los Colorados
- Los Loritos
- Los Loros
- Los Molles
- Los Perales
- Los Pozos
- Los Tambos
- Los Toyos
- Maitencillo
- Malaguin
- Malagüin
- Milla Quince
- Miraflores
- Mireya Pérez
- Nicolasa
- Nueva Generación
- Palermo
- Palo Blanco
- Paso Malo
- Pastalito
- Perales
- Perales Norte
- Perales Sur
- Perales Viejos
- Peñita
- Piedra de la Monja
- Piedras Juntas
- Pinte
- Planta Concentradora Astillas
- Plata Alta
- Playa Blanca
- Portezuelo
- Portezuelo Ventanas
- Potrerillos
- Potrero de Toledo
- Punta Blanca
- Punta Negra
- Punta de Marañón
- Punta de Rieles
- Quebrada Camarones
- Quebrada El Jilguero
- Quebrada La Plata
- Quebrada Pinte
- Quebrada Valparaíso
- Retamo
- Rincón
- San Antonio
- San Félix
- San José
- San Juan
- Santa Juana
- Santa Teresa
- Sarco
- Sauce Pérez
- Tabalí
- Tatara
- Tinajas
- Tinajillas
- Totora
- Tres Playitas
- Vallenar
- Ventanas
- Vicuña Mackenna
- Vicuña Mackenna Alto
- Villa Canto del Agua
- Villa Cordillera
- Villa Guacolda
- Villa Horcón Quemado
- Villa Las Palmas
- Villa Los Regidores
- Villa Prat
- Villa Victoria
- Villa Vista Alegre
- Villa de Ballenary
- Vizcachitas
- Yerbas Buenas
- Zanjón

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

## Landscape and landmarks of Huasco Province

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

### Water

49 rivers and streams; 3 lakes; 1 reservoir or tank.
- Arroyo Laguna Chica
- Arroyo Valeriana
- Arroyo de Valeriano
- Cajón del Encierro
- Estero Plata Alta
- Estrecho River
- Laguna Chica
- Laguna Grande
- Laguna Valeriano
- Quebrada Albaricoque
- Quebrada Cantarito
- Quebrada Canuto
- Quebrada Carrizo
- Quebrada Cortadera
- Quebrada El Corral
- Quebrada El Molle
- Quebrada Grande
- Quebrada La Mollaca
- Quebrada Los Choros
- Quebrada Mazamorra
- Quebrada Mollaca
- Quebrada Ojos de Agua
- Quebrada Paitepén
- Quebrada Pinte

…and 29 more.

### Coast and islands

13 headlands; 2 islands; 2 lagoons.
- Cabo Bascuñán
- Isla Carrizal
- Isla Guacolda
- Laguna El Encierro
- Laguna Ojos de Aguas
- Punta Alcalde
- Punta Blanca
- Punta El Mojado
- Punta Herradura
- Punta Huasco
- Punta Lobera
- Punta Mariposa
- Punta Mogote Negro
- Punta Pájaros
- Punta Rascamoño
- Punta Salinas
- Punta los Pozos

### Hills and mountains

146 mountains; 29 mountain passes; 26 hills; 4 glaciers.
- Toro 1 · 5,208 m
- Cerro Laguna Grande · 5,195 m
- Toro 2 · 5,193 m
- Pico de las Palas · 5,186 m
- Glacier Guanaco · 5,154 m
- Portezuelo Morado · 5,045 m
- Esperanza · 4,908 m
- Cerro Laguna Chica · 4,875 m
- Cerro La Ternera · 4,847 m
- Paso del Macho Muerto · 4,777 m
- Paso Origen del Río Potrerillo · 4,739 m
- Portezuelo Cantarito · 4,679 m
- Cerro Las Placetas · 4,619 m
- Cerro El Gaucho · 4,502 m
- Cerro La Guitarra · 4,487 m
- Portezuelo Laguna Chica · 4,303 m
- Paso de Chollay · 4,242 m
- Cerro Chiflón · 4,238 m
- Cerro de Potrerillos · 4,179 m
- Portezuelo Zepeda · 4,176 m
- Portezuelo del Gaucho · 4,168 m
- Paso Origen Quebrada del Guanaco Zonzo · 4,159 m
- Cerro Las Papas · 4,153 m
- Cerro de las Palas · 4,150 m

…and 181 more.

### History

1 ruin.
- La Dieciocho

### Getting around

15 railway stations; 6 airfields; 2 airports; 1 harbour.
- Algarrobal
- Algarrobal
- Alto del Carmen Tres Quebradas Airport
- Barranquilla
- Bodeguilla
- Carrizal Bajo
- Domeyko
- El Pleito
- Estación Agua Amarga
- Estación Algarrobal
- Estación Buena Esperanza
- Estación Cachiyuyo
- Estación Carrizal Alto
- Estación Chacritas
- Estación Desvío Los Choros
- Estación Romero
- Freirina
- Loncomilla
- Maitencillo
- Milla Doce
- Puerto Huasco
- Vallenar
- Vallenar
- Vizcachitas

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 Huasco Province and the best time to visit

In Huasco Province, the warmest month is Jan (average 21 °C) and the coolest is Jul (14 °C). About 56 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jun (15 mm) and the driest Dec (1 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are January to December.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
| Month | Average °C | Rain mm |
| Jan | 21 | 1 |
| Feb | 21 | 1 |
| Mar | 20 | 1 |
| Apr | 18 | 1 |
| May | 16 | 11 |
| Jun | 14 | 15 |
| Jul | 14 | 13 |
| Aug | 15 | 8 |
| Sep | 16 | 2 |
| Oct | 18 | 2 |
| Nov | 19 | 1 |
| Dec | 20 | 1 |

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

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Huasco Province

Places mapped inside Huasco Province in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.
- Hospitals 19
- Banks 11
- ATMs 1
- Petrol pumps 12
- Hotels 39
- Shopping malls 3
- Schools 91
- Colleges and universities 2
- Cinemas 1
- Pharmacies 7
- Restaurants 98
- Police stations 11
- Dental clinics 9

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 Huasco Province? In Atacama Region, Chile
- What is the population of Huasco Province? 82,302 (2022 estimate)
- What is the median age in Huasco Province? About 37 years (2022 estimate)
- What is the population density of Huasco Province? About 4.5 people per km²
- What borders Huasco Province? Copiapó Province and Elqui Province
- What is there to see in Huasco Province? Acantilados Playa Carrizalillo, Caleta Vieja, Campo Dunar de Punta Negra, Casa Chango Robe
- What time zone is Huasco Province in? UTC−3 (summer UTC−4)
- What currency is used in Huasco Province? Peso (CLP)
- What language is spoken in Huasco Province? Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Huasco Province? 233 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Huasco Province? Settlements lie between 5 m and 3,763 m
- How many reservoirs and tanks are in Huasco Province? 1 named in GeoNames
- What is the highest point in Huasco Province? Toro 1 (5,208 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Huasco Province? January to December
- How many hospitals are in Huasco Province? 19 mapped
- How many banks are in Huasco Province? 11 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Huasco Province? 1 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Huasco Province? 12 mapped
- What is the P-code of Huasco Province? CL033 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: Province
- Area: 18,204.2 km²
- P-code: CL033
- Region: Atacama Region
- Main town: Vallenar

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