# Alto del Carmen Commune, Huasco Province, Atacama Region

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/chile/atacama/huasco/alto-del-carmen/

Commune · Huasco Province 

# Alto del Carmen

Alto del Carmen is a commune of Chile in Huasco Province, Atacama Region. It had an estimated **5,767 people** in 2022 on 6,162 km² (about 0.9 per km²). 91 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 29 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 5,767people (2022)
- 6,162km²
- 29mapped services
- 1,505 mtypical elevation

## How many people live in Alto del Carmen?

Alto del Carmen had an estimated **5,767 people** in 2022 — 7.0% of Huasco Province, 299th of 345 communes. There are 938 women for every 1,000 men (below the Huasco Province figure of 984). Spread over 6,162 km², that is about **0.9 people per km²**, 314th of 345 communes.

18.9% of people are children under 15 and 18.9% are 65 or older; the median age is about 41 years (it is 37 across Huasco Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 61 children and older people.

0–4 ****316**

5–9 ****374**

10–14 ****402**

15–19 ****256**

20–24 ****257**

25–29 ****367**

30–34 ****421**

35–39 ****391**

40–44 ****376**

45–49 ****380**

50–54 ****376**

55–59 ****382**

60–64 ****377**

65–69 ****328**

70–74 ****269**

75–79 ****210**

80+ ****285**

Source: [UNFPA and Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas de Chile (INE) via OCHA HDX, population 2022 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-chl).

## Where is Alto del Carmen?

Alto del Carmen lies in [Huasco Province](https://wherepedia.org/chile/atacama/huasco/), [Atacama Region](https://wherepedia.org/chile/atacama/), [Chile](https://wherepedia.org/chile/). It borders 4 other communes: [La Higuera](https://wherepedia.org/chile/coquimbo/elqui/la-higuera/), [Tierra Amarilla](https://wherepedia.org/chile/atacama/copiapo/tierra-amarilla/), [Vallenar](https://wherepedia.org/chile/atacama/huasco/vallenar/) and [Vicuña](https://wherepedia.org/chile/coquimbo/elqui/vicuna/). By area it is the 29th largest of 345 communes in Chile. It covers 33.8% of [Huasco Province](https://wherepedia.org/chile/atacama/huasco/). The centre of Alto del Carmen is about 492 km in a straight line from Santiago, the capital. It is about 79 km from Vallenar, the main town of Huasco Province. The centre point is at 29.0544° S, 70.1640° W.

Source: [La Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile (BCN) via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-chl).

## Things to see in and around Alto del Carmen

OpenStreetMap lists 3 named sights in Alto del Carmen: 1 archaeological site; 1 viewpoint; 1 museum.

- Sala Museográfica Quebrada de Pinte · museum
- Sitio Arqueológico de Pinte · archaeological site
- Mirador Pirámide de Pinte · viewpoint

Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

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

## Know before you go: Alto del Carmen

- Time zoneUTC−3 (summer UTC−4) · America/Santiago
- CurrencyPeso (CLP)
- Country calling code+56
- LanguagesSpanish
- Plug typesType C, L · 220 V
- Driving sideRight
- Postcode format7 digits (#######)

### Nearest airports

- La Florida Airport (LSC) · La Serena-Coquimbo139 km
- Desierto de Atacama Airport (CPO) · Copiapo208 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 14.0 hours, sunrise around 06:36) and shortest in Jun (about 10.3 hours, sunrise around 08:31, sunset around 18:49).

Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/).

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 Alto del Carmen

Open gazetteers list **91 villages, towns and localities** in Alto del Carmen. The largest with a recorded population: Alto del Carmen (5,034). Settlements here lie between about 637 m and 3,763 m above sea level (median 1,505 m).

- Albaricoque
- Alto del Carmen
- Caracol
- Cerro Alegre
- Cerro Blanco
- Chanchoquin Chico
- Chanchoquín
- Chanchoquín Grande
- Chañarcillo
- Chiguinto
- Chihuinto
- Chollay
- Colpe
- Conay
- Crucecita Baja
- Crucecita alta
- Cuesta Alta
- Duraznito
- El Algarrobo
- El Algodón
- El Berraco
- El Carrizo
- El Chacay
- El Churcal
- El Corral
- El Duraznito
- El Encontrón
- El Maitén
- El Olivo
- El Parrral
- El Pedregal
- El Portillo
- El Sombrío
- El Ternerito
- El Terrón
- El Toro
- El Tránsito
- El Verraco
- Horcón Quemado
- Junta de Valeriano
- La Angostura
- La Arena
- La Arena Alta
- La Arena Baja
- La Cuesta
- La Falda
- La Fragua
- La Higuera
- La Higuerita
- La Laguna
- La Laja
- La Majada
- La Marquesa
- La Pampa
- La Plata
- La Plata Baja
- La Puntilla
- La Retama
- La Totora
- La Vega
- Las Breas
- Las Losas
- Las Marquesas
- Las Pircas
- Las Ánimas
- Los Canales
- Los Chacayes
- Los Perales
- Los Tambos
- Malaguin
- Malagüin
- Paso Malo
- Pastalito
- Perales Norte
- Perales Sur
- Piedras Juntas
- Pinte
- Plata Alta
- Portezuelo
- Potrerillos
- Potrero de Toledo
- Punta Blanca
- Punta Negra
- Quebrada La Plata
- Quebrada Pinte
- Retamo
- San Félix
- Tinajas
- Tinajillas
- Villa Horcón Quemado
- Villa Prat

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

## Landscape and landmarks of Alto del Carmen

Named natural and historic features inside Alto del Carmen, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

40 rivers and streams; 3 lakes.

- 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 El Corral
- Quebrada Grande
- Quebrada La Mollaca
- Quebrada Mazamorra
- Quebrada Ojos de Agua
- Quebrada Paitepén
- Quebrada Pinte
- Quebrada Seca
- Quebrada Yerba Buena
- Quebrada de Coipe
- Quebrada de Zepeda

…and 19 more.

### Coast and islands

2 lagoons.

- Laguna El Encierro
- Laguna Ojos de Aguas

### Hills and mountains

26 mountains; 10 mountain passes; 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 de Potrerillos · 4,179 m
- Portezuelo Zepeda · 4,176 m
- Paso Origen Quebrada del Guanaco Zonzo · 4,159 m
- Cerro Las Papas · 4,153 m
- Cerro de las Palas · 4,150 m
- Cerro Colimai · 4,070 m
- Cerro Lagunillas · 4,065 m

…and 16 more.

### Getting around

1 airport.

- Alto del Carmen Tres Quebradas Airport

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

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

## Weather in Alto del Carmen and the best time to visit

Using the climate of Huasco Province, the warmest month is Jan (average 16 °C) and the coolest is Jul (9 °C), after allowing for this place being about 726 m higher than the climate reference point (about 6.5 °C per 1,000 m). 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 **August to May**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 16 1 

Feb 16 1 

Mar 15 1 

Apr 13 1 

May 11 11 

Jun 10 15 

Jul 9 13 

Aug 10 8 

Sep 11 2 

Oct 13 2 

Nov 14 1 

Dec 15 1 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Alto del Carmen

Need Nearest mapped Distance 

Hotel La Casona de Chanchoquin · Alto del Carmen 24 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-28.86146&mlon=-70.28200#map=17/-28.86146/-70.28200) 

School Escuela de Chollay · Alto del Carmen 6.3 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-28.99825&mlon=-70.15233#map=17/-28.99825/-70.15233) 

Police station Reten Conay · Alto del Carmen 9.0 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-28.97356&mlon=-70.15381#map=17/-28.97356/-70.15381) 

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

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

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Alto del Carmen

Places mapped inside Alto del Carmen in open map data, by type.

- Hotels2
- Schools23
- Police stations4

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

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

## Other communes in Huasco Province

- Freirina
- Huasco
- Vallenar

## Quick answers

- Where is Alto del Carmen?In Huasco Province, Atacama Region, Chile
- What is the population of Alto del Carmen?5,767 (2022 estimate)
- What is the median age in Alto del Carmen?About 41 years (2022 estimate)
- What is the population density of Alto del Carmen?About 0.9 people per km²
- What borders Alto del Carmen?La Higuera, Tierra Amarilla, Vallenar and Vicuña
- What is there to see in Alto del Carmen?Mirador Pirámide de Pinte, Sala Museográfica Quebrada de Pinte, Sitio Arqueológico de Pinte
- What time zone is Alto del Carmen in?UTC−3 (summer UTC−4)
- What currency is used in Alto del Carmen?Peso (CLP)
- What language is spoken in Alto del Carmen?Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Alto del Carmen?91 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Alto del Carmen?Settlements lie between 637 m and 3,763 m
- What is the highest point in Alto del Carmen?Toro 1 (5,208 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Alto del Carmen?August to May
- What is the P-code of Alto del Carmen?CL03302 (OCHA common operational dataset)