Commune · Huasco Province
# Vallenar

Vallenar is a commune of Chile in Huasco Province, Atacama Region. It had an estimated 57,301 people in 2022 on 7,224 km² (about 7.9 per km²). 66 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 203 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 57,301 people (2022)
- 7,224 km²
- 203 mapped services
- 786 m typical elevation

## How many people live in Vallenar?

Vallenar had an estimated 57,301 people in 2022 — 69.6% of Huasco Province, 85th of 345 communes. There are 994 women for every 1,000 men (above the Huasco Province figure of 984). Spread over 7,224 km², that is about 7.9 people per km², 275th of 345 communes.

21.6% of people are children under 15 and 14.1% are 65 or older; the median age is about 36 years (it is 37 across Huasco Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 56 children and older people.
- 0–4 3,630
- 5–9 4,153
- 10–14 4,618
- 15–19 3,402
- 20–24 3,186
- 25–29 4,080
- 30–34 4,703
- 35–39 3,959
- 40–44 3,641
- 45–49 3,569
- 50–54 3,620
- 55–59 3,431
- 60–64 3,211
- 65–69 2,782
- 70–74 2,041
- 75–79 1,407
- 80+ 1,868

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

## Where is Vallenar?

Vallenar lies in Huasco Province, Atacama Region, Chile. It borders 6 other communes: Alto del Carmen, Copiapó, Freirina, Huasco, La Higuera and Tierra Amarilla. By area it is the 26th largest of 345 communes in Chile. It covers 39.7% of Huasco Province. The centre of Vallenar is about 531 km in a straight line from Santiago, the capital. The centre point is at 28.6833° S, 70.8554° 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 Vallenar

OpenStreetMap lists 6 named sights in Vallenar: 2 memorials; 1 viewpoint; 1 museum; 1 attraction; 1 nature reserve.
- Museo del Huasco "Alfonso Sanguinetti Mulet" · museum
- Humedal Urbano Paseo Ribereño de Vallenar · nature reserve
- Embalse Santa Juana · viewpoint
- El Carrizo · attraction
- Don Ambrosio O'Higgins · memorial
- La Vendimia · memorial

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: Vallenar
- 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 141 km
- Desierto de Atacama Airport (CPO) · Copiapo 158 km

### Nearest railway station

Pucol (Vallenar), about 4.4 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 14.0 hours, sunrise around 06:39) and shortest in Jun (about 10.3 hours, sunrise around 08:33, sunset around 18:53).

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 Vallenar

Open gazetteers list 66 villages, towns and localities in Vallenar. The largest with a recorded population: Vallenar (44,895). Settlements here lie between about 293 m and 1,990 m above sea level (median 786 m).
- Agua Amarga
- Agua de Doro
- Algarrobal
- Altiplano Norte
- Altos del Valle
- Arenilla
- Buena Esperanza
- Cachiyuyo
- Camarones
- Campamento Pastos Largos
- Carretera Panamericana
- Carretera Panamericana Sur
- Cavancha
- Centinela
- Chañar Blanco
- Chehueque
- Cuatro Palomas
- Cuatro Palomas Sur
- Desvío
- Domeyko
- El Bronce
- El Colmo
- El Escorial
- El Jilguero
- El Zapallo
- Estación Romero
- Higuerita
- Imperial Alto
- Imperial Bajo
- Incaguasi
- Incahuasi
- Jarilla
- La Arena
- La Compañía
- La Florida
- La Higuera
- La Posada
- La Puntilla
- La Tunilla
- La Verbena
- La Verde
- Las Porotas
- Llanos de Ferrera
- Llanos de Soto
- Loncomilla
- Longomilla
- Los Choros
- Milla Quince
- Palo Blanco
- Perales
- Perales Viejos
- Portezuelo Ventanas
- Punta de Marañón
- Quebrada Camarones
- Quebrada El Jilguero
- Quebrada Valparaíso
- Rincón
- San Antonio
- Santa Juana
- Vallenar
- Ventanas
- Villa Cordillera
- Villa Los Regidores
- Villa Vista Alegre
- Villa de Ballenary
- Vizcachitas

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

## Landscape and landmarks of Vallenar

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

### Water

6 rivers and streams; 1 reservoir or tank.
- Quebrada Cortadera
- Quebrada El Molle
- Quebrada Los Choros
- Quebrada Unión
- Quebrada Vencedora
- Quebrada de Veliz
- Santa Juana Dam

### Hills and mountains

63 mountains; 21 hills; 13 mountain passes.
- Cerro Chiflón · 4,238 m
- Portezuelo del Gaucho · 4,168 m
- Cerro Tres Morros · 4,103 m
- Cerro Pulido · 3,983 m
- Cerro Placetón · 3,778 m
- Portezuelo Chiflón · 3,655 m
- Cerro Torito · 3,564 m
- Cerro Veraguas · 3,477 m
- Cerro Tranquitos · 3,374 m
- Co. Rosillo · 3,327 m
- Cerro El Gallo · 3,315 m
- Cerro Rosillo · 3,205 m
- Cerro Bombilla · 2,906 m
- Cerro Alto del Burro · 2,832 m
- Cerro La Peineta · 2,828 m
- Cerro El Quemado · 2,827 m
- Cerro El Chivato · 2,767 m
- Cerro El Toro · 2,759 m
- Cerro Chacay · 2,734 m
- Cerro El Cobre · 2,543 m
- Cerro Grandón · 2,522 m
- Cerro Grandón · 2,522 m
- Cerro Las Campanas · 2,513 m
- Cerro Chivato · 2,420 m

…and 73 more.

### Getting around

10 railway stations; 3 airfields.
- Algarrobal
- Algarrobal
- Domeyko
- El Pleito
- Estación Agua Amarga
- Estación Algarrobal
- Estación Buena Esperanza
- Estación Cachiyuyo
- Estación Chacritas
- Estación Desvío Los Choros
- Estación Romero
- Loncomilla
- 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 Vallenar and the best time to visit

Using the climate of 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.

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Vallenar
| Need | Nearest mapped | Distance | |
| Hospital | Hospital Provincial Monsenor Fernando Ariztia Ruiz · Vallenar | 14 km | Map |
| Bank | Banco Estado Express · Vallenar | 15 km | Map |
| Petrol pump | Copec · Vallenar | 12 km | Map |
| Hotel | Motel y cabañas amancay · Vallenar | 13 km | Map |
| Mall | Galería Prat · Vallenar | 15 km | Map |
| School | Escuela Básica Sara Bembow Villegas · Vallenar | 12 km | Map |
| College | Universidad de Atacama · Vallenar | 15 km | Map |
| Police station | Tenencia carretera Atacama sur · Vallenar | 11 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 Vallenar

Places mapped inside Vallenar in open map data, by type.
- Hospitals 15
- Banks 8
- Petrol pumps 10
- Hotels 28
- Shopping malls 3
- Schools 48
- Colleges and universities 2
- Cinemas 1
- Pharmacies 6
- Restaurants 69
- Police stations 4
- 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.

## Other communes in Huasco Province
- Alto del Carmen
- Freirina
- Huasco

## Quick answers
- Where is Vallenar? In Huasco Province, Atacama Region, Chile
- What is the population of Vallenar? 57,301 (2022 estimate)
- What is the median age in Vallenar? About 36 years (2022 estimate)
- What is the population density of Vallenar? About 7.9 people per km²
- What borders Vallenar? Alto del Carmen, Copiapó, Freirina, Huasco, La Higuera and Tierra Amarilla
- What is there to see in Vallenar? Don Ambrosio O'Higgins, El Carrizo, Embalse Santa Juana, Humedal Urbano Paseo Ribereño de Vallenar
- What time zone is Vallenar in? UTC−3 (summer UTC−4)
- What currency is used in Vallenar? Peso (CLP)
- What language is spoken in Vallenar? Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Vallenar? 66 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Vallenar? Settlements lie between 293 m and 1,990 m
- How many reservoirs and tanks are in Vallenar? 1 named in GeoNames
- What is the highest point in Vallenar? Cerro Chiflón (4,238 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Vallenar? January to December
- Where is the nearest hospital to Vallenar? Hospital Provincial Monsenor Fernando Ariztia Ruiz, about 14 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to Vallenar? Banco Estado Express, about 15 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to Vallenar? Copec, about 12 km from the centre
- How many hospitals are in Vallenar? 15 mapped
- How many banks are in Vallenar? 8 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Vallenar? 10 mapped
- What is the P-code of Vallenar? CL03301 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: Commune
- Area: 7,224.4 km²
- P-code: CL03301
- Province: Huasco Province
- Main town: Vallenar

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