# Illapel Commune, Choapa Province, Coquimbo Region – Population

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/chile/coquimbo/choapa/illapel/

Commune · Choapa Province 

# Illapel

Illapel is a commune of Chile in Choapa Province, Coquimbo Region. It had an estimated **32,949 people** in 2022 on 2,628 km² (about 13 per km²). 97 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 156 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 32,949people (2022)
- 2,628km²
- 156mapped services
- 505 mtypical elevation

## How many people live in Illapel?

Illapel had an estimated **32,949 people** in 2022 — 34.3% of Choapa Province, 123rd of 345 communes. There are 1,057 women for every 1,000 men (above the Choapa Province figure of 1,019). Spread over 2,628 km², that is about **13 people per km²**, 237th of 345 communes.

19.9% of people are children under 15 and 16.2% are 65 or older; the median age is about 39 years (it is 39 across Choapa Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 57 children and older people.

0–4 ****1,856**

5–9 ****2,232**

10–14 ****2,463**

15–19 ****1,896**

20–24 ****1,607**

25–29 ****2,162**

30–34 ****2,570**

35–39 ****2,234**

40–44 ****2,086**

45–49 ****2,253**

50–54 ****2,159**

55–59 ****2,195**

60–64 ****1,883**

65–69 ****1,812**

70–74 ****1,307**

75–79 ****946**

80+ ****1,288**

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 Illapel?

Illapel lies in [Choapa Province](https://wherepedia.org/chile/coquimbo/choapa/), [Coquimbo Region](https://wherepedia.org/chile/coquimbo/), [Chile](https://wherepedia.org/chile/). It borders 5 other communes: [Canela](https://wherepedia.org/chile/coquimbo/choapa/canela/), [Combarbalá](https://wherepedia.org/chile/coquimbo/limari/combarbala/), [Los Vilos](https://wherepedia.org/chile/coquimbo/choapa/los-vilos/), [Monte Patria](https://wherepedia.org/chile/coquimbo/limari/monte-patria/) and [Salamanca](https://wherepedia.org/chile/coquimbo/choapa/salamanca/). By area it is the 60th largest of 345 communes in Chile. It covers 26.0% of [Choapa Province](https://wherepedia.org/chile/coquimbo/choapa/). The centre of Illapel is about 210 km in a straight line from Santiago, the capital. The centre point is at 31.5897° S, 70.9473° 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 Illapel

OpenStreetMap lists 9 named sights in Illapel: 3 viewpoints; 2 archaeological sites; 1 museum; 1 attraction; 1 waterfall; 1 nature reserve.

- Casa de la Cultura de Illapel · museum
- Petroglifos El Bato · archaeological site
- Petroglifos Los Perales · archaeological site
- Cascada quebrada de Cárcamo · waterfall
- Reserva Nacional Las Chinchillas · nature reserve
- Embalse El Bato · viewpoint
- Las Chinchillas · viewpoint
- Valle Cachapoal · viewpoint
- Farellón Sanxjez · attraction

### Nearby, outside Illapel

- Mirador · viewpoint, Salamanca10 km
- Santuario de la Naturaleza Raja de Manquehua y Poza Azul · nature reserve, Salamanca11 km
- Cascada Poza Azul · attraction, Salamanca13 km

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: Illapel

- 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-Coquimbo188 km
- Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) · Santiago201 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 14.2 hours, sunrise around 06:33) and shortest in Jun (about 10.1 hours, sunrise around 08:40, sunset around 18:46).

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 Illapel

Open gazetteers list **97 villages, towns and localities** in Illapel. The largest with a recorded population: Illapel (22,816) and Canela (9,182). Settlements here lie between about 110 m and 1,737 m above sea level (median 505 m).

- Aguada
- Alcaparrosa Alta
- Algarrobo
- Angelmó
- Areacena Ramos
- Asiento Viejo
- Aucó
- Barranca de la Canela
- Cancha La Unión
- Canela
- Canelillo Alto
- Canelillo Bajo
- Carén
- Chillán
- Choapa
- Colonia Alta
- Comunidad y Progreso
- Condominio Doña Sofía
- Condominio Los Naranjos
- Coyontagua
- Coyuntagua Norte
- Coyuntagua Sur
- Cuz Cuz Bajo
- Cuzcuz
- Cárcamo
- Doña Juana
- El Balcón
- El Bato
- El Césped
- El Espino
- El Maitén Norte
- El Maitén Sur
- El Mauro
- El Mirador
- El Peral
- El Piche
- El Romero
- El Socavón
- Ex Estación Aucó
- Hermanos Carrera
- Huintil
- Huintil Norte
- Illapel
- Ilta
- La Aguada
- La Capilla
- La Colonia
- La Posada
- La Raya
- Lanco
- Lanco Alto
- Las Acacias
- Las Astas
- Las Cañas
- Las Cañas Oriente
- Las Cañas de Michío
- Las Majaditas
- Lautaro
- Limahuida
- Limáhuida
- Lindavista
- Los Cristales
- Los Guindos
- Los Perales
- Manuel Rodríguez
- Manuel de Gerotizaga
- Matancilla
- Mineral Chillán
- Mundo Nuevo
- Nueva Esperanza
- Peralillo
- Pintacura
- Pintacura Norte
- Pintacura Sur
- Población El Molino
- Población Lautaro
- Polígono
- Quebrada de Cárcamo
- Quebrada de Ilta
- Quebrada de Llapín
- Quebrada de Lucumán
- Quebrada de Michío
- Quebrada de Quilmenco
- Quelón
- Quillaicillo
- Santa Virginia
- Socavón Alto
- Socavón Bajo
- Socavón Centro
- Subida El Peral
- Tunga Norte
- Tunga Sur
- Villa Los Naranjos
- Villa Nuevo Milenio
- Villa Padre Alberto Hurtado
- Villa San Rafael
- Villa Santa Virginia

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 Illapel

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

### Water

42 rivers and streams; 1 reservoir or tank.

- El Bato Dam
- Estero Aucó
- Estero Burras
- Estero Canaleta
- Estero Cenicero
- Estero Chañar
- Estero Corico
- Estero Limáhuida
- Estero Olla
- Estero de la Yerba Loca
- Estero del Carrizo
- Estero del Cobre
- Quebrada Agua Blanca
- Quebrada Aguada
- Quebrada Alcaparrosa
- Quebrada Buitres
- Quebrada Canelilla
- Quebrada Charchal
- Quebrada Chillán
- Quebrada Chivato
- Quebrada Cárcamo
- Quebrada Espino
- Quebrada Espinos
- Quebrada Gallardo

…and 19 more.

### Hills and mountains

54 mountains; 3 hills; 1 mountain pass.

- Cerro de Los Burros · 4,254 m
- Cerro El Horno · 4,148 m
- Cerro Canaleta · 4,106 m
- Cerro Negro · 4,067 m
- Cerro Los Pitihues · 3,990 m
- Cerro Fredes · 3,783 m
- Cerro Burras · 3,632 m
- Cerro Campanario · 3,589 m
- Cerro La Olla · 3,570 m
- Cerro Curamavida · 3,549 m
- Cerro Mariposa · 3,493 m
- Paso de las Tres Quebradas · 3,473 m
- Cerro Mollaca · 2,510 m
- Cerro Los Tres Montes · 2,366 m
- Cerro Las Ventanas · 2,338 m
- Cerro Los Colorados · 2,179 m
- Cerro Manquegua · 2,165 m
- Cerro Llampangui · 2,057 m
- Cerro Pismante · 1,889 m
- Cerro Nancaballo · 1,854 m
- Cerro Grande · 1,829 m
- Cerro Carachilla · 1,719 m
- Cerro La Placeta · 1,686 m
- Cerro Totora · 1,665 m

…and 34 more.

### Getting around

7 railway stations; 1 airport.

- Estación Alcaparrosa
- Estación Aucó
- Estación Cavilolén
- Estación Choapa
- Estación Las Cañas
- Estación Limáhuida
- Illapel Aucó Airport
- Los Loros

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 Illapel and the best time to visit

Using the climate of Choapa Province, the warmest month is Jan (average 20 °C) and the coolest is Jul (11 °C). About 195 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jun (47 mm) and the driest Jan (3 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 20 3 

Feb 20 3 

Mar 19 3 

Apr 17 8 

May 14 35 

Jun 12 47 

Jul 11 37 

Aug 12 32 

Sep 13 10 

Oct 15 9 

Nov 17 5 

Dec 19 3 

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

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Illapel

Need Nearest mapped Distance 

Hospital Hospital de Salamanca · Salamanca 21 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-31.77435&mlon=-70.97136#map=17/-31.77435/-70.97136) 

Bank BCI · Illapel 21 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-31.63131&mlon=-71.16482#map=17/-31.63131/-71.16482) 

Petrol pump Copec · Salamanca 21 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-31.77512&mlon=-70.98002#map=17/-31.77512/-70.98002) 

Hotel Mirador y Hospedaje Rural Margarita · Illapel 9.8 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-31.55580&mlon=-70.85173#map=17/-31.55580/-70.85173) 

Mall Edificio Maray · Illapel 21 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-31.63188&mlon=-71.16390#map=17/-31.63188/-71.16390) 

School Escuela La Capilla · Illapel 2.4 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-31.57662&mlon=-70.92675#map=17/-31.57662/-70.92675) 

College Preuniversitario Adportas · Illapel 21 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-31.63094&mlon=-71.16768#map=17/-31.63094/-71.16768) 

Police station Subcomisaria Salamanca · Salamanca 21 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-31.77952&mlon=-70.96503#map=17/-31.77952/-70.96503) 

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 Illapel

Places mapped inside Illapel in open map data, by type.

- Hospitals8
- Banks10
- Petrol pumps3
- Hotels13
- Shopping malls3
- Schools60
- Colleges and universities1
- Cinemas2
- Pharmacies11
- Restaurants41
- Police stations1
- Dental clinics3

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 Choapa Province

- Canela
- Los Vilos
- Salamanca

## Quick answers

- Where is Illapel?In Choapa Province, Coquimbo Region, Chile
- What is the population of Illapel?32,949 (2022 estimate)
- What is the median age in Illapel?About 39 years (2022 estimate)
- What is the population density of Illapel?About 13 people per km²
- What borders Illapel?Canela, Combarbalá, Los Vilos, Monte Patria and Salamanca
- What is there to see in Illapel?Casa de la Cultura de Illapel, Cascada quebrada de Cárcamo, Embalse El Bato, Farellón Sanxjez
- What time zone is Illapel in?UTC−3 (summer UTC−4)
- What currency is used in Illapel?Peso (CLP)
- What language is spoken in Illapel?Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Illapel?97 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Illapel?Settlements lie between 110 m and 1,737 m
- How many reservoirs and tanks are in Illapel?1 named in GeoNames
- What is the highest point in Illapel?Cerro de Los Burros (4,254 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Illapel?January to December
- Where is the nearest hospital to Illapel?Hospital de Salamanca, about 21 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to Illapel?BCI, about 21 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to Illapel?Copec, about 21 km from the centre
- How many hospitals are in Illapel?8 mapped
- How many banks are in Illapel?10 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Illapel?3 mapped
- What is the P-code of Illapel?CL04201 (OCHA common operational dataset)