Commune · Choapa Province
# Salamanca

Salamanca is a commune of Chile in Choapa Province, Coquimbo Region. It had an estimated 29,560 people in 2022 on 3,447 km² (about 8.6 per km²). 65 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 142 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 29,560 people (2022)
- 3,447 km²
- 142 mapped services
- 792 m typical elevation

## How many people live in Salamanca?

Salamanca had an estimated 29,560 people in 2022 — 30.8% of Choapa Province, 135th of 345 communes. There are 1,007 women for every 1,000 men (below the Choapa Province figure of 1,019). Spread over 3,447 km², that is about 8.6 people per km², 271st of 345 communes.

19.5% of people are children under 15 and 15.6% 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 54 children and older people.
- 0–4 1,611
- 5–9 2,004
- 10–14 2,144
- 15–19 1,597
- 20–24 1,463
- 25–29 2,008
- 30–34 2,402
- 35–39 2,114
- 40–44 2,086
- 45–49 2,080
- 50–54 1,929
- 55–59 1,849
- 60–64 1,662
- 65–69 1,480
- 70–74 1,174
- 75–79 820
- 80+ 1,137

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

## Where is Salamanca?

Salamanca lies in Choapa Province, Coquimbo Region, Chile. It borders 5 other communes: Cabildo, Illapel, Los Vilos, Petorca and Putaendo. By area it is the 52nd largest of 345 communes in Chile. It covers 34.0% of Choapa Province. The centre of Salamanca is about 172 km in a straight line from Santiago, the capital. It is about 58 km from Illapel, the main town of Choapa Province. The centre point is at 31.9090° S, 70.6497° 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 Salamanca

OpenStreetMap lists 6 named sights in Salamanca: 2 attractions; 2 viewpoints; 1 museum; 1 nature reserve.
- Museo Salamanca · museum
- Santuario de la Naturaleza Raja de Manquehua y Poza Azul · nature reserve
- Mirador · viewpoint
- Mirador de Zapallar · viewpoint
- Cascada Poza Azul · attraction
- Petroglifos de Chalinga · attraction

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: Salamanca
- 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
- Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) · Santiago 166 km
- Governor Francisco Gabrielli International Airport (MDZ) · Mendoza 202 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 14.2 hours, sunrise around 06:31) and shortest in Jun (about 10.1 hours, sunrise around 08:40, sunset around 18:44).

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 Salamanca

Open gazetteers list 65 villages, towns and localities in Salamanca. The largest with a recorded population: Salamanca (13,265). Settlements here lie between about 418 m and 1,995 m above sea level (median 792 m).
- Almendrillo
- Arboleda
- Arboleda Grande
- Barraco
- Batuco
- Cabrería
- Cancha Brava
- Casa de Lata
- Chacay
- Chalinga
- Chalinguita
- Chillepin
- Chillepín
- Chuchini
- Chuchiñí
- Coirón
- Colliguay
- Cuncumén
- Cunlagua
- De Los Hurtados
- El Arrayán
- El Boldo
- El Manzano
- El Paquial
- El Pedernal
- El Piche
- El Queñe
- El Queñe Norte
- El Queñe Sur
- El Señor de la Tierra
- El Tambo
- El Tebal
- Higuerilla
- Huanque
- Jorquera
- La Brunina
- La Huiguerilla
- Las Jarillas
- Las Lajas
- Llimpo
- Los Llanos
- Manquehua
- Moraleda
- Panguecillo
- Planta Peladeros
- Población Cañahual
- Población Coyhaique
- Población La Florida
- Población Nuevo Barrio Alto
- Punta Nueva
- Quelén
- Quelén Alto
- Quelén Alto Sur
- Quelén Bajo
- Quilmenco
- Ranque
- Ranqui
- Salamanca
- San Agustín
- Santa Rosa
- Señor de la Tierra
- Tahuinco
- Tranquilla
- Villa El Faro
- Zapallar

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

## Landscape and landmarks of Salamanca

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

### Water

65 rivers and streams; 1 reservoir or tank; 1 lake.
- Corrales Dam
- Estero Barraza
- Estero Camisas
- Estero Colorado
- Estero Cunlagua
- Estero Cuzco del Choapa
- Estero Durazno
- Estero Piuquenes
- Estero Potrero Alto
- Estero Potrero Largo
- Estero Tomé
- Estero Toro Mocho
- Estero de Las Estacas
- Estero de Las Llaretas
- Estero de Las Ojotas
- Estero de Las Puentecillas
- Estero de Otero
- Estero de Polcura
- Estero de Quelén
- Estero de la Angostura
- Laguna del Pelado
- Quebrada Batuco
- Quebrada Bueyes
- Quebrada Caballos

…and 43 more.

### Hills and mountains

62 mountains; 22 mountain passes; 3 peaks.
- Cerro Volcán · 4,584 m
- Paso de las Ojotas · 4,352 m
- Cerro Bayo · 4,036 m
- Cerro Barracita · 4,018 m
- Cerro El Escondido · 4,009 m
- Paso del Mercedario · 3,992 m
- Paso Rinconada del Yunque · 3,935 m
- Portezuelo del Alitre · 3,935 m
- Paso Casa de Piedra · 3,860 m
- Cerro Cascajales · 3,833 m
- Morro Morado · 3,823 m
- Divisadero Sur · 3,813 m
- Paso del Cencerro · 3,784 m
- Paso de Puentecillas · 3,734 m
- Cerro Piuquenes · 3,726 m
- Portezuelo del Portillo · 3,705 m
- Cerro El Cuzco · 3,698 m
- Paso de Cerro Blanco · 3,695 m
- Paso Golpe de Agua · 3,653 m
- Cerro Bardas Negras · 3,617 m
- Cerro Chiflón del Horno · 3,617 m
- Paso Quebrada Fría · 3,593 m
- Cerro Panul · 3,584 m
- Morro Maqui · 3,569 m

…and 63 more.

### Getting around

2 airports; 1 railway station.
- Las Brujas Airport
- Salamanca Los Pelmabres Airport
- Tahuinco

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 Salamanca and the best time to visit

Using the climate of Choapa Province, the warmest month is Jan (average 18 °C) and the coolest is Jul (9 °C), after allowing for this place being about 364 m higher than the climate reference point (about 6.5 °C per 1,000 m). 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 September to May.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
| Month | Average °C | Rain mm |
| Jan | 18 | 3 |
| Feb | 18 | 3 |
| Mar | 17 | 3 |
| Apr | 14 | 8 |
| May | 12 | 35 |
| Jun | 10 | 47 |
| Jul | 9 | 37 |
| Aug | 10 | 32 |
| Sep | 11 | 10 |
| Oct | 13 | 9 |
| Nov | 15 | 5 |
| Dec | 17 | 3 |

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

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Salamanca
| Need | Nearest mapped | Distance | |
| Hospital | Hopital Salamanca · Salamanca | 33 km | Map |
| Bank | Bancoestado · Salamanca | 33 km | Map |
| Petrol pump | Copec · Salamanca | 33 km | Map |
| Hotel | Cabañas Santa Natalia. Tranquilla Coquimbo Chile · Salamanca | 1.4 km | Map |
| Mall | Centro Comercial Frontera · Salamanca | 8.3 km | Map |
| School | Escuela GuiseLa Gamboa Salinas · Salamanca | 3.0 km | Map |
| Police station | Retén Coirón (F) · Salamanca | 12 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 Salamanca

Places mapped inside Salamanca in open map data, by type.
- Hospitals 3
- Banks 3
- Petrol pumps 5
- Hotels 38
- Shopping malls 4
- Schools 39
- Pharmacies 7
- Restaurants 35
- Police stations 2
- Dental clinics 6

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 Choapa Province
- Canela
- Illapel
- Los Vilos

## Quick answers
- Where is Salamanca? In Choapa Province, Coquimbo Region, Chile
- What is the population of Salamanca? 29,560 (2022 estimate)
- What is the median age in Salamanca? About 39 years (2022 estimate)
- What is the population density of Salamanca? About 8.6 people per km²
- What borders Salamanca? Cabildo, Illapel, Los Vilos, Petorca and Putaendo
- What is there to see in Salamanca? Cascada Poza Azul, Mirador, Mirador de Zapallar, Museo Salamanca
- What time zone is Salamanca in? UTC−3 (summer UTC−4)
- What currency is used in Salamanca? Peso (CLP)
- What language is spoken in Salamanca? Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Salamanca? 65 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Salamanca? Settlements lie between 418 m and 1,995 m
- How many reservoirs and tanks are in Salamanca? 1 named in GeoNames
- What is the highest point in Salamanca? Cerro Volcán (4,584 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Salamanca? September to May
- Where is the nearest hospital to Salamanca? Hopital Salamanca, about 33 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to Salamanca? Bancoestado, about 33 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to Salamanca? Copec, about 33 km from the centre
- How many hospitals are in Salamanca? 3 mapped
- How many banks are in Salamanca? 3 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Salamanca? 5 mapped
- What is the P-code of Salamanca? CL04204 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: Commune
- Area: 3,446.5 km²
- P-code: CL04204
- Province: Choapa Province

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