Commune · Elqui Province
# La Higuera

La Higuera is a commune of Chile in Elqui Province, Coquimbo Region. It had an estimated 4,499 people in 2022 on 4,160 km² (about 1.1 per km²). 63 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 50 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 4,499 people (2022)
- 4,160 km²
- 50 mapped services
- 588 m typical elevation

## How many people live in La Higuera?

La Higuera had an estimated 4,499 people in 2022 — 0.8% of Elqui Province, 310th of 345 communes. There are 984 women for every 1,000 men (below the Elqui Province figure of 1,048). Spread over 4,160 km², that is about 1.1 people per km², 311th of 345 communes.

21.3% of people are children under 15 and 16.0% are 65 or older; the median age is about 39 years (it is 35 across Elqui Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 59 children and older people.
- 0–4 283
- 5–9 344
- 10–14 330
- 15–19 249
- 20–24 248
- 25–29 259
- 30–34 280
- 35–39 297
- 40–44 294
- 45–49 299
- 50–54 301
- 55–59 321
- 60–64 276
- 65–69 256
- 70–74 195
- 75–79 122
- 80+ 145

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

## Where is La Higuera?

La Higuera lies in Elqui Province, Coquimbo Region, Chile. It borders 5 other communes: Alto del Carmen, Freirina, La Serena, Vallenar and Vicuña. By area it is the 41st largest of 345 communes in Chile. It covers 24.3% of Elqui Province. The centre of La Higuera is about 454 km in a straight line from Santiago, the capital. It is about 66 km from La Serena, the main town of Elqui Province. The centre point is at 29.3778° S, 70.9304° 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 La Higuera

OpenStreetMap lists 9 named sights in La Higuera: 4 nature reserves; 3 viewpoints; 1 attraction; 1 beach.
- Bien Nacional Protegido Isla Gaviota · nature reserve
- Santuario de la Naturaleza Cruz Grande · nature reserve
- Santuario de la Naturaleza Humedal La Boca · nature reserve
- Área de Conservación de Múltiples Usos Archipiélago de Humboldt · nature reserve
- Playa Caleta Hornos · beach
- Desembocadura · viewpoint
- Mirador de Fauna Nativa · viewpoint
- Playa La Ventana · viewpoint
- Los Choros Community Beach · 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: La Higuera
- 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 65 km
- Desierto de Atacama Airport (CPO) · Copiapo 236 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 14.0 hours, sunrise around 06:38) and shortest in Jun (about 10.3 hours, sunrise around 08:35, 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.

## Villages and localities in La Higuera

Open gazetteers list 63 villages, towns and localities in La Higuera. The largest with a recorded population: La Higuera (4,285). Settlements here lie between about 20 m and 2,310 m above sea level (median 588 m).
- Agua Grande
- Agua Los Burros
- Barraquito
- Caleta Hornos
- Caleta Los Corrales
- Caleta San Agustín
- Chañar
- Chingoles
- Choros
- Choros Altos
- Choros Bajos
- Chungungo
- Cinchado
- Comunidad La Higuera
- El Cobre
- El Dadín
- El Duraznito
- El Llano
- El Maray
- El Molle
- El Moray
- El Olivo
- El Rincón
- El Salto
- El Tofo
- El Totoral
- El Trapiche
- Gualcuna
- Guanaco
- Junta de Chincoles
- Junta de Chingoles
- La Higuera
- La Laguna
- La Matanza
- La Olla
- La Puntilla
- La Puntillas
- La Totorita
- La Tórtora
- Las Breas
- Llano Choros
- Los Choros
- Los Corrales
- Los Hornos
- Los Lobitos
- Los Morros
- Los Pajaritos
- Los Palos
- Olivares del Pacífico
- Palo Blanco
- Pedernales
- Piritas
- Playa Ventanas
- Punta Colorada
- Punta de Choros
- Quebrada Honda
- Quebrada Seca
- Tabaco Alto
- Totoral
- Totoralillo
- Totoralillo Norte
- Tres Cruces
- Yerbas Buenas

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

## Landscape and landmarks of La Higuera

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

### Water

28 rivers and streams; 1 waterfall.
- Chañarcito
- Quebrada Agua Grande
- Quebrada Agua Salada
- Quebrada Breas
- Quebrada Chañar
- Quebrada Chingoles
- Quebrada Choros Altos
- Quebrada Cortadera
- Quebrada Dadín
- Quebrada Divisadero
- Quebrada Gualcuna
- Quebrada La Cal
- Quebrada La Junta
- Quebrada Pajonal
- Quebrada Pantanos
- Quebrada Pedernales
- Quebrada Pelícano
- Quebrada Puquios
- Quebrada Rajos
- Quebrada Seca
- Quebrada Toro
- Quebrada Totorita
- Quebrada Tres Quebradas
- Quebrada de la Mula

…and 5 more.

### Coast and islands

5 islands; 3 headlands; 1 beach.
- Cabo Choros
- Isla Choros
- Isla Chungungo
- Isla Damas
- Isla Gaviota
- Isla Tilgo
- Playa Choros
- Punta Barrancones
- Punta Chungungo

### Hills and mountains

57 mountains; 6 mountain passes; 3 hills.
- Cerro Totongo · 3,929 m
- Cerro Chacritas · 3,623 m
- Cerro Gualcagualca Malcana · 3,503 m
- Cerro Bucalemu · 3,395 m
- Cerro Quemado · 3,380 m
- Cerro Magdalena · 3,290 m
- Cerro Puquios Blancos · 2,907 m
- Cerro Punta Alta · 2,874 m
- Cerro Guanaco · 2,869 m
- Punta Alta · 2,855 m
- Cerro León Muerto · 2,769 m
- Cerro Las Cañadas · 2,722 m
- Cerro Panules · 2,658 m
- Cerro Machetillo · 2,638 m
- Cerro Cóndor · 2,618 m
- Cerro El Trebolar · 2,578 m
- Cerro La Buitrera · 2,558 m
- Cerro Junquillo · 2,525 m
- Cerro Molle · 2,487 m
- Cerro Baleadero · 2,435 m
- Cerro Durán · 2,415 m
- Cerro Pintados · 2,309 m
- Cerro Vizcachas · 2,265 m
- Cerro Carrizo · 2,136 m

…and 42 more.

### Getting around

1 airport; 1 airfield; 1 railway station.
- El Tofo
- Estación Chañar
- Pelicano Airport

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 La Higuera and the best time to visit

Using the climate of Elqui Province, the warmest month is Jan (average 18 °C) and the coolest is Jul (7 °C). About 84 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jun (21 mm) and the driest Apr (2 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 | 2 |
| Feb | 17 | 3 |
| Mar | 16 | 2 |
| Apr | 14 | 2 |
| May | 10 | 16 |
| Jun | 8 | 21 |
| Jul | 7 | 19 |
| Aug | 9 | 12 |
| Sep | 10 | 3 |
| Oct | 13 | 3 |
| Nov | 15 | 2 |
| Dec | 17 | 2 |

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

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from La Higuera
| Need | Nearest mapped | Distance | |
| Hotel | Posada La Frontera 3ra Región · Vallenar | 27 km | Map |
| School | Escuela de Punta Colorada · La Higuera | 8.7 km | Map |
| Police station | Tenencia Carretera Elqui · La Higuera | 24 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 La Higuera

Places mapped inside La Higuera in open map data, by type.
- Hotels 7
- Schools 13
- Restaurants 27
- Police stations 3

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 Elqui Province
- Andacollo
- Coquimbo
- La Serena
- Paihuano
- Vicuña

## Quick answers
- Where is La Higuera? In Elqui Province, Coquimbo Region, Chile
- What is the population of La Higuera? 4,499 (2022 estimate)
- What is the median age in La Higuera? About 39 years (2022 estimate)
- What is the population density of La Higuera? About 1.1 people per km²
- What borders La Higuera? Alto del Carmen, Freirina, La Serena, Vallenar and Vicuña
- What is there to see in La Higuera? Bien Nacional Protegido Isla Gaviota, Desembocadura, Los Choros Community Beach, Mirador de Fauna Nativa
- What time zone is La Higuera in? UTC−3 (summer UTC−4)
- What currency is used in La Higuera? Peso (CLP)
- What language is spoken in La Higuera? Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in La Higuera? 63 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of La Higuera? Settlements lie between 20 m and 2,310 m
- What is the highest point in La Higuera? Cerro Totongo (3,929 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit La Higuera? September to May
- What is the P-code of La Higuera? CL04104 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: Commune
- Area: 4,160.1 km²
- P-code: CL04104
- Province: Elqui Province

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