Commune · Elqui Province
# La Serena

La Serena is a commune of Chile in Elqui Province, Coquimbo Region. It had an estimated 258,850 people in 2022 on 1,903 km² (about 136 per km²). 273 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 1,231 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 258,850 people (2022)
- 1,903 km²
- 1,231 mapped services
- 258 m typical elevation

## How many people live in La Serena?

La Serena had an estimated 258,850 people in 2022 — 44.9% of Elqui Province, 17th of 345 communes. There are 1,051 women for every 1,000 men (close to the Elqui Province figure of 1,048). Spread over 1,903 km², that is about 136 people per km², 80th of 345 communes.

19.5% of people are children under 15 and 12.7% are 65 or older; the median age is about 35 years (it is 35 across Elqui Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 48 children and older people.
- 0–4 14,655
- 5–9 17,578
- 10–14 18,360
- 15–19 17,953
- 20–24 20,403
- 25–29 20,314
- 30–34 20,490
- 35–39 18,219
- 40–44 17,550
- 45–49 16,824
- 50–54 15,707
- 55–59 15,006
- 60–64 12,927
- 65–69 11,021
- 70–74 8,173
- 75–79 5,755
- 80+ 7,915

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

## Where is La Serena?

La Serena lies in Elqui Province, Coquimbo Region, Chile. It borders 4 other communes: Andacollo, Coquimbo, La Higuera and Vicuña. By area it is the 76th largest of 345 communes in Chile. It covers 11.1% of Elqui Province. The centre of La Serena is about 405 km in a straight line from Santiago, the capital. The centre point is at 29.8370° S, 71.0940° 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 Serena

OpenStreetMap lists 59 named sights in La Serena: 27 memorials; 10 museums; 6 viewpoints; 3 attractions; 3 monuments; 3 ruins; 2 theme parks; 1 zoo; 1 city gate; 1 castle or fort; 1 archaeological site; 1 nature reserve.
- Casa de Gabriela Mistral Las Palmeras · museum
- Museo Arqueológico · museum
- Museo Histórico "Rector Juan Francisco Muñoz Barrera" · museum
- Museo Mineralógico · museum
- Museo OVNI · museum
- Museo Pedagógico · museum
- Museo Quinta Compañía de Bomberos · museum
- Museo Sala de Arte Religioso · museum
- Museo de Historia Regional · museum
- Museo de Mineralogía Ingeniero Pablo Reyes Núñez · museum
- Sitio Paleoindio de Asentamiento y Necrópolis El Olivar · archaeological site
- Fuerte Serena · castle or fort
- Elqui River Urban Wetland · nature reserve
- Carrillón · viewpoint
- Explanada · viewpoint
- Mirador Arica · viewpoint
- Mundo Nuevo · viewpoint
- Tenboudai · viewpoint
- Vegas del Elqui · viewpoint
- Autódromo Huachalalume · attraction
- Bandera del Bicentenario · attraction
- Jardín Japonés de La Serena · attraction
- 50 Años de Servicio · memorial
- Big Bang Park · theme park
- Camino de Serena a Vicuña · memorial
- Carlos Mondaca · memorial
- Casa Piñera · ruins
- Casa Solar Chadwick · ruins
- Conmemoración 50 Años Disputa de La Laguna del Desierto · memorial
- Cuerpo de Bomberos de La Serena · memorial

…and 29 more.

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 Serena
- 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 13 km
- Desierto de Atacama Airport (CPO) · Copiapo 288 km

### Nearest railway station

La Serena (La Serena), about 17 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 14.0 hours, sunrise around 06:38) and shortest in Jun (about 10.2 hours, sunrise around 08:37, 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 Serena

Open gazetteers list 273 villages, towns and localities in La Serena. The largest with a recorded population: La Serena (154,521). Settlements here lie between about 7 m and 1,855 m above sea level (median 258 m).
- Agua Grande
- Alfalfares
- Alfalfares Oriente
- Algarrobito
- Almirante Latorre
- Alto Oriente I
- Alto Oriente II
- Altos de Teatinos
- Altos del Llano
- Altovalsol
- Barrio Andrés Bello
- Barrio Cuarto Centenario
- Barrio Don Guillermo
- Barrio Golf Oriente
- Barrio Las Torcazas
- Barrio Las Torcazas III
- Barrio Los Profesores
- Barrio Padres Capuchinos
- Barrio Universitario
- Bellavista
- Brillador Viejo
- Brisas de La Florida
- Brisas del Elqui
- Cajón del Romero Alto
- Cajón del Romero Bajo
- Caleta San Pedro
- Casa Verde
- Ceres
- Chacay Alto
- Chacay Bajo
- Ciudad de Los Llanos I
- Ciudad de Los Llanos II
- Ciudad de Los Llanos III
- Ciudad de Los Llanos IV
- Colina El Pino
- Colinas del Romero Sur
- Colonia Alfalfares
- Compañía Alta
- Compañía Baja
- Comunidad Santa Elvira
- Condominio Alto La Serena
- Condominio Altos del Brillador
- Condominio Barrio Universitario III
- Condominio Barrio Universitario IV
- Condominio Cerro Grande
- Condominio Cumbres de San Joaquín
- Condominio Don Damiano
- Condominio El Mirador del Cerro Grande
- Condominio Los Arrayanes
- Condominio Los Tamarindos
- Condominio Mirador de la Hacienda
- Condominio Mirador del Valle
- Condominio Mistral
- Condominio Parque de los Reyes
- Condominio Portal del Valle
- Condominio Santa Margarita
- Condominio Valle del Elqui
- Condominio Vista Bella
- Condoriaco
- Coquimbito
- Cutún Alto
- Cárcel de Huachalalume
- Dieguito
- Don Cristóbal
- El Arrayán
- El Arrayán Costero
- El Brillador
- El Hinojal
- El Manzano
- El Milagro
- El Olivar
- El Olivar I
- El Olivar II
- El Pozo
- El Recreo
- El Romeral
- El Romeral Alto
- El Romero
- El Rosario
- El Rosario Oriente
- El Rosario Poniente
- El Tofo
- El Tomillo
- El Trapiche
- Estela
- Faldeos de La Florida I
- Faldeos de La Florida II
- Faldeos de La Florida III
- Faldeos del Cerro Grande
- Fundo El Recreo y El Bosque
- Fundo Loreto
- Gabriel Coll
- Gabriela Mistral
- Gualcuna
- Hacienda Altos de Teatinos
- Hacienda Daire
- Hacienda del Mar
- Hibiscus de Cisternas
- Higueritas
- Hijuela Providencia
- Hijuelas Los Rosales
- Huachalalume
- Irene Frei
- Islón
- Jardines de Pinamar
- Jardines del Valle
- Jerusalén
- Jorge Guzmán
- Juan Soldado
- Juan XXIII
- La Antena
- La Arboleda
- La Cachina
- La Compañía
- La Estrella
- La Florida
- La Hacienda de San Joaquín
- La Higuera
- La Hortencia
- La Matanza
- La Pampa
- La Serena
- La Serena Golf
- La Varilla
- Lambert
- Las Compañías
- Las Higueras
- Las Loicas
- Las Majaditas
- Las Norias
- Las Perdices
- Las Puntillas del Siciliano
- Las Rojas
- Las Terrazas del Brillador
- Llano de los Pequenes
- Lomas de Bellavista
- Lomas de Peñuelas
- Lomas del Arrayán
- Lomas del Elqui
- Los Artesanos
- Los Caliches
- Los Corrales
- Los Maitenes
- Los Porotitos
- Los Prados de San Joaquín
- Los Rulos
- Los Torreones
- Loteo El Arrayán
- Loteo Hacienda El Pino
- Loteo La Reserva
- Loteo Mar Edén
- Loteo Mirador Bahía El Arrayán
- Loteo San Pedro del Mar
- Lunger Park I
- Lunger Park II
- Maki Payi
- Mermasol
- Mirador de Ceres
- Mirador de Quilacán
- Molinos Viejos
- Monardez
- Monárdez
- Mundo Nuevo
- Nueva Esperanza
- Nuevo Porvenir
- Nuevo Renacer
- Pan de Azúcar
- Parque Islón
- Pedro Aguirre Cerda
- Pelícana
- Placilla
- Población 17 de Septiembre
- Población Antártica
- Población Balmaceda
- Población Circunvalación
- Población El Brillador
- Población El Romeral I
- Población El Romeral II
- Población Ferroviaria Romeo Pizarro Amaro
- Población Francisco de Aguirre
- Población José María Caro
- Población La Serena
- Población Lautaro
- Población Minas
- Población Nuestra Señora de Andacollo
- Población Quinta
- Población Víctor Domingo Silva
- Población Óscar Praguer
- Portal de Pinamar
- Puerta del Mar
- Puerta del Sol
- Punta Golf
- Punta Teatinos
- Punta de Piedra
- Quebrada de Talca
- Quilacán
- Quilacán Bajo
- Renacer Oriente
- Reserva El Arrayán
- Reserva Saturno
- Rocas del Arrayán
- Romeral
- Romerales
- San Antonio
- San Francisco de Asís
- San Joaquín
- San José de Bellavista
- San Roque
- San Valentín
- Santa Elisa
- Santa Gracia
- Santa Lucia
- Santa Magdalena
- Santa Mónica
- Sector El Río
- Sendero del Mar
- Senderos del Milagro
- Serena Oriente
- Talca
- Teatinos
- Trigo Blanco
- Umbrales Norte Verde
- Valle Lambert
- Valle de los Ángeles
- Valle del Cerro Grande
- Valle del Sol
- Villa Alemania
- Villa Aurora
- Villa Bicentenario
- Villa Bolivia
- Villa Covital
- Villa Diaguitas
- Villa El Cacique
- Villa El Esfuerzo
- Villa El Inca
- Villa El Indio
- Villa El Jardín
- Villa El Olivar
- Villa El Parque
- Villa El Romero
- Villa El Toqui
- Villa El Valle
- Villa Isidoro Campaña
- Villa Jordán
- Villa Juan Soldado
- Villa La Playa
- Villa Lambert
- Villa Las Acacias
- Villa Las Araucarias
- Villa Las Lomas
- Villa Los Castaños
- Villa Los Ciruelos
- Villa Los Copihues
- Villa Los Eucaliptus
- Villa Los Laureles
- Villa Los Llanos
- Villa Los Maitenes I
- Villa Los Maitenes II
- Villa Los Nogales
- Villa Los Robles
- Villa Pablo Neruda
- Villa Portal del Elqui
- Villa Portal del Sol
- Villa Punta de Teatinos
- Villa San Bartolomé
- Villa San Luis
- Villa Santa Ana
- Villa Santo Domingo
- Villa Sergio May Colvin
- Villa Toscana
- Villa Uruguay
- Villa Venezuela
- Villa Vista Hermosa

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

## Landscape and landmarks of La Serena

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

### Water

31 rivers and streams.
- Quebrada Brittador
- Quebrada Cachiyuyo
- Quebrada Carrizalito
- Quebrada Chunga de Chaca
- Quebrada Condoriaco
- Quebrada El Durazno
- Quebrada Fundición
- Quebrada Gallo
- Quebrada Grande
- Quebrada Jardín
- Quebrada La Laja
- Quebrada Las Barrancas
- Quebrada Los Llanos
- Quebrada Matamoros
- Quebrada Mulayaco
- Quebrada Pablo
- Quebrada Perales
- Quebrada Potrerillos
- Quebrada Quinteros
- Quebrada Rincón
- Quebrada Salapo
- Quebrada Salapor
- Quebrada San Antonio
- Quebrada Sauce

…and 7 more.

### Coast and islands

1 headland.
- Punta Teatinos

### Hills and mountains

35 mountains; 6 hills; 1 mountain pass; 1 valley.
- Cerro Chincolco · 2,152 m
- Cerro La Laja · 1,942 m
- Cerro Loma Quemada · 1,800 m
- Cerro Colorado · 1,739 m
- Cerro Paipa · 1,684 m
- Cerro Salapor · 1,652 m
- Cerro La Teja · 1,556 m
- Cerro Agua Grande · 1,513 m
- Cerro Grande · 1,483 m
- Cerro Arqueros · 1,420 m
- Cerro Blanco de Peralillo · 1,405 m
- Cerro Churque · 1,392 m
- Cerro El Chaguar · 1,316 m
- Cerro Rodeíto · 1,272 m
- Cerro Cachiyuyo · 1,269 m
- Cerro Piedras Blancas · 1,216 m
- Cerro Blanco · 1,213 m
- Cerro Los Buitres · 1,206 m
- Cordón de Talca · 1,179 m
- Loma Gruesa · 1,157 m
- Portezuelo Cerro Negro · 1,115 m
- Cerro Boldo · 1,062 m
- Cerro Potrillo · 1,032 m
- Cerro Brillador · 1,018 m

…and 19 more.

### Getting around

2 railway stations; 1 airport.
- Altovalsol
- Gualcuna
- La Florida 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 Serena and the best time to visit

Using the climate of Elqui Province, the warmest month is Jan (average 20 °C) and the coolest is Jul (9 °C), after allowing for this place being about 243 m lower than the climate reference point (about 6.5 °C per 1,000 m). 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 August to May.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
| Month | Average °C | Rain mm |
| Jan | 20 | 2 |
| Feb | 19 | 3 |
| Mar | 18 | 2 |
| Apr | 15 | 2 |
| May | 12 | 16 |
| Jun | 9 | 21 |
| Jul | 9 | 19 |
| Aug | 10 | 12 |
| Sep | 12 | 3 |
| Oct | 14 | 3 |
| Nov | 17 | 2 |
| Dec | 19 | 2 |

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

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from La Serena
| Need | Nearest mapped | Distance | |
| Hospital | Consultorio Juan Pablo Ll Las Compañias · La Serena | 14 km | Map |
| Bank | State Bank · La Serena | 15 km | Map |
| ATM | Banco Estado · La Serena | 16 km | Map |
| Petrol pump | Shell · La Serena | 13 km | Map |
| Hotel | Rancho Salvatierra · La Serena | 11 km | Map |
| Mall | SAP 0963 Unimarc La Florida · La Serena | 14 km | Map |
| School | Colegio Lambert · La Serena | 2.5 km | Map |
| College | Periodismo Uls · La Serena | 16 km | Map |
| Police station | 6° Comisaría Las Compañías · La Serena | 15 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 Serena

Places mapped inside La Serena in open map data, by type.
- Hospitals 62
- Banks 46
- ATMs 9
- Petrol pumps 37
- Hotels 131
- Shopping malls 35
- Schools 233
- Colleges and universities 36
- Cinemas 5
- Pharmacies 78
- Restaurants 458
- Police stations 14
- Dental clinics 87

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 Higuera
- Paihuano
- Vicuña

## Quick answers
- Where is La Serena? In Elqui Province, Coquimbo Region, Chile
- What is the population of La Serena? 258,850 (2022 estimate)
- What is the median age in La Serena? About 35 years (2022 estimate)
- What is the population density of La Serena? About 136 people per km²
- What borders La Serena? Andacollo, Coquimbo, La Higuera and Vicuña
- What is there to see in La Serena? 50 Años de Servicio, Autódromo Huachalalume, Bandera del Bicentenario, Big Bang Park
- What time zone is La Serena in? UTC−3 (summer UTC−4)
- What currency is used in La Serena? Peso (CLP)
- What language is spoken in La Serena? Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in La Serena? 273 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of La Serena? Settlements lie between 7 m and 1,855 m
- What is the highest point in La Serena? Cerro Chincolco (2,152 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit La Serena? August to May
- Where is the nearest hospital to La Serena? Consultorio Juan Pablo Ll Las Compañias, about 14 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to La Serena? State Bank, about 15 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest ATM to La Serena? Banco Estado, about 16 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to La Serena? Shell, about 13 km from the centre
- How many hospitals are in La Serena? 62 mapped
- How many banks are in La Serena? 46 mapped
- How many ATMs are in La Serena? 9 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in La Serena? 37 mapped
- What is the P-code of La Serena? CL04101 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: Commune
- Area: 1,903.0 km²
- P-code: CL04101
- Province: Elqui Province
- Main town: La Serena

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