Commune · Elqui Province
# Paihuano

Paihuano is a commune of Chile in Elqui Province, Coquimbo Region. It had an estimated 4,698 people in 2022 on 1,516 km² (about 3.1 per km²). 41 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 110 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 4,698 people (2022)
- 1,516 km²
- 110 mapped services
- 1,640 m typical elevation

## How many people live in Paihuano?

Paihuano had an estimated 4,698 people in 2022 — 0.8% of Elqui Province, 309th of 345 communes. There are 1,028 women for every 1,000 men (below the Elqui Province figure of 1,048). Spread over 1,516 km², that is about 3.1 people per km², 300th of 345 communes.

17.4% of people are children under 15 and 17.2% are 65 or older; the median age is about 41 years (it is 35 across Elqui Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 53 children and older people.
- 0–4 229
- 5–9 296
- 10–14 294
- 15–19 236
- 20–24 245
- 25–29 336
- 30–34 347
- 35–39 287
- 40–44 311
- 45–49 344
- 50–54 344
- 55–59 350
- 60–64 270
- 65–69 244
- 70–74 197
- 75–79 145
- 80+ 223

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

## Where is Paihuano?

Paihuano lies in Elqui Province, Coquimbo Region, Chile. It borders 2 other communes: Río Hurtado and Vicuña. By area it is the 94th largest of 345 communes in Chile. It covers 8.9% of Elqui Province. The centre of Paihuano is about 360 km in a straight line from Santiago, the capital. It is about 90 km from La Serena, the main town of Elqui Province. The centre point is at 30.2281° S, 70.3868° 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 Paihuano

OpenStreetMap lists 18 named sights in Paihuano: 4 attractions; 4 viewpoints; 3 nature reserves; 2 monuments; 2 archaeological sites; 1 museum; 1 memorial; 1 waterfall.
- Museum School Gabriela Mistral · museum
- Petroglifo · archaeological site
- Piedra Del Guanaco · archaeological site
- Cascada Luz de Luna · waterfall
- Monumento Natural Tres Cruces · nature reserve
- Santuario de la Naturaleza Estero Derecho · nature reserve
- Santuario de la Naturaleza Río Cochiguaz · nature reserve
- Cerro La Bandera · viewpoint
- Lookout for watching the stars · viewpoint
- Mirador de Las Estrellas · viewpoint
- Mirador del Quebrada · viewpoint
- Cabalgatas Coral La Quesera · attraction
- Fundo los Nichos · attraction
- Letras ‚Valle de Elqui‘ · attraction
- Pueblo Artesanal Horcon · attraction
- Cerro el llano · monument
- Gabriela Mistral · monument
- Mausoleo Gabriela Mistral · 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: Paihuano
- 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 86 km
- Domingo Faustino Sarmiento Airport (UAQ) · San Juan 240 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 14.1 hours, sunrise around 06:34) and shortest in Jun (about 10.2 hours, sunrise around 08:35, sunset around 18:47).

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 Paihuano

Open gazetteers list 41 villages, towns and localities in Paihuano. The largest with a recorded population: Paiguano (4,256). Settlements here lie between about 966 m and 3,671 m above sea level (median 1,640 m).
- Alcohuaz
- Carrizal Alto
- Chanchoquí
- Chañar Blanco
- Cochiguaz
- Corral Muñoz
- Cruce Cochiguaz
- El Albaricoque
- El Aparejito
- El Bosque
- El Colorado
- El Llano
- El Maqui
- El Pabellón
- El Retiro Norte
- El Rodeo
- El Sanjeado
- El Zanjeado
- Horcón
- La Alfalfa
- La Bajada
- La Conchina
- La Jarilla
- La Ortiga
- La Unión
- Ladera Chica
- Ladera Grande
- Los Nichos
- Monte Grande
- Montegabriela
- Paiguano
- Paihuano
- Pisco Elqui
- Piuquenes
- Pueblo Hundido
- Puente Negro
- Quebrada de Paihuano
- Quebrada de Pinto
- Rinconada
- Tres Cruces
- Victoria

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

## Landscape and landmarks of Paihuano

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

### Water

16 rivers and streams.
- Estero El Cepo
- Quebrada Carrizal
- Quebrada Chañar
- Quebrada Cogua
- Quebrada Colorada
- Quebrada Larga
- Quebrada Larga
- Quebrada Monte Grande
- Quebrada Muñoz
- Quebrada Paiguano
- Quebrada Pinto
- Quebrada Seca
- Quebrada Unión
- Quebrada Viga
- Quebrada Yáñez
- Río Cochiguas

### Hills and mountains

10 mountains; 3 mountain passes; 1 peak.
- Portezuelo Ingaguas · 4,595 m
- Cerro Desfiladero · 4,522 m
- Cerro Potrillo · 4,335 m
- Cerro Embarrada · 4,307 m
- Cerro Quebradita · 4,245 m
- Cerro Escuerzo · 4,179 m
- Portezuelo del Cepo · 4,119 m
- Cerro Coipa · 3,924 m
- Cerro del Medio · 3,873 m
- El Chañar · 3,620 m
- Cerro Monte Grande · 3,496 m
- Portezuelo Chañar · 3,367 m
- Cerro Paiguano · 2,999 m
- Cerro El Molle · 2,621 m

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 Paihuano and the best time to visit

Using the climate of Elqui Province, the warmest month is Jan (average 11 °C) and the coolest is Jul (-0 °C), after allowing for this place being about 1,139 m higher 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 January to February.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
| Month | Average °C | Rain mm |
| Jan | 11 | 2 |
| Feb | 10 | 3 |
| Mar | 9 | 2 |
| Apr | 6 | 2 |
| May | 3 | 16 |
| Jun | 0 | 21 |
| Jul | -0 | 19 |
| Aug | 1 | 12 |
| Sep | 3 | 3 |
| Oct | 5 | 3 |
| Nov | 8 | 2 |
| Dec | 10 | 2 |

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

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Paihuano
| Need | Nearest mapped | Distance | |
| Hospital | Hospital De Paihuano · Paihuano | 26 km | Map |
| ATM | Banco de Chile · Paihuano | 15 km | Map |
| Petrol pump | Petrobras · Vicuña | 32 km | Map |
| Hotel | IllaYlla · Paihuano | 9.8 km | Map |
| School | Kilómetro 20 Cochiguaz · Paihuano | 9.7 km | Map |
| College | Liceo Mistraliano Paihuano · Paihuano | 26 km | Map |
| Police station | Retén Pisco Elqui · Paihuano | 16 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 Paihuano

Places mapped inside Paihuano in open map data, by type.
- Hospitals 2
- ATMs 1
- Hotels 43
- Schools 13
- Colleges and universities 1
- Restaurants 48
- Police stations 2

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
- La Serena
- Vicuña

## Quick answers
- Where is Paihuano? In Elqui Province, Coquimbo Region, Chile
- What is the population of Paihuano? 4,698 (2022 estimate)
- What is the median age in Paihuano? About 41 years (2022 estimate)
- What is the population density of Paihuano? About 3.1 people per km²
- What borders Paihuano? Río Hurtado and Vicuña
- What is there to see in Paihuano? Cabalgatas Coral La Quesera, Cascada Luz de Luna, Cerro La Bandera, Cerro el llano
- What time zone is Paihuano in? UTC−3 (summer UTC−4)
- What currency is used in Paihuano? Peso (CLP)
- What language is spoken in Paihuano? Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Paihuano? 41 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Paihuano? Settlements lie between 966 m and 3,671 m
- What is the highest point in Paihuano? Portezuelo Ingaguas (4,595 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Paihuano? January to February
- Where is the nearest hospital to Paihuano? Hospital De Paihuano, about 26 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest ATM to Paihuano? Banco de Chile, about 15 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to Paihuano? Petrobras, about 32 km from the centre
- How many hospitals are in Paihuano? 2 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Paihuano? 1 mapped
- What is the P-code of Paihuano? CL04105 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: Commune
- Area: 1,515.5 km²
- P-code: CL04105
- Province: Elqui Province

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