Commune · Limarí Province
# Punitaqui

Punitaqui is a commune of Chile in Limarí Province, Coquimbo Region. It had an estimated 12,358 people in 2022 on 1,092 km² (about 11 per km²). 83 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 37 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 12,358 people (2022)
- 1,092 km²
- 37 mapped services
- 463 m typical elevation

## How many people live in Punitaqui?

Punitaqui had an estimated 12,358 people in 2022 — 6.6% of Limarí Province, 231st of 345 communes. There are 1,026 women for every 1,000 men (below the Limarí Province figure of 1,037). Spread over 1,092 km², that is about 11 people per km², 248th of 345 communes.

20.6% of people are children under 15 and 17.3% are 65 or older; the median age is about 38 years (it is 37 across Limarí Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 61 children and older people.
- 0–4 701
- 5–9 905
- 10–14 939
- 15–19 713
- 20–24 634
- 25–29 802
- 30–34 921
- 35–39 822
- 40–44 795
- 45–49 789
- 50–54 743
- 55–59 751
- 60–64 706
- 65–69 699
- 70–74 513
- 75–79 393
- 80+ 532

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

## Where is Punitaqui?

Punitaqui lies in Limarí Province, Coquimbo Region, Chile. It borders 4 other communes: Canela, Combarbalá, Monte Patria and Ovalle. By area it is the 130th largest of 345 communes in Chile. It covers 8.2% of Limarí Province. The centre of Punitaqui is about 288 km in a straight line from Santiago, the capital. It is about 42 km from Ovalle, the main town of Limarí Province. The centre point is at 30.9430° S, 71.3764° 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 Punitaqui

OpenStreetMap lists 1 named sights in Punitaqui: 1 viewpoint.
- Mirador Punitaqui · viewpoint

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: Punitaqui
- 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 115 km
- Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) · Santiago 278 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 14.1 hours, sunrise around 06:36) and shortest in Jun (about 10.2 hours, sunrise around 08:40, sunset around 18:50).

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 Punitaqui

Open gazetteers list 83 villages, towns and localities in Punitaqui. The largest with a recorded population: Punitaqui (10,418). Settlements here lie between about 135 m and 865 m above sea level (median 463 m).
- Agua Los Palquis
- Agua de la Piedra
- Agua del Ajial
- Almendro de Quiles
- Altar Alto
- Altar Bajo
- Altos de Pechén
- Cabecera del Estero
- Camarico Chico
- Camarico Viejo
- Camarones
- Cancha La Higuera
- Colihue
- Delirio
- Divisadero
- Durazno de Quiles
- El Agua del Cerro Blanco
- El Ajial
- El Ajial de Quiles
- El Divisadero
- El Higueral
- El Hinojo
- El Llanito
- El Peral de Punitaqui
- El Pidén
- El Pitihue
- El Pozo
- El Romero
- El Toro
- El Toro Norte
- El Toro Sur
- Escorsa
- Graneros
- Granjitas
- Granjitas Norte
- Granjitas Sur
- Jara o Laja
- La Escoba
- La Guanaca
- La Higuera
- La Higuera Norte
- La Higuera Sur
- La Higuera de Quiles
- La Hoyada
- La Lucha
- La Ollada
- La Placilla
- La Polvareda
- La Quebrada El Durazno
- La Rinconada
- Las Cruces
- Las Lluvias
- Las Pircas
- Las Ramadas
- Las Rosas
- Las Terneras
- Las Tres Quebradas
- Las Tunas
- Los Arrayanes
- Los Corrales
- Los Maitenes
- Los Naranjos
- Los Pantanos
- Los Peumos
- Los Robles
- Los Supilocos
- Los Tomé
- Majada Blanca
- Mantos de Punitaqui
- Maqui de Quiles
- Morro Alegre
- Parral de Quiles
- Peralito
- Portezuelos Blancos
- Pueblo Nuevo
- Punitaqui
- Quebrada de Ñipas
- Quile
- Quilitapia
- Rincón de la Higuera
- San Pedro de Quiles
- Tierra Amarilla
- Viña Vieja

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

## Landscape and landmarks of Punitaqui

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

### Water

8 rivers and streams.
- Estero Almendro
- Estero de Quiles
- Quebrada El Almendro
- Quebrada La Higuera
- Quebrada La Higuera
- Quebrada Peral
- Quebrada Punitaqui
- Quebrada Viña Vieja

### Hills and mountains

18 mountains; 2 hills; 1 mountain pass.
- Cerro Horquetudo · 1,502 m
- Cerro El Peñasco · 1,324 m
- Cerro El Almendro · 1,249 m
- Cerro Punta Alta · 1,188 m
- Cerro Blanco · 1,160 m
- Cerro Punitaqui · 1,108 m
- Cerro Ranjel · 1,006 m
- Cerro Litipampa · 968 m
- Cerro El Buitre · 924 m
- Cerro El Durazno · 914 m
- Cerro Farellón · 906 m
- Cerro de Piedra · 890 m
- Cerro Horqueta · 797 m
- Cerro Punta del Litre · 792 m
- Loma El Sauce · 775 m
- Portezuelo Las Hijuelas · 769 m
- Cerro Las Pegas · 678 m
- Cerro Bandurria · 669 m
- Cerros Infiernillo · 658 m
- Cerro Negro · 430 m
- Cerro La Bandera · 305 m

### Getting around

1 airfield.
- Mantos de Punitaqui

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 Punitaqui and the best time to visit

Using the climate of Limarí Province, the warmest month is Jan (average 22 °C) and the coolest is Jul (13 °C), after allowing for this place being about 206 m lower than the climate reference point (about 6.5 °C per 1,000 m). About 136 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jun (34 mm) and the driest Jan (2 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 | 22 | 2 |
| Feb | 22 | 2 |
| Mar | 21 | 2 |
| Apr | 19 | 5 |
| May | 16 | 25 |
| Jun | 14 | 34 |
| Jul | 13 | 27 |
| Aug | 14 | 22 |
| Sep | 15 | 6 |
| Oct | 17 | 6 |
| Nov | 19 | 3 |
| Dec | 21 | 2 |

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

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Punitaqui
| Need | Nearest mapped | Distance | |
| Bank | State Bank · Punitaqui | 17 km | Map |
| Petrol pump | Shell · Punitaqui | 17 km | Map |
| Hotel | Cabañas Doña Carmen · Ovalle | 25 km | Map |
| School | Escuela El Ajial de Quile · Punitaqui | 4.0 km | Map |
| Police station | Tenencia Punitaqui · Punitaqui | 17 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 Punitaqui

Places mapped inside Punitaqui in open map data, by type.
- Banks 1
- Petrol pumps 1
- Schools 30
- Restaurants 4
- Police stations 1

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 Limarí Province
- Combarbalá
- Monte Patria
- Ovalle
- Río Hurtado

## Quick answers
- Where is Punitaqui? In Limarí Province, Coquimbo Region, Chile
- What is the population of Punitaqui? 12,358 (2022 estimate)
- What is the median age in Punitaqui? About 38 years (2022 estimate)
- What is the population density of Punitaqui? About 11 people per km²
- What borders Punitaqui? Canela, Combarbalá, Monte Patria and Ovalle
- What is there to see in Punitaqui? Mirador Punitaqui
- What time zone is Punitaqui in? UTC−3 (summer UTC−4)
- What currency is used in Punitaqui? Peso (CLP)
- What language is spoken in Punitaqui? Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Punitaqui? 83 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Punitaqui? Settlements lie between 135 m and 865 m
- What is the highest point in Punitaqui? Cerro Horquetudo (1,502 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Punitaqui? January to December
- Where is the nearest bank to Punitaqui? State Bank, about 17 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to Punitaqui? Shell, about 17 km from the centre
- How many banks are in Punitaqui? 1 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Punitaqui? 1 mapped
- What is the P-code of Punitaqui? CL04304 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: Commune
- Area: 1,092.2 km²
- P-code: CL04304
- Province: Limarí Province

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