# Chaitén Commune, Palena Province, Los Lagos Region

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/chile/los-lagos/palena/chaiten/

Commune · Palena Province 

# Chaitén

Chaitén is a commune of Chile in Palena Province, Los Lagos Region. It had an estimated **5,050 people** in 2022 on 8,252 km² (about 0.6 per km²). 75 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 101 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 5,050people (2022)
- 8,252km²
- 101mapped services
- 23 mtypical elevation

## How many people live in Chaitén?

Chaitén had an estimated **5,050 people** in 2022 — 26.2% of Palena Province, 306th of 345 communes. There are 927 women for every 1,000 men (below the Palena Province figure of 960). Spread over 8,252 km², that is about **0.6 people per km²**, 322nd of 345 communes.

17.3% of people are children under 15 and 13.4% are 65 or older; the median age is about 41 years (it is 40 across Palena Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 44 children and older people.

0–4 ****228**

5–9 ****305**

10–14 ****342**

15–19 ****249**

20–24 ****219**

25–29 ****329**

30–34 ****379**

35–39 ****419**

40–44 ****435**

45–49 ****400**

50–54 ****356**

55–59 ****371**

60–64 ****341**

65–69 ****230**

70–74 ****181**

75–79 ****121**

80+ ****145**

Source: [UNFPA and Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas de Chile (INE) via OCHA HDX, population 2022 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-chl).

## Where is Chaitén?

Chaitén lies in [Palena Province](https://wherepedia.org/chile/los-lagos/palena/), [Los Lagos Region](https://wherepedia.org/chile/los-lagos/), [Chile](https://wherepedia.org/chile/). It borders 4 other communes: [Cisnes](https://wherepedia.org/chile/aysen-del-gral-ibanez-del-campo/aysen/cisnes/), [Futaleufú](https://wherepedia.org/chile/los-lagos/palena/futaleufu/), [Hualaihué](https://wherepedia.org/chile/los-lagos/palena/hualaihue/) and [Palena](https://wherepedia.org/chile/los-lagos/palena/palena/). By area it is the 22nd largest of 345 communes in Chile. It covers 54.9% of [Palena Province](https://wherepedia.org/chile/los-lagos/palena/). The centre of Chaitén is about 1,073 km in a straight line from Santiago, the capital. The centre point is at 42.9926° S, 72.5090° W.

Source: [La Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile (BCN) via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-chl).

## Things to see in and around Chaitén

OpenStreetMap lists 55 named sights in Chaitén: 28 viewpoints; 7 attractions; 6 waterfalls; 5 volcanos; 3 nature reserves; 2 museums; 2 archaeological sites; 2 beachs.

- Museo Testimonial 'La Casa de la Bandera' · museum
- Museo de sitio de Chaitén · museum
- Cuevas con restos óseos · archaeological site
- Cuevas del Vilcún · archaeological site
- Cascada · waterfall
- Cascada Alta · waterfall
- Cascada Baja · waterfall
- Chai Chai · waterfall
- Salto del Puma · waterfall
- Sendero Cascadas Escondidas · waterfall
- Corcovado National Park · nature reserve
- Fundo Reñihué · nature reserve
- Reserva Natural Pillán · nature reserve
- Playa Chulao · beach
- Playa Santa Bárbara · beach
- Domo Volcán Chaitén · viewpoint
- El Chucao · viewpoint
- El Condor · viewpoint
- El Picaflor · viewpoint
- Glacier View Point · viewpoint
- Laguna Blanco · viewpoint
- Mirador Cascada Alta · viewpoint
- Mirador Cascada Baja · viewpoint
- Mirador Chaitén · viewpoint
- Mirador Cuesta Moraga · viewpoint
- Mirador Glaciar · viewpoint
- Mirador La Playa · viewpoint
- Mirador Lago Blanco · viewpoint
- Mirador Lago Negro · viewpoint
- Mirador Lago Yelcho · viewpoint

…and 25 more.

Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: Chaitén

- Time zoneUTC−3 (summer UTC−4) · America/Santiago
- CurrencyPeso (CLP)
- Country calling code+56
- LanguagesSpanish
- Plug typesType C, L · 220 V
- Driving sideRight
- Postcode format7 digits (#######)

### Nearest airports

- Esquel Brigadier Antonio Parodi International Airport (EQS) · Esquel112 km
- El Tepual International Airport (PMC) · Puerto Montt179 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 15.3 hours, sunrise around 06:05) and shortest in Jun (about 9.0 hours, sunrise around 09:19, sunset around 18:20).

Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/).

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 Chaitén

Open gazetteers list **75 villages, towns and localities** in Chaitén. The largest with a recorded population: Chaitén (3,347). Settlements here lie between about 7 m and 542 m above sea level (median 23 m).

- Ayacara
- Ayarara
- Bahía Pumalín
- Buill
- Buill Norte
- Buill Sur
- Caleta Santa Bárbara
- Camahueto
- Caracol
- Casa de Pesca
- Chaitén
- Chaitén Carretera
- Chaitén Sur
- Chaitén Viejo
- Chana
- Chilco
- Chulao
- Chulín
- Chumeldén
- Chumildén
- El Amarillo
- El Avión
- El Manzano
- El Morado
- El Negro
- Estero Lago
- Fresia
- Fundo Pillán
- Gessel
- Huequi
- Huequi Norte
- Huequi Sur
- Isla Ahullini
- Isla Imerquiña
- Isla Llahuén
- Isla Nayahué
- La Poza
- Lago Yelcho
- Laguna Hillmann
- Las Cuevas
- Las Porcelanas
- Leptepú
- Los Turbios
- Los Turbios Sur
- Loyola
- Pillán
- Playa Baja
- Poyo
- Puerto Auchemó
- Puerto Cárdenas
- Pumalín
- Punta Pillán
- Puquetrín
- Quetre
- Recta Michimahuida
- Refugio
- Reldehue
- Remolinos
- Reñihue
- Río Aquellas
- Río Hondo
- Río Negro
- Santa Bárbara
- Santa Teresa
- Santa Victoria
- Talcán
- Talcán Oeste
- Tecol
- Telele
- Tendedor
- Termas del Amarillo
- Vilcún
- Villa Santa Lucía
- Villa Vanguardia
- Yelcho

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

## Landscape and landmarks of Chaitén

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

### Water

71 rivers and streams; 20 lakes.

- Estero Campana
- Estero Campana
- Estero El Blanco
- Estero El Mancay
- Estero El Ventisquero
- Estero Fierro
- Estero Porcelana
- Estero Soledad
- Lago Escondido
- Lago Inferior
- Lago Jimena
- Lago Reñihue
- Lago Río Blanco
- Lago Río Negro
- Lago Trebol
- Lago Yelcho
- Laguna Caucau
- Laguna César
- Laguna Daye
- Laguna Gil de Lemos
- Laguna Huequi
- Laguna Larga
- Laguna Negra
- Laguna Soledad

…and 67 more.

### Coast and islands

45 headlands; 32 islands; 1 beach.

- Isla Ahulliñi
- Isla Becerra
- Isla Carmen
- Isla Chuit
- Isla Chulín
- Isla Colosia
- Isla Escondida
- Isla Falsa
- Isla Glass
- Isla Hernández
- Isla Horadada
- Isla Huepan
- Isla Ica
- Isla Imerquiña
- Isla Johnson
- Isla Karstrom
- Isla Linacre
- Isla Linagua
- Isla Lipipe
- Isla Llahuen
- Isla Llahuén
- Isla Nayahué
- Isla Piragua
- Isla Puduguapí

…and 54 more.

### Hills and mountains

40 mountains; 4 valleys; 3 hills; 1 mountain pass.

- Cerro Pelado · 1,844 m
- Cerro Moraga · 1,806 m
- Cerro Los Picachos · 1,792 m
- Cerro Yeli · 1,595 m
- Cerro Yali · 1,593 m
- Cerro Pirámide · 1,551 m
- Paso Navarro · 1,520 m
- El Serrucho · 1,487 m
- Morro Dirección · 1,413 m
- Cerro Gris · 1,409 m
- Cerro Cuatro Pirámides · 1,408 m
- Cerro Tictoc · 1,400 m
- Morro Hornos · 1,385 m
- Cerro El Cuerno · 1,375 m
- Cerro Nevado · 1,339 m
- Pico Buill · 1,311 m
- Cerro Plomo · 1,306 m
- Cerro Desnudo · 1,298 m
- Cerro Recoba · 1,292 m
- Cerro Negro · 1,164 m
- Morro Comau · 1,151 m
- Cerro Bellavista · 1,143 m
- Cerro Chano · 1,140 m
- Cerro del Medio · 1,080 m

…and 24 more.

### Forests and nature

1 park.

- Pumalin Park

### Getting around

8 airports; 5 lighthouses; 2 airfields.

- Ayacara Airport
- Chaitén Airport
- Chaitén Caleta Gonzalo Airport
- Chaitén Pillan Airport
- Chaitén Pumalín Airport
- Chaitén Renihue Airport
- Faro Caleta Buill
- Faro Isla Chulín
- Faro Paso de Chumildén
- Faro Punta Chulao
- Faro Punta Piedra Blanca
- Isla Talcan Airport
- Lago Ranco Airport
- Litueche Midango Airport
- Tic Toc Airport

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Chaitén and the best time to visit

Using the climate of Palena Province, the warmest month is Feb (average 12 °C) and the coolest is Jul (2 °C). About 1,380 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jun (168 mm) and the driest Feb (74 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 96 

Feb 12 74 

Mar 10 102 

Apr 7 97 

May 5 149 

Jun 3 168 

Jul 2 137 

Aug 3 136 

Sep 4 83 

Oct 6 127 

Nov 8 113 

Dec 10 98 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Chaitén

Need Nearest mapped Distance 

Hospital Hospital de Chaitén Doctor Pedro Jiménez Romero · Chaitén 18 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-42.91880&mlon=-72.71030#map=17/-42.91880/-72.71030) 

Bank Caja Vecina · Chaitén 18 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-42.91858&mlon=-72.70766#map=17/-42.91858/-72.70766) 

Petrol pump COPEC · Chaitén 19 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-42.91755&mlon=-72.71252#map=17/-42.91755/-72.71252) 

Hotel Cabañas y Hospedaje Caviahue · Chaitén 2.3 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-43.01240&mlon=-72.50148#map=17/-43.01240/-72.50148) 

School Escuela Rural Río Amarillo · Chaitén 3.1 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-43.01011&mlon=-72.47992#map=17/-43.01011/-72.47992) 

College Carretera Austral De Chile · Chaitén 19 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-42.91751&mlon=-72.71237#map=17/-42.91751/-72.71237) 

Police station 4 Comisaría Chaitén · Chaitén 18 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-42.91614&mlon=-72.70947#map=17/-42.91614/-72.70947) 

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Straight-line distance from the centre of the division, within 40 km.

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Chaitén

Places mapped inside Chaitén in open map data, by type.

- Hospitals2
- Banks3
- Petrol pumps1
- Hotels38
- Schools25
- Colleges and universities1
- Pharmacies1
- Restaurants28
- Police stations2

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Other communes in Palena Province

- Futaleufú
- Hualaihué
- Palena

## Quick answers

- Where is Chaitén?In Palena Province, Los Lagos Region, Chile
- What is the population of Chaitén?5,050 (2022 estimate)
- What is the median age in Chaitén?About 41 years (2022 estimate)
- What is the population density of Chaitén?About 0.6 people per km²
- What borders Chaitén?Cisnes, Futaleufú, Hualaihué and Palena
- What is there to see in Chaitén?Alerces, Cascada, Cascada Alta, Cascada Baja
- What time zone is Chaitén in?UTC−3 (summer UTC−4)
- What currency is used in Chaitén?Peso (CLP)
- What language is spoken in Chaitén?Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Chaitén?75 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Chaitén?Settlements lie between 7 m and 542 m
- What is the highest point in Chaitén?Cerro Pelado (1,844 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Chaitén?January to February
- Where is the nearest hospital to Chaitén?Hospital de Chaitén Doctor Pedro Jiménez Romero, about 18 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to Chaitén?Caja Vecina, about 18 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to Chaitén?COPEC, about 19 km from the centre
- How many hospitals are in Chaitén?2 mapped
- How many banks are in Chaitén?3 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Chaitén?1 mapped
- What is the P-code of Chaitén?CL10401 (OCHA common operational dataset)