# Punilla Province, Ñuble Region – Population, Communes & Map

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/chile/nuble/punilla/

Province · Ñuble Region 

# Punilla Province

Punilla Province is a province of Chile in Ñuble Region. It had an estimated **114,065 people** in 2022 on 5,249 km² (about 22 per km²). Its main town is San Carlos. It is divided into 5 communes. 495 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 311 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 114,065people (2022)
- 5,249km²
- 5communes
- 311mapped services

## How many people live in Punilla Province?

Punilla Province had an estimated **114,065 people** in 2022 — 22.1% of Ñuble Region, 36th of 56 provinces. There are 1,054 women for every 1,000 men (below the Ñuble Region figure of 1,071). Spread over 5,249 km², that is about **22 people per km²**, 30th of 56 provinces.

18.1% of people are children under 15 and 16.7% are 65 or older; the median age is about 40 years (it is 39 across Ñuble Region). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 53 children and older people.

0–4 ****5,898**

5–9 ****7,039**

10–14 ****7,720**

15–19 ****7,197**

20–24 ****6,768**

25–29 ****7,226**

30–34 ****7,782**

35–39 ****7,001**

40–44 ****7,089**

45–49 ****7,823**

50–54 ****8,273**

55–59 ****8,031**

60–64 ****7,148**

65–69 ****6,130**

70–74 ****4,856**

75–79 ****3,465**

80+ ****4,619**

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 Punilla Province?

Punilla Province lies in [Ñuble Region](https://wherepedia.org/chile/nuble/), [Chile](https://wherepedia.org/chile/). It borders 4 other provinces: [Cauquenes Province](https://wherepedia.org/chile/maule/cauquenes/), [Diguillín Province](https://wherepedia.org/chile/nuble/diguillin/), [Itata Province](https://wherepedia.org/chile/nuble/itata/) and [Linares Province](https://wherepedia.org/chile/maule/linares/). By area it is the 37th largest of 56 provinces in Chile. It covers 40.1% of [Ñuble Region](https://wherepedia.org/chile/nuble/). The centre of Punilla Province is about 352 km in a straight line from Santiago, the capital. It is about 58 km from Chillán, the main town of Ñuble Region. The centre point is at 36.5523° S, 71.4583° 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 Punilla Province

OpenStreetMap lists 20 named sights in Punilla Province: 6 memorials; 6 nature reserves; 4 waterfalls; 3 volcanos; 1 museum.

- Casa Museo Violeta Parra · museum
- Cascada El Lara · waterfall
- Marmitas · waterfall
- Salto Las Minas · waterfall
- cascada el valiente · waterfall
- AVC Huemules de Ñuble · nature reserve
- Bosque Nativo Elnahue · nature reserve
- Jungla Peumayen · nature reserve
- Reserva Nacional Los Huemules del Niblinto · nature reserve
- Santuario de la Naturaleza Los Huemules de Niblinto · nature reserve
- Área Protegida Privada Los Pellines · nature reserve
- Memorial Puente El Ala · memorial
- Memorial Víctimas del MIR · memorial
- Memorial del Puente Niblinto · memorial
- Monolito Boy Scout · memorial
- Monumento a Violeta Parra · memorial
- Nevado de Chillán · volcano
- Santuario de la Virgen del Camino de San Carlos · memorial
- Volcán Baños · volcano
- Volcán Chillán Nuevo · volcano

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: Punilla Province

- 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

- Carriel Sur International Airport (CCP) · Concepcion145 km
- La Araucanía International Airport (ZCO) · Temuco284 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 14.6 hours, sunrise around 06:21) and shortest in Jun (about 9.7 hours, sunrise around 08:55, sunset around 18:36).

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.

## Communes of Punilla Province

Commune People per km² Area km² Localities Services 

[San Carlos](https://wherepedia.org/chile/nuble/punilla/san-carlos/) 56,702 65 876 224 161 

[Coihueco](https://wherepedia.org/chile/nuble/punilla/coihueco/) 28,742 16 1,774 99 56 

[San Nicolás](https://wherepedia.org/chile/nuble/punilla/san-nicolas/) 12,339 22 565 85 36 

[Ñiquén](https://wherepedia.org/chile/nuble/punilla/niquen/) 11,554 23 495 68 25 

[San Fabián](https://wherepedia.org/chile/nuble/punilla/san-fabian/) 4,728 3.1 1,540 38 33 

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); [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).

## Villages and localities in Punilla Province

Open gazetteers list **495 villages, towns and localities** in Punilla Province. The largest with a recorded population: San Carlos (31,517), Coihueco (25,159), El Carmen (12,277) and San Nicolás (2,722). Settlements here lie between about 69 m and 1,152 m above sea level (median 195 m).

- Agua Buena
- Agua Fría
- Aguada de Verquico
- Agustín Abarca
- Aires de Lurín
- Aline
- Alto Chillinhue
- Alto Lilahue
- Arizona
- Arrayán III
- Bajo Chillinhue
- Bajo El Membrillo
- Bajo Los Amigos
- Bajo de Hielo
- Barrio Antuco
- Barrio Centro
- Barrio Estación
- Barrio Los Andes
- Barrio Los Pabellones
- Barrio Parralito
- Barrio Sur
- Barrio las Rosas
- Belén Chico
- Belén Grande
- Bidico
- Boca Toma
- Buli
- Buli Caserio
- Buli Estación
- Buli Estación Sur
- Buli Oriente
- Buli Sur
- Bullileo
- Bureo
- Bureo Alto
- Bureo Bajo
- Bustamante
- Cachapoal
- Cachapoal Alto
- Cachapoal Bajo
- Cajón del Ñuble
- Calabozo
- Camino Cerrillos
- Camino Coleal Norte
- Camino Interior
- Camino Las Alitas
- Camino Público
- Camino Viejo
- Camino a San Agustín
- Camino a San Miguel
- Campo Nuevo
- Cancha El Álamo
- Cancha de Parra
- Canchuique
- Cape
- Carrizal
- Carrizales
- Carrizalillo
- Carán
- Casas Blancas
- Casas Grandes
- Cato
- Cerrillos
- Chacay
- Chacay Bajo
- Chacayal
- Chacayal Chico
- Chacayal de Cato
- Changaral
- Changaral Alto
- Changaral Sur
- Chicalindo
- Chichiguan
- Chipanco
- Chorrillos
- Circunvalación
- Cocharcas
- Coihueco
- Coipín
- Coironal
- Colbindo
- Coleal
- Coleal Central
- Coleal Norte
- Colomávida
- Colvindo
- Colón
- Comillaún
- Copihual
- Corral de Piedras
- Cruce Portezuelo
- Cuadrapangue
- Cuatro Esquinas
- Culenar
- Culenco
- Curica
- Curica Alto
- Curica Bajo
- Dadinco
- Dadinco Dos
- Diucale
- Diucalemu
- Diucalemu Norte
- Diño
- Doña Javiera
- Efraín Barquero
- El Ala
- El Alico
- El Almendro
- El Arroyo
- El Barón
- El Boldo
- El Cajón de La Maravilla
- El Calabozo
- El Caracol
- El Carmen
- El Carmen de Cato
- El Chingue
- El Crucero
- El Descanso
- El Durazno
- El Embalse
- El Espinal
- El Huingán
- El Káiser
- El Macal
- El Macal Alto
- El Maitenal
- El Maitenal Alto
- El Maitén
- El Manzanal
- El Manzano
- El Manzano Norte
- El Modelo
- El Molino
- El Nevado de Zemita
- El Nogal
- El Olvido
- El Pajonal
- El Palacio
- El Palo
- El Pantanal
- El Parque
- El Parrón
- El Peral
- El Peumo
- El Peñón
- El Porvenir
- El Prado
- El Rincón Grande
- El Roble
- El Rosario
- El Sauce
- El Torreón
- El Tranque
- El Trapiche
- El Treile
- El Vacante
- El Valiente
- El Vergel
- Estación Cocharcas
- Estación Pinto
- Flor de Ñiquén
- Flores
- Frutillares
- Frutillares Sur
- Fundo Chacayal Oriente
- Gaona
- General Lagos
- Guaihue Grande
- Guampangue
- Huampuli
- Huenutil Arriba
- Huenutil de la Cabrería
- Huerto Bonito
- Isla Los Baeza
- Itihue
- Itihue Oriente
- Junquillar
- La Balsa
- La Bonita
- La Capilla
- La Coronta
- La Dehesa
- La Escalera
- La Escoba
- La Esperanza
- La Flecha
- La Flor
- La Flor San Antonio
- La Gloria Abajo
- La Gloria Arriba
- La Gloria Sur
- La Granja
- La Higuera
- La Junta
- La Loma
- La Maravilla
- La Merced
- La Mortandad
- La Máquina
- La Palma
- La Parte
- La Piedra
- La Primavera
- La Punilla
- La Puntilla
- La Quinta
- La Vega
- La Viñita
- Lajuela
- Lajuelas
- Lajuelas Orilla
- Lajuelas Sur Poniente
- Lara
- Las Arboledas
- Las Bandurrias
- Las Bisas
- Las Dumas
- Las Garzas
- Las Guardias
- Las Juntas
- Las Lumas
- Las Margaritas
- Las Matas
- Las Mercedes
- Las Minas del Prado
- Las Miras
- Las Parcelas de San Ramón
- Las Pataguas
- Las Pircas
- Las Rosas
- Las Veguillas
- Llahuimávida
- Llequén
- Llequén Norte
- Lo Mellado
- Lomas de Puyaral
- Lonquén
- Lonquén Sur
- Los Acacios
- Los Alamos
- Los Aromos
- Los Chijetes
- Los Cipreses
- Los Filos
- Los Galpones
- Los Guardias
- Los Guindos
- Los Héroes
- Los Indios
- Los Lirios
- Los Maitenes
- Los Monos
- Los Montes
- Los Naranjos
- Los Olivos
- Los Palacios
- Los Perales
- Los Poetas
- Los Presidentes
- Los Puquios
- Los Sauces
- Los Tilos
- Los Toronjiles
- Los Troncos
- Lucumávida Norte
- Lucumávida Sur
- Macías
- Maitenal
- Melcahue
- Menelhue
- Millauquén
- Millauquén Oriente
- Minas del Prado
- Miraflores
- Mogote
- Molina
- Molino Quillahua
- Monte Atravesado
- Monte Blanco
- Monte León
- Monte León Alto
- Monte León Sur
- Monte Negro
- Montebello
- Montecillo
- Monteverde
- Muticura
- Muticura Oriente
- Mutupín
- Nahueltoro
- Navotavo
- Niblinto
- Nueva Esperanza
- Nuevo Amanecer
- Nuevo Atardecer
- Nuevo Milenio
- Otinhue Bajo
- Palma
- Paque Norte
- Paque Sur
- Parcelacion Maitenal
- Parcelación Valle verde
- Paredones
- Parque Alameda
- Parque Bilbao
- Paseo Alejo
- Paso Ancho
- Paso Soto
- Peumo
- Peña Santa Rosa
- Pichinal
- Pichirrincón
- Pichoco
- Piedra Lisa
- Piedra Redonda
- Piedras de Ñiquén
- Pillancheo
- Pilmaiquén
- Pintú
- Placilla
- Placilla Sur
- Población 11 de Septiembre
- Población Araucanía
- Población Bosques de Algarrobal
- Población Changaral
- Población Las Camelias
- Población Martín
- Pomuyeto
- Portal del Sur
- Praderas del Itata
- Pueblo Seco
- Puente El Ala
- Puente Ñuble
- Puesta del Sol
- Pullami
- Puyamávida
- Puyaral
- Quideñez
- Quigua
- Quilas Bajas
- Quilelto
- Quilelto Norte
- Quilelto Sur
- Quillagua Abajo
- Quillagua Arriba
- Quillahue
- Quillahue Sur
- Quillanco
- Quillinco
- Quilmén
- Quimpeumo Trapiche
- Quinquegua
- Quinquehua
- Quinquehua Norte
- Quinquehua Sur
- Ranquililahue
- Relbunco
- Renchillas
- Ribera El Alto
- Ribera de Ñuble
- Rincón
- Rincón del Peumo
- Roble Viejo
- Roblería
- Rosario
- San Agustín
- San Antonio
- San Antonio de Cato
- San Camilo
- San Carlos
- San Enrique
- San Fabián de Alico
- San Fernando
- San Francisco
- San Gregorio
- San Guillermo
- San Ignacio
- San Isidro
- San Javier de Verquico
- San Jorge
- San José
- San José de Zemita
- San Luis de Arizona
- San Luis de Pomuyeto
- San Miguel
- San Miguel de Ablemo
- San Miguel de Bulí
- San Nicanor
- San Nicolás
- San Pedro
- San Pedro Lilahue
- San Pedro de Lilahue
- San Ramón de Cato
- San Roque
- San Vicente
- San Vicente Norte
- Santa Amelia
- Santa Amelia Sur

…and 95 more.

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 Punilla Province

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

### Water

69 rivers and streams; 3 lakes; 2 reservoirs and tanks.

- Cajón González
- Cajón Pincheira
- Coihueco Dam
- Embalse Coihueco
- Estero Belbun
- Estero Bulileo
- Estero Bullilco
- Estero Bulí
- Estero Bureo
- Estero Carbonero
- Estero Changaral
- Estero Cipreses
- Estero Coihueco
- Estero Colliguay
- Estero Culenar
- Estero Cután
- Estero El Quebrado
- Estero El Salto
- Estero Gaona
- Estero Gaona
- Estero Huemules
- Estero La Merced
- Estero La Tragedia
- Estero Labranza

…and 50 more.

### Hills and mountains

26 mountains; 8 mountain passes; 4 hills.

- Portezuelo Los Baños · 2,858 m
- Cerro Tagua · 2,586 m
- Cerro Cordón · 2,550 m
- Cerro Maravilla · 2,452 m
- Cerro San Lorenzo · 2,359 m
- Cerro Colorado · 2,318 m
- Cerro Las Miras · 2,205 m
- Paso Mallín · 2,042 m
- Portezuelo Vaca Lafquén · 2,035 m
- Cerro San Fabián · 2,027 m
- Cerro El Cobre · 2,015 m
- Paso de Cajón Negro · 2,003 m
- Paso de Pajaritos · 1,983 m
- Cerro Arrayán · 1,975 m
- Paso Boquete de Alico · 1,961 m
- Cerro Camán · 1,915 m
- Cerro Tres Morros · 1,861 m
- Cerro Peladilla · 1,841 m
- Paso de Mariposas · 1,785 m
- Cerro Castro · 1,751 m
- Cerro de Lara · 1,691 m
- Avanzada Caman · 1,648 m
- Cerro Valiente · 1,512 m
- Cerro Reinado · 1,429 m

…and 14 more.

### Getting around

2 railway stations; 1 airfield.

- Cocharcas
- Ninquihue
- San Carlos Santa Marta 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 Punilla Province and the best time to visit

In Punilla Province, the warmest month is Jan (average 17 °C) and the coolest is Jul (3 °C). About 467 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jun (80 mm) and the driest Jan (14 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **November to April**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 17 14 

Feb 17 24 

Mar 14 16 

Apr 10 31 

May 7 55 

Jun 4 80 

Jul 3 72 

Aug 4 62 

Sep 6 34 

Oct 8 37 

Nov 12 27 

Dec 15 16 

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

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Punilla Province

Places mapped inside Punilla Province in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.

- Hospitals9
- Banks9
- ATMs1
- Petrol pumps17
- Hotels15
- Shopping malls4
- Schools117
- Colleges and universities3
- Pharmacies11
- Restaurants97
- Police stations14
- Dental clinics14

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.

## Quick answers

- Where is Punilla Province?In Ñuble Region, Chile
- What is the population of Punilla Province?114,065 (2022 estimate)
- What is the median age in Punilla Province?About 40 years (2022 estimate)
- What is the population density of Punilla Province?About 22 people per km²
- What borders Punilla Province?Cauquenes Province, Diguillín Province, Itata Province and Linares Province
- What is there to see in Punilla Province?AVC Huemules de Ñuble, Bosque Nativo Elnahue, Casa Museo Violeta Parra, Cascada El Lara
- What time zone is Punilla Province in?UTC−3 (summer UTC−4)
- What currency is used in Punilla Province?Peso (CLP)
- What language is spoken in Punilla Province?Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Punilla Province?495 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Punilla Province?Settlements lie between 69 m and 1,152 m
- How many reservoirs and tanks are in Punilla Province?2 named in GeoNames
- What is the highest point in Punilla Province?Portezuelo Los Baños (2,858 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Punilla Province?November to April
- How many hospitals are in Punilla Province?9 mapped
- How many banks are in Punilla Province?9 mapped
- How many ATMs are in Punilla Province?1 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Punilla Province?17 mapped
- What is the P-code of Punilla Province?CL163 (OCHA common operational dataset)