# San Carlos Commune, Punilla Province, Ñuble Region

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/chile/nuble/punilla/san-carlos/

Commune · Punilla Province 

# San Carlos

San Carlos is a commune of Chile in Punilla Province, Ñuble Region. It had an estimated **56,702 people** in 2022 on 876 km² (about 65 per km²). 224 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 161 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 56,702people (2022)
- 876km²
- 161mapped services
- 172 mtypical elevation

## How many people live in San Carlos?

San Carlos had an estimated **56,702 people** in 2022 — 49.7% of Punilla Province, 86th of 345 communes. There are 1,070 women for every 1,000 men (above the Punilla Province figure of 1,054). Spread over 876 km², that is about **65 people per km²**, 114th of 345 communes.

18.0% of people are children under 15 and 16.9% are 65 or older; the median age is about 40 years (it is 40 across Punilla Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 54 children and older people.

0–4 ****2,933**

5–9 ****3,452**

10–14 ****3,819**

15–19 ****3,573**

20–24 ****3,416**

25–29 ****3,708**

30–34 ****3,899**

35–39 ****3,388**

40–44 ****3,438**

45–49 ****3,852**

50–54 ****4,123**

55–59 ****4,028**

60–64 ****3,479**

65–69 ****3,061**

70–74 ****2,423**

75–79 ****1,727**

80+ ****2,383**

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 San Carlos?

San Carlos lies in [Punilla Province](https://wherepedia.org/chile/nuble/punilla/), [Ñuble Region](https://wherepedia.org/chile/nuble/), [Chile](https://wherepedia.org/chile/). It borders 7 other communes: [Cauquenes](https://wherepedia.org/chile/maule/cauquenes/cauquenes/), [Chillán](https://wherepedia.org/chile/nuble/diguillin/chillan/), [Coihueco](https://wherepedia.org/chile/nuble/punilla/coihueco/), [Ninhue](https://wherepedia.org/chile/nuble/itata/ninhue/), [San Fabián](https://wherepedia.org/chile/nuble/punilla/san-fabian/), [San Nicolás](https://wherepedia.org/chile/nuble/punilla/san-nicolas/) and [Ñiquén](https://wherepedia.org/chile/nuble/punilla/niquen/). By area it is the 147th largest of 345 communes in Chile. It covers 16.7% of [Punilla Province](https://wherepedia.org/chile/nuble/punilla/). The centre of San Carlos is about 348 km in a straight line from Santiago, the capital. The centre point is at 36.3796° S, 72.0178° 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 San Carlos

OpenStreetMap lists 4 named sights in San Carlos: 3 memorials; 1 museum.

- Casa Museo Violeta Parra · museum
- Monolito Boy Scout · memorial
- Monumento a Violeta Parra · memorial
- Santuario de la Virgen del Camino de San Carlos · memorial

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: San Carlos

- 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) · Concepcion103 km
- La Araucanía International Airport (ZCO) · Temuco289 km

### Nearest railway station

San Carlos (San Carlos), about 6.9 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 14.6 hours, sunrise around 06:24) and shortest in Jun (about 9.7 hours, sunrise around 08:57, sunset around 18:38).

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 San Carlos

Open gazetteers list **224 villages, towns and localities** in San Carlos. The largest with a recorded population: San Carlos (31,517) and El Carmen (12,277). Settlements here lie between about 115 m and 325 m above sea level (median 172 m).

- Agua Buena
- Aguada de Verquico
- Agustín Abarca
- Aires de Lurín
- Arizona
- Arrayán III
- Barrio Antuco
- Barrio Centro
- Barrio Estación
- Barrio Los Andes
- Barrio Los Pabellones
- Barrio Parralito
- Barrio Sur
- Barrio las Rosas
- Boca Toma
- Buli
- Buli Estación
- Buli Estación Sur
- Buli Oriente
- Buli Sur
- Cachapoal
- Cachapoal Alto
- Cachapoal Bajo
- Camino Interior
- Camino Las Alitas
- Camino Público
- Camino Viejo
- Camino a San Agustín
- Cape
- Carrizal
- Carán
- Casas Blancas
- Casas Grandes
- Cerrillos
- Changaral
- Chicalindo
- Chipanco
- Chorrillos
- Colomávida
- Colón
- Cuadrapangue
- Culenco
- Diucale
- Diucalemu
- Diucalemu Norte
- Doña Javiera
- Efraín Barquero
- El Arroyo
- El Barón
- El Calabozo
- El Carmen
- El Crucero
- El Manzanal
- El Molino
- El Pajonal
- El Pantanal
- El Peñón
- El Porvenir
- El Rosario
- El Sauce
- El Torreón
- El Tranque
- El Trapiche
- El Treile
- El Vacante
- El Vergel
- Estación Cocharcas
- Gaona
- Isla Los Baeza
- Itihue
- Itihue Oriente
- Junquillar
- La Capilla
- La Flor
- La Granja
- La Merced
- La Parte
- La Piedra
- La Primavera
- La Puntilla
- La Quinta
- Las Arboledas
- Las Bisas
- Las Dumas
- Las Garzas
- Las Juntas
- Las Margaritas
- Las Matas
- Las Mercedes
- Las Pircas
- Llahuimávida
- Los Acacios
- Los Alamos
- Los Cipreses
- Los Galpones
- Los Guindos
- Los Lirios
- Los Naranjos
- Los Palacios
- Los Perales
- Los Poetas
- Los Presidentes
- Los Troncos
- Macías
- Melcahue
- Menelhue
- Millauquén
- Millauquén Oriente
- Molina
- Molino Quillahua
- Monte Blanco
- Monte Negro
- Montecillo
- Monteverde
- Muticura
- Muticura Oriente
- Mutupín
- Navotavo
- Nueva Esperanza
- Nuevo Atardecer
- Parque Alameda
- Parque Bilbao
- Pichoco
- Piedra Redonda
- Placilla
- Placilla Sur
- Población 11 de Septiembre
- Población Araucanía
- Población Bosques de Algarrobal
- Pomuyeto
- Portal del Sur
- Puesta del Sol
- Puyamávida
- Quigua
- Quilelto
- Quilelto Norte
- Quilelto Sur
- Quillagua Abajo
- Quillagua Arriba
- Quillahue
- Quilmén
- Quimpeumo Trapiche
- Quinquegua
- Quinquehua
- Quinquehua Norte
- Quinquehua Sur
- Renchillas
- Ribera El Alto
- Ribera de Ñuble
- San Agustín
- San Antonio
- San Camilo
- San Carlos
- San Enrique
- San Fernando
- San Francisco
- San Guillermo
- San Ignacio
- San Javier de Verquico
- San Jorge
- San José
- San Luis de Arizona
- San Luis de Pomuyeto
- San Miguel
- San Miguel de Ablemo
- San Nicanor
- San Pedro de Lilahue
- Santa Amelia
- Santa Amelia Sur
- Santa Ana
- Santa Anita
- Santa Dolores
- Santa Filomena
- Santa Isabel
- Santa Isidora
- Santa Juana
- Santa María
- Santa María de Itihue
- Santa Rosa
- Sauce Norte
- Termas de Monteblanco
- Termas de Monteblanco II
- Toquihua Bajo
- Toquihua Norte
- Torrecilla
- Tres Esquinas
- Tres Esquinas Sur
- Trilico
- Ultraestación
- Unión de Ninquihue
- Valle Hondo
- Verquico
- Vidihue
- Villa 27 de Abril
- Villa Alessandri
- Villa Baena
- Villa Baldomero Silva
- Villa Carlos Avila
- Villa El Roble
- Villa Elva
- Villa España
- Villa Gabriela Mistral
- Villa General Parra
- Villa Glorias del Ejército
- Villa Illinois
- Villa Juan Pablo II
- Villa Las Américas
- Villa Los Aromos
- Villa Los Lagos
- Villa Los Libertadores
- Villa Nueva Vida
- Villa Olímpica
- Villa Pacífico
- Villa Paraiso
- Villa Prat
- Villa San Carlos
- Villa Teniente Merino
- Villa el Bosque
- Villa los Jardines
- Vilquico
- Virgen del Camino
- Virquico
- Visión Mundial
- Ñinquihue

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 San Carlos

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

### Water

5 rivers and streams.

- Estero Bulí
- Estero Gaona
- Estero Millauquén
- Estero Rosario
- Estero San Javier

### Hills and mountains

3 mountains; 1 hill.

- Cerro Lincura · 412 m
- Cerro Curiniche · 364 m
- Cerro Lleque · 347 m
- Cerro San Carlos · 189 m

### 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 San Carlos and the best time to visit

Using the climate of 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/).

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from San Carlos

Need Nearest mapped Distance 

Hospital CESFAM Dr. Jose Duran Trujillo · San Carlos 6.1 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-36.41849&mlon=-71.96944#map=17/-36.41849/-71.96944) 

Bank Santander · San Carlos 7.4 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-36.42552&mlon=-71.95873#map=17/-36.42552/-71.95873) 

ATM Banco Estado · San Nicolás 22 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-36.50293&mlon=-72.21340#map=17/-36.50293/-72.21340) 

Petrol pump COPEC · San Carlos 7.5 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-36.42885&mlon=-71.96017#map=17/-36.42885/-71.96017) 

Hotel Cabañas Costa Blue · San Carlos 3.4 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-36.38538&mlon=-71.98105#map=17/-36.38538/-71.98105) 

Mall Comercial Los Palacios · San Carlos 7.1 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-36.42370&mlon=-71.95980#map=17/-36.42370/-71.95980) 

School Escuela Quinquehua · San Carlos 1.7 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-36.37970&mlon=-71.99849#map=17/-36.37970/-71.99849) 

College Liceo Nuestra Señora de la Merced · San Carlos 7.0 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-36.42404&mlon=-71.96310#map=17/-36.42404/-71.96310) 

Police station 1ª Comisaría San Carlos · San Carlos 6.9 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-36.42368&mlon=-71.96284#map=17/-36.42368/-71.96284) 

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 San Carlos

Places mapped inside San Carlos in open map data, by type.

- Hospitals5
- Banks7
- Petrol pumps10
- Hotels8
- Shopping malls4
- Schools44
- Colleges and universities1
- Pharmacies9
- Restaurants56
- Police stations4
- Dental clinics13

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 Punilla Province

- Coihueco
- San Fabián
- San Nicolás
- Ñiquén

## Quick answers

- Where is San Carlos?In Punilla Province, Ñuble Region, Chile
- What is the population of San Carlos?56,702 (2022 estimate)
- What is the median age in San Carlos?About 40 years (2022 estimate)
- What is the population density of San Carlos?About 65 people per km²
- What borders San Carlos?Cauquenes, Chillán, Coihueco, Ninhue, San Fabián, San Nicolás and Ñiquén
- What is there to see in San Carlos?Casa Museo Violeta Parra, Monolito Boy Scout, Monumento a Violeta Parra, Santuario de la Virgen del Camino de San Carlos
- What time zone is San Carlos in?UTC−3 (summer UTC−4)
- What currency is used in San Carlos?Peso (CLP)
- What language is spoken in San Carlos?Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in San Carlos?224 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of San Carlos?Settlements lie between 115 m and 325 m
- What is the highest point in San Carlos?Cerro Lincura (412 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit San Carlos?November to April
- Where is the nearest hospital to San Carlos?CESFAM Dr. Jose Duran Trujillo, about 6.1 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to San Carlos?Santander, about 7.4 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest ATM to San Carlos?Banco Estado, about 22 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to San Carlos?COPEC, about 7.5 km from the centre
- How many hospitals are in San Carlos?5 mapped
- How many banks are in San Carlos?7 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in San Carlos?10 mapped
- What is the P-code of San Carlos?CL16301 (OCHA common operational dataset)