# San Fabián Commune, Punilla Province, Ñuble Region

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

Commune · Punilla Province 

# San Fabián

San Fabián is a commune of Chile in Punilla Province, Ñuble Region. It had an estimated **4,728 people** in 2022 on 1,540 km² (about 3.1 per km²). 38 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 33 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 4,728people (2022)
- 1,540km²
- 33mapped services
- 471 mtypical elevation

## How many people live in San Fabián?

San Fabián had an estimated **4,728 people** in 2022 — 4.1% of Punilla Province, 308th of 345 communes. There are 1,041 women for every 1,000 men (below the Punilla Province figure of 1,054). Spread over 1,540 km², that is about **3.1 people per km²**, 301st of 345 communes.

17.4% of people are children under 15 and 19.9% are 65 or older; the median age is about 41 years (it is 40 across Punilla Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 60 children and older people.

0–4 ****238**

5–9 ****276**

10–14 ****308**

15–19 ****261**

20–24 ****264**

25–29 ****301**

30–34 ****327**

35–39 ****327**

40–44 ****283**

45–49 ****308**

50–54 ****303**

55–59 ****290**

60–64 ****300**

65–69 ****285**

70–74 ****230**

75–79 ****197**

80+ ****230**

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 Fabián?

San Fabián lies in [Punilla Province](https://wherepedia.org/chile/nuble/punilla/), [Ñuble Region](https://wherepedia.org/chile/nuble/), [Chile](https://wherepedia.org/chile/). It borders 5 other communes: [Coihueco](https://wherepedia.org/chile/nuble/punilla/coihueco/), [Colbún](https://wherepedia.org/chile/maule/linares/colbun/), [Parral](https://wherepedia.org/chile/maule/linares/parral/), [San Carlos](https://wherepedia.org/chile/nuble/punilla/san-carlos/) and [Ñiquén](https://wherepedia.org/chile/nuble/punilla/niquen/). By area it is the 91st largest of 345 communes in Chile. It covers 29.3% of [Punilla Province](https://wherepedia.org/chile/nuble/punilla/). The centre of San Fabián is about 359 km in a straight line from Santiago, the capital. It is about 73 km from San Carlos, the main town of Punilla Province. The centre point is at 36.6544° S, 71.1881° 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 Fabián

OpenStreetMap lists 3 named sights in San Fabián: 3 waterfalls.

- Cascada El Lara · waterfall
- Marmitas · waterfall
- cascada el valiente · waterfall

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 Fabián

- 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) · Concepcion168 km
- La Araucanía International Airport (ZCO) · Temuco283 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 14.6 hours, sunrise around 06:20) and shortest in Jun (about 9.7 hours, sunrise around 08:54, sunset around 18:34).

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 Fabián

Open gazetteers list **38 villages, towns and localities** in San Fabián. Settlements here lie between about 389 m and 1,152 m above sea level (median 471 m).

- Bajo de Hielo
- Bullileo
- Carrizales
- Circunvalación
- El Caracol
- El Durazno
- El Macal
- El Macal Alto
- El Maitenal
- El Maitenal Alto
- El Palo
- El Roble
- El Valiente
- La Balsa
- La Escalera
- La Mortandad
- La Máquina
- La Punilla
- La Vega
- Lara
- Las Bandurrias
- Las Guardias
- Los Guardias
- Los Monos
- Los Puquios
- Los Sauces
- Los Toronjiles
- Maitenal
- Parcelacion Maitenal
- Parcelación Valle verde
- Paso Ancho
- Pichinal
- Pichirrincón
- San Fabián de Alico
- Trabuncura
- Villa Alico
- Villa Fabián de la Fuente
- Villa Malalcura

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 Fabián

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

### Water

24 rivers and streams; 2 lakes.

- Cajón González
- Cajón Pincheira
- Estero Belbun
- Estero Bulileo
- Estero Bullilco
- Estero Cipreses
- Estero La Tragedia
- Estero Lara
- Estero Las Piedras
- Estero Las Truchas
- Estero Palos Secos
- Estero Pedernales
- Estero Principal
- Estero Rabones
- Estero Vallejos
- Estero del Faro
- Estero del León
- Estero del Mogote
- Laguna La Plata
- Laguna Las Truchas
- Quebrada Bates
- Quebrada Obscura
- Río Huemules
- Río La Zorra

…and 2 more.

### Hills and mountains

13 mountains; 6 mountain passes.

- Cerro Tagua · 2,586 m
- Cerro Cordón · 2,550 m
- Cerro Maravilla · 2,452 m
- Cerro Colorado · 2,318 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
- Paso Boquete de Alico · 1,961 m
- Cerro Camán · 1,915 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
- Cerro Malalcura · 1,163 m

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 Fabián and the best time to visit

Using the climate of Punilla Province, the warmest month is Jan (average 15 °C) and the coolest is Jul (1 °C), after allowing for this place being about 276 m higher than the climate reference point (about 6.5 °C per 1,000 m). 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 **December to March**.

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

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 15 14 

Feb 15 24 

Mar 12 16 

Apr 8 31 

May 5 55 

Jun 2 80 

Jul 1 72 

Aug 2 62 

Sep 4 34 

Oct 6 37 

Nov 10 27 

Dec 13 16 

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

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from San Fabián

Need Nearest mapped Distance 

Hotel Hotel Alto Nevados · Pinto 34 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-36.90345&mlon=-71.40904#map=17/-36.90345/-71.40904) 

School Escuela El Caracol · San Fabián 18 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-36.64952&mlon=-71.38925#map=17/-36.64952/-71.38925) 

College Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud UTalca · San Fabián 21 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-36.52730&mlon=-71.36719#map=17/-36.52730/-71.36719) 

Police station Carabineros · San Fabián 9.6 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-36.57749&mlon=-71.23629#map=17/-36.57749/-71.23629) 

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 Fabián

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

- Petrol pumps1
- Hotels5
- Schools9
- Colleges and universities1
- Pharmacies1
- Restaurants14
- 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 Punilla Province

- Coihueco
- San Carlos
- San Nicolás
- Ñiquén

## Quick answers

- Where is San Fabián?In Punilla Province, Ñuble Region, Chile
- What is the population of San Fabián?4,728 (2022 estimate)
- What is the median age in San Fabián?About 41 years (2022 estimate)
- What is the population density of San Fabián?About 3.1 people per km²
- What borders San Fabián?Coihueco, Colbún, Parral, San Carlos and Ñiquén
- What is there to see in San Fabián?Cascada El Lara, Marmitas, cascada el valiente
- What time zone is San Fabián in?UTC−3 (summer UTC−4)
- What currency is used in San Fabián?Peso (CLP)
- What language is spoken in San Fabián?Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in San Fabián?38 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of San Fabián?Settlements lie between 389 m and 1,152 m
- What is the highest point in San Fabián?Cerro Tagua (2,586 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit San Fabián?December to March
- How many petrol pumps are in San Fabián?1 mapped
- What is the P-code of San Fabián?CL16304 (OCHA common operational dataset)