Commune · Punilla Province
# San Nicolás

San Nicolás is a commune of Chile in Punilla Province, Ñuble Region. It had an estimated 12,339 people in 2022 on 565 km² (about 22 per km²). 85 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 36 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 12,339 people (2022)
- 565 km²
- 36 mapped services
- 112 m typical elevation

## How many people live in San Nicolás?

San Nicolás had an estimated 12,339 people in 2022 — 10.8% of Punilla Province, 232nd of 345 communes. There are 1,047 women for every 1,000 men (close to the Punilla Province figure of 1,054). Spread over 565 km², that is about 22 people per km², 202nd of 345 communes.

17.1% of people are children under 15 and 17.4% are 65 or older; the median age is about 42 years (it is 40 across Punilla Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 53 children and older people.
- 0–4 579
- 5–9 735
- 10–14 800
- 15–19 757
- 20–24 666
- 25–29 710
- 30–34 803
- 35–39 758
- 40–44 805
- 45–49 894
- 50–54 949
- 55–59 895
- 60–64 842
- 65–69 732
- 70–74 575
- 75–79 382
- 80+ 457

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

## Where is San Nicolás?

San Nicolás lies in Punilla Province, Ñuble Region, Chile. It borders 4 other communes: Chillán, Ninhue, Portezuelo and San Carlos. By area it is the 193rd largest of 345 communes in Chile. It covers 10.8% of Punilla Province. The centre of San Nicolás is about 366 km in a straight line from Santiago, the capital. It is about 24 km from San Carlos, the main town of Punilla Province. The centre point is at 36.4862° S, 72.2095° 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 San Nicolás

OpenStreetMap lists 1 named sights in San Nicolás: 1 memorial.
- Memorial Puente El Ala · memorial

### Nearby, outside San Nicolás
- Parque Lantaño · nature reserve, Chillán 13 km
- Rotary Club Chillán · memorial, Chillán 15 km
- Memorial a los detenidos desaparecidos y ejecutados políticos de Ñuble · memorial, Chillán 15 km
- Memorial de la Población Ferretera · memorial, Chillán 15 km
- Cato Edge · attraction, Chillán 15 km
- Casa Taller Azul · museum, Chillán 16 km
- Parque de la Meditación · memorial, Chillán 16 km
- Museo Internacional de la Gráfica · museum, Chillán 16 km
- Arturo Prat · memorial, Chillán 16 km
- Sargento Aldea · memorial, Chillán 16 km
- Museo Claudio Arrau León · museum, Chillán 16 km
- Humedal Urbano Maipú de O'Higgins · nature reserve, Chillán Viejo 16 km

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: San Nicolás
- 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
- Carriel Sur International Airport (CCP) · Concepcion 83 km
- La Araucanía International Airport (ZCO) · Temuco 274 km

### Nearest railway station

Cocharcas (San Carlos), about 13 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 14.6 hours, sunrise around 06:25) and shortest in Jun (about 9.7 hours, sunrise around 08:58, sunset around 18:39).

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 San Nicolás

Open gazetteers list 85 villages, towns and localities in San Nicolás. The largest with a recorded population: San Nicolás (2,722). Settlements here lie between about 69 m and 141 m above sea level (median 112 m).
- Alto Lilahue
- Bajo El Membrillo
- Bidico
- Changaral Alto
- Changaral Sur
- Cocharcas
- Coipín
- Cruce Portezuelo
- Curica
- Curica Alto
- Curica Bajo
- Dadinco
- Dadinco Dos
- El Ala
- El Almendro
- El Cajón de La Maravilla
- El Descanso
- El Manzano
- El Manzano Norte
- El Parrón
- El Sauce
- Guaihue Grande
- Guampangue
- Huampuli
- Huerto Bonito
- La Loma
- La Maravilla
- La Palma
- Lajuela
- Lajuelas
- Lajuelas Orilla
- Lajuelas Sur Poniente
- Llequén
- Llequén Norte
- Lomas de Puyaral
- Lonquén
- Lonquén Sur
- Los Aromos
- Los Montes
- Los Sauces
- Los Tilos
- Lucumávida Norte
- Lucumávida Sur
- Monte Atravesado
- Monte León
- Monte León Alto
- Monte León Sur
- Nuevo Amanecer
- Nuevo Milenio
- Peumo
- Peña Santa Rosa
- Piedra Lisa
- Pintú
- Población Changaral
- Población Las Camelias
- Población Martín
- Praderas del Itata
- Pueblo Seco
- Puente El Ala
- Puente Ñuble
- Puyaral
- Quilelto
- Quillahue
- Quillahue Sur
- Quillanco
- Quillinco
- Rincón
- Rincón del Peumo
- Roble Viejo
- San Fernando
- San Nicolás
- San Pedro Lilahue
- Santa Ana
- Santa Ismenia
- Santa Juana
- Santa Julia
- Santa Laura
- Sector Mac Miller
- Totoral
- Tres Esquinas
- Vidico
- Villa Alegre
- Villa Blanca Alamos
- Villa Los Corales
- Villa Los Álamos

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

## Landscape and landmarks of San Nicolás

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

### Water

13 rivers and streams.
- Estero Carbonero
- Estero Changaral
- Estero Cután
- Estero La Merced
- Estero Lolco
- Estero Menelhue
- Estero Pataguas
- Estero Quinquehua
- Estero San Carlos
- Estero Torreón
- Estero Verguico
- Estero Ñinquihue
- Río Changaral

### Hills and mountains

1 mountain; 1 hill.
- Cerro Coipín · 444 m
- Cerro La Gloria · 161 m

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 San Nicolás 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.

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from San Nicolás
| Need | Nearest mapped | Distance | |
| Hospital | Centro Médico MedSalud Chillán · Chillán | 15 km | Map |
| Bank | Complejo Banco Estado · Chillán | 15 km | Map |
| ATM | Banco Estado · San Nicolás | 1.9 km | Map |
| Petrol pump | Surenergy · San Nicolás | 1.9 km | Map |
| Hotel | Hostal y Cabañas La Piscina · San Nicolás | 13 km | Map |
| Mall | Mall Portal Chillán · Chillán | 15 km | Map |
| School | Escuela Sergio Martín Álamos · San Nicolás | 1.8 km | Map |
| College | Instituto Albert Einstein · Chillán | 12 km | Map |
| Police station | Reten San Nicolas · San Nicolás | 1.9 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 San Nicolás

Places mapped inside San Nicolás in open map data, by type.
- ATMs 1
- Petrol pumps 1
- Hotels 1
- Schools 18
- Restaurants 11
- Police stations 3
- Dental clinics 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 Punilla Province
- Coihueco
- San Carlos
- San Fabián
- Ñiquén

## Quick answers
- Where is San Nicolás? In Punilla Province, Ñuble Region, Chile
- What is the population of San Nicolás? 12,339 (2022 estimate)
- What is the median age in San Nicolás? About 42 years (2022 estimate)
- What is the population density of San Nicolás? About 22 people per km²
- What borders San Nicolás? Chillán, Ninhue, Portezuelo and San Carlos
- What is there to see in San Nicolás? Memorial Puente El Ala
- What time zone is San Nicolás in? UTC−3 (summer UTC−4)
- What currency is used in San Nicolás? Peso (CLP)
- What language is spoken in San Nicolás? Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in San Nicolás? 85 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of San Nicolás? Settlements lie between 69 m and 141 m
- What is the highest point in San Nicolás? Cerro Coipín (444 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit San Nicolás? November to April
- Where is the nearest hospital to San Nicolás? Centro Médico MedSalud Chillán, about 15 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to San Nicolás? Complejo Banco Estado, about 15 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest ATM to San Nicolás? Banco Estado, about 1.9 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to San Nicolás? Surenergy, about 1.9 km from the centre
- How many ATMs are in San Nicolás? 1 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in San Nicolás? 1 mapped
- What is the P-code of San Nicolás? CL16305 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: Commune
- Area: 564.7 km²
- P-code: CL16305
- Province: Punilla Province

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