# Colchane Commune, Tamarugal Province, Tarapacá Region

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/chile/tarapaca/tamarugal/colchane/

Commune · Tamarugal Province 

# Colchane

Colchane is a commune of Chile in Tamarugal Province, Tarapacá Region. It had an estimated **1,579 people** in 2022 on 3,967 km² (about 0.4 per km²). 104 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 13 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 1,579people (2022)
- 3,967km²
- 13mapped services
- 3,932 mtypical elevation

## How many people live in Colchane?

Colchane had an estimated **1,579 people** in 2022 — 5.2% of Tamarugal Province, 331st of 345 communes. There are 914 women for every 1,000 men (below the Tamarugal Province figure of 933). Spread over 3,967 km², that is about **0.4 people per km²**, 329th of 345 communes.

16.6% of people are children under 15 and 18.9% are 65 or older; the median age is about 40 years (it is 33 across Tamarugal Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 55 children and older people.

0–4 ****80**

5–9 ****78**

10–14 ****104**

15–19 ****104**

20–24 ****96**

25–29 ****113**

30–34 ****112**

35–39 ****111**

40–44 ****105**

45–49 ****104**

50–54 ****98**

55–59 ****84**

60–64 ****91**

65–69 ****110**

70–74 ****77**

75–79 ****56**

80+ ****56**

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 Colchane?

Colchane lies in [Tamarugal Province](https://wherepedia.org/chile/tarapaca/tamarugal/), [Tarapacá Region](https://wherepedia.org/chile/tarapaca/), [Chile](https://wherepedia.org/chile/). It borders 5 other communes: [Camarones](https://wherepedia.org/chile/arica-y-parinacota/arica/camarones/), [Camiña](https://wherepedia.org/chile/tarapaca/tamarugal/camina/), [Huara](https://wherepedia.org/chile/tarapaca/tamarugal/huara/), [Pica](https://wherepedia.org/chile/tarapaca/tamarugal/pica/) and [Putre](https://wherepedia.org/chile/arica-y-parinacota/parinacota/putre/). By area it is the 44th largest of 345 communes in Chile. It covers 10.1% of [Tamarugal Province](https://wherepedia.org/chile/tarapaca/tamarugal/). The centre of Colchane is about 1,580 km in a straight line from Santiago, the capital. It is about 148 km from Pozo Almonte, the main town of Tamarugal Province. The centre point is at 19.3444° S, 68.7523° 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 Colchane

OpenStreetMap lists 5 named sights in Colchane: 2 volcanos; 1 archaeological site; 1 attraction; 1 viewpoint.

- Pukara Kollu · archaeological site
- Mirador Suricayo · viewpoint
- Hot Swimming Pool · attraction
- Volcán Cariquima · volcano
- Volcán Isluga · 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: Colchane

- 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

- Diego Aracena International Airport (IQQ) · Iquique200 km
- Chacalluta International Airport (ARI) · Arica200 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 13.3 hours, sunrise around 06:51) and shortest in Jun (about 11.0 hours, sunrise around 08:05, sunset around 19:04).

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 Colchane

Open gazetteers list **104 villages, towns and localities** in Colchane. The largest with a recorded population: Colchane (1,728). Settlements here lie between about 3,664 m and 4,691 m above sea level (median 3,932 m).

- Achauta
- Alpajere
- Alsore
- Anchicha
- Ancollo
- Ancovinto
- Ancuaque
- Ancuyo
- Antuta
- Arabilla
- Aravilla
- Añaguani
- Bañaguano
- Baños
- Baños Puchuldiza
- Baños Puchultisa
- Berenguela
- Cachaguana
- Cancosa
- Caraguano
- Cariquima
- Casiri
- Central Citani
- Centro Pisiga
- Chaguane
- Challavilque
- Challuma
- Chalviri
- Chapi
- Chapicollo
- Chijo
- Chinchillani
- Chuallani
- Chullumpire
- Chulluncane
- Chulluncani
- Coipoma
- Colchane
- Coraguaila
- Coraguano
- Corahuano
- Corral
- Cosquire
- Cotasaya
- Cuchuguano
- Cutiguano
- Enquelca
- Enquelga
- Escapiña
- Estancia Llocuoma
- Estancia Pampa Uta
- Estancia Pusuta
- Guaillane
- Guaitani
- Hornovinto
- Irupata
- Isluga
- Latarana
- Lupe
- Mauque
- Misaluma
- Mucomucone
- Pachixsa
- Pacoma
- Palca
- Pampa Canasa Choreacha
- Panavinto
- Pansuta
- Panzuta
- Parajalla
- Parajalla Vilacollo
- Payacollo
- Pisiga
- Pisiga Baquedano
- Pisiga Carpa
- Pisiga Centro
- Pisiga Choque
- Puchultisa
- Pumire Azufreras
- Pumiri
- Quebe
- Queñiza
- Quiñuta
- Saguani
- Sante Flor De Parajalla
- Sitani
- Sitari
- Surire
- Tacupa
- Templanza
- Tilluma
- Toctosaya
- Toculla
- Tulacagua
- Ullumalla
- Umiña
- Uscana
- Usiga
- Usiga Chico
- Vilacollo
- Villa Blanca
- Vilullo
- Vinara
- Vinto

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 Colchane

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

### Water

5 rivers and streams; 2 lakes.

- Arroyo Sencata
- Estero Puchultisa
- Laguna Parinacota
- Laguna Vilacolto
- Quebrada Colca
- Quebrada Sorcagua
- Río Grande

### Coast and islands

2 lagoons.

- Laguna Arabilla
- Laguna Cullpavilque

### Hills and mountains

54 mountains; 12 mountain passes; 1 peak; 1 valley.

- Cerro Picavilque · 5,511 m
- Cerro Pumiri · 5,449 m
- Cerro Guaijata · 5,418 m
- Cerro Guaiguasi · 5,386 m
- Cerro de Parajalla · 5,361 m
- Cerro Cariquima · 5,342 m
- Cerro Huinchuta · 5,338 m
- Cerro Chucullani · 5,225 m
- Cerro Llanquipa · 5,194 m
- Cerro Queitane · 5,183 m
- Cerro Latarana · 5,181 m
- Cerro Pumire · 5,097 m
- Portezuelo Picalvique · 5,079 m
- Cerro Chiguanani · 5,028 m
- Cerro Caico · 5,018 m
- Cerro Tembladera · 4,946 m
- Cerro Fraile · 4,902 m
- Cerro Guaillane · 4,882 m
- Cerro Condoriri · 4,839 m
- Cerro Chapillisca · 4,798 m
- Cerro Sojalla · 4,682 m
- Paso Tres Cruces · 4,682 m
- Tres Cruces · 4,682 m
- Cerro Colca · 4,680 m

…and 44 more.

### Getting around

1 airfield.

- Colchanes

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 Colchane and the best time to visit

Using the climate of Tamarugal Province, the warmest month is Feb (average 12 °C) and the coolest is Jul (8 °C), after allowing for this place being about 1,004 m higher than the climate reference point (about 6.5 °C per 1,000 m). About 20 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Feb (5 mm) and the driest May (0 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **October to April**.

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

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 12 5 

Feb 12 5 

Mar 12 3 

Apr 11 1 

May 9 0 

Jun 8 1 

Jul 8 0 

Aug 9 1 

Sep 10 1 

Oct 10 0 

Nov 11 1 

Dec 11 2 

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

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Colchane

Need Nearest mapped Distance 

Hotel Hostal Kalamarka · Colchane 12 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-19.27894&mlon=-68.66365#map=17/-19.27894/-68.66365) 

School Escuela Básica Mauque · Colchane 14 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-19.32252&mlon=-68.88067#map=17/-19.32252/-68.88067) 

Police station Carabineros de Chile · Colchane 14 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-19.22904&mlon=-68.80459#map=17/-19.22904/-68.80459) 

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 Colchane

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

- Hotels4
- Schools6
- Police stations3

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 Tamarugal Province

- Camiña
- Huara
- Pica
- Tocopilla

## Quick answers

- Where is Colchane?In Tamarugal Province, Tarapacá Region, Chile
- What is the population of Colchane?1,579 (2022 estimate)
- What is the median age in Colchane?About 40 years (2022 estimate)
- What is the population density of Colchane?About 0.4 people per km²
- What borders Colchane?Camarones, Camiña, Huara, Pica and Putre
- What is there to see in Colchane?Hot Swimming Pool, Mirador Suricayo, Pukara Kollu, Volcán Cariquima
- What time zone is Colchane in?UTC−3 (summer UTC−4)
- What currency is used in Colchane?Peso (CLP)
- What language is spoken in Colchane?Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Colchane?104 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Colchane?Settlements lie between 3,664 m and 4,691 m
- What is the highest point in Colchane?Cerro Picavilque (5,511 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Colchane?October to April
- What is the P-code of Colchane?CL01403 (OCHA common operational dataset)