# Pica Commune, Tamarugal Province, Tarapacá Region – Population

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

Commune · Tamarugal Province 

# Pica

Pica is a commune of Chile in Tamarugal Province, Tarapacá Region. It had an estimated **6,165 people** in 2022 on 8,975 km² (about 0.7 per km²). 78 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 69 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 6,165people (2022)
- 8,975km²
- 69mapped services
- 4,001 mtypical elevation

## How many people live in Pica?

Pica had an estimated **6,165 people** in 2022 — 20.3% of Tamarugal Province, 297th of 345 communes. There are 978 women for every 1,000 men (above the Tamarugal Province figure of 933). Spread over 8,975 km², that is about **0.7 people per km²**, 319th of 345 communes.

22.2% of people are children under 15 and 15.9% are 65 or older; the median age is about 35 years (it is 33 across Tamarugal Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 62 children and older people.

0–4 ****440**

5–9 ****471**

10–14 ****456**

15–19 ****325**

20–24 ****351**

25–29 ****504**

30–34 ****514**

35–39 ****421**

40–44 ****393**

45–49 ****380**

50–54 ****289**

55–59 ****325**

60–64 ****313**

65–69 ****341**

70–74 ****241**

75–79 ****182**

80+ ****219**

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 Pica?

Pica lies in [Tamarugal Province](https://wherepedia.org/chile/tarapaca/tamarugal/), [Tarapacá Region](https://wherepedia.org/chile/tarapaca/), [Chile](https://wherepedia.org/chile/). It borders 6 other communes: [Calama](https://wherepedia.org/chile/antofagasta/el-loa/calama/), [Colchane](https://wherepedia.org/chile/tarapaca/tamarugal/colchane/), [Huara](https://wherepedia.org/chile/tarapaca/tamarugal/huara/), [María Elena](https://wherepedia.org/chile/antofagasta/tocopilla/maria-elena/), [Ollagüe](https://wherepedia.org/chile/antofagasta/el-loa/ollague/) and [Tocopilla](https://wherepedia.org/chile/tarapaca/tamarugal/tocopilla/). By area it is the 20th largest of 345 communes in Chile. It covers 22.8% of [Tamarugal Province](https://wherepedia.org/chile/tarapaca/tamarugal/). The centre of Pica is about 1,458 km in a straight line from Santiago, the capital. It is about 73 km from Pozo Almonte, the main town of Tamarugal Province. The centre point is at 20.4168° S, 69.1078° 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 Pica

OpenStreetMap lists 20 named sights in Pica: 5 viewpoints; 4 attractions; 3 nature reserves; 2 volcanos; 2 museums; 1 monument; 1 memorial; 1 hot spring; 1 theme park.

- Museo Contemporáneo de Pica · museum
- Museo Municipal de Pica · museum
- Parque Nacional Salar del Huasco · nature reserve
- Santuario de la Naturaleza Quebrada de Chacarilla · nature reserve
- Sitio Ramsar y Santuario de la Naturaleza Salar de Huasco · nature reserve
- Balneario EL Tambo · viewpoint
- Mirador · viewpoint
- Mirador Salar de Coposa · viewpoint
- Salar de Huasco · viewpoint
- Termas de Lirima · viewpoint
- Barrio Histórico · attraction
- Cocha Resbaladero · attraction
- La Cocha · attraction
- Plaza Verde · attraction
- Cerro Napa · volcano
- Dinosaurios En Pica · theme park
- Lagar de vino · monument
- Poema de Amor · memorial
- Termas de Pica · hot spring
- Volcán Irruputuncu · 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: Pica

- 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) · Iquique113 km
- El Loa Airport (CJC) · Calama232 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 13.4 hours, sunrise around 06:50) and shortest in Jun (about 10.9 hours, sunrise around 08:09, sunset around 19:03).

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 Pica

Open gazetteers list **78 villages, towns and localities** in Pica. The largest with a recorded population: Pica (9,296) and Matilla (583). Settlements here lie between about 1,114 m and 4,735 m above sea level (median 4,001 m).

- Alojamiento Sallihuinca
- Alona
- Bajo Comiña
- Bajo Matilla
- Baños Andrés Jiguata
- Baños Quiguata
- Botijería
- Calera
- Calguay
- Campamento Pioneros
- Cancosa
- Canto
- Casa Angostura
- Casa de Lata
- Casa de Piedra
- Casalata
- Caya
- Chacarilla
- Chaiviri
- Chara
- Charvinto
- Chintaguay
- Chipallanta
- Chusquina
- Colchane
- Collacagua
- Collacollani
- Collaguasi
- Comiña
- Copaquiri
- Cueva Negra
- Cumiña
- E. Sánchez
- El Algarrobal
- El Panadero
- El Salto
- El Valle
- Estación Aguas Calientes
- Guantija
- Guasco Grande
- Guasco Lípez
- Guasco Salinas
- Ingiña
- Jesús María
- La Banda
- La Calera
- La Escalera
- La Rínconada
- Lirima
- Llacho
- Manca Collacagua
- Matilla
- Miraflores
- Ocacucho
- Pasaca
- Peña Blanca
- Pica
- Piga
- Piga Chica
- Porquesa
- Pucapucone
- Pucupucune
- Puquio Cumiña
- Puquio Santa Elena
- Puquio de Núnez
- Pénjamo
- Quebrada Blanca
- Resbaladero
- Rinconada
- Rincón Gentinuni
- Saitoco
- Sol de Pica
- Tambillo
- Tambo
- Tasma
- Tolar
- Ujina
- Valle Quisma

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 Pica

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

### Water

17 rivers and streams; 7 lakes.

- Estero Charvinto
- Estero Jornune
- Laguna Caña
- Laguna Cotane
- Laguna Grande
- Laguna Jachucoposa
- Laguna Lagunilla
- Laguna Seca
- Laguna Seca
- Quebrada Acache
- Quebrada Amaculla
- Quebrada Barihumaña
- Quebrada Barrancani
- Quebrada Blanca
- Quebrada Blanca
- Quebrada Empexa
- Quebrada Jiguata
- Quebrada Mamuta
- Quebrada Mani
- Quebrada Quelcocha
- Quebrada Veta Verde
- Quebrada de Alona
- Río Blanco
- Río Chancacoya

### Coast and islands

1 lagoon.

- Laguna Ceucis

### Hills and mountains

105 mountains; 9 mountain passes; 6 hills.

- Cerro Lirima · 5,542 m
- Cerro Aroma · 5,488 m
- Portezuelo Bofedal · 5,209 m
- Cerro Porquesa · 5,155 m
- Cerro Paza · 5,097 m
- Cerro Pereira · 5,056 m
- Cerro Quimsachata · 5,040 m
- Cerro Ceucis · 5,024 m
- Cerro Pabellón del Inca · 4,991 m
- Cerro Paucallani · 4,873 m
- Cerro Saitoco · 4,864 m
- Cerro Sacasani · 4,850 m
- Cerro Yabricoyita · 4,845 m
- Cerro Chiclla · 4,830 m
- Cerro Charcollo · 4,814 m
- Cerro Tangani · 4,811 m
- Cerro Patalani · 4,797 m
- Cerro Chuncullani · 4,793 m
- Cerro Pallalli · 4,783 m
- Cerro Andrés Jiguata · 4,761 m
- Cerro Cultane · 4,717 m
- Loma Campamento Brisas · 4,712 m
- Cerro Lupe Grande · 4,697 m
- Cerro Chusquina · 4,693 m

…and 96 more.

### History

9 ruins.

- Caballuno
- Condor
- La Poderosa
- Miraflores
- Oficina Victoria
- Puquio de María
- Puquio del Carmen
- Quiscoma Chico
- San Nicolas

### Getting around

1 airport; 1 railway station.

- Coposa Airport
- Estación Ujina

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 Pica and the best time to visit

Using the climate of Tamarugal Province, the warmest month is Feb (average 11 °C) and the coolest is Jul (8 °C), after allowing for this place being about 1,073 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 **November to April**.

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

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 11 5 

Feb 11 5 

Mar 11 3 

Apr 10 1 

May 9 0 

Jun 8 1 

Jul 8 0 

Aug 8 1 

Sep 9 1 

Oct 10 0 

Nov 10 1 

Dec 11 2 

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

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Pica

Need Nearest mapped Distance 

Hospital Centro Salud Familiar Juan Marques V · Pica 25 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-20.48956&mlon=-69.33390#map=17/-20.48956/-69.33390) 

Bank State Bank · Pica 24 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-20.49108&mlon=-69.32872#map=17/-20.49108/-69.32872) 

Petrol pump Copec · Pica 25 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-20.49357&mlon=-69.33283#map=17/-20.49357/-69.33283) 

Hotel Cabañas Alto Miraflores · Pica 23 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-20.48163&mlon=-69.31536#map=17/-20.48163/-69.31536) 

School Escuela Vertiente del Saber · Pica 24 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-20.48767&mlon=-69.32424#map=17/-20.48767/-69.32424) 

Police station Tenencia Pica · Pica 26 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-20.49675&mlon=-69.33746#map=17/-20.49675/-69.33746) 

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 Pica

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

- Hospitals1
- Banks1
- Petrol pumps2
- Hotels26
- Schools7
- Pharmacies1
- Restaurants27
- Police stations4

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
- Colchane
- Huara
- Tocopilla

## Quick answers

- Where is Pica?In Tamarugal Province, Tarapacá Region, Chile
- What is the population of Pica?6,165 (2022 estimate)
- What is the median age in Pica?About 35 years (2022 estimate)
- What is the population density of Pica?About 0.7 people per km²
- What borders Pica?Calama, Colchane, Huara, María Elena, Ollagüe and Tocopilla
- What is there to see in Pica?Balneario EL Tambo, Barrio Histórico, Cerro Napa, Cocha Resbaladero
- What time zone is Pica in?UTC−3 (summer UTC−4)
- What currency is used in Pica?Peso (CLP)
- What language is spoken in Pica?Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Pica?78 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Pica?Settlements lie between 1,114 m and 4,735 m
- What is the highest point in Pica?Cerro Lirima (5,542 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Pica?November to April
- Where is the nearest hospital to Pica?Centro Salud Familiar Juan Marques V, about 25 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to Pica?State Bank, about 24 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to Pica?Copec, about 25 km from the centre
- How many hospitals are in Pica?1 mapped
- How many banks are in Pica?1 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Pica?2 mapped
- What is the P-code of Pica?CL01405 (OCHA common operational dataset)