Province · Valparaíso Region
# Petorca Province

Petorca Province is a province of Chile in Valparaíso Region. It had an estimated 83,984 people in 2022 on 4,592 km² (about 18 per km²). It is divided into 5 communes. 236 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 411 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 83,984 people (2022)
- 4,592 km²
- 5 communes
- 411 mapped services

## How many people live in Petorca Province?

Petorca Province had an estimated 83,984 people in 2022 — 4.2% of Valparaíso Region, 39th of 56 provinces. There are 1,028 women for every 1,000 men (below the Valparaíso Region figure of 1,045). Spread over 4,592 km², that is about 18 people per km², 34th of 56 provinces.

18.9% of people are children under 15 and 15.3% are 65 or older; the median age is about 39 years (it is 37 across Valparaíso Region). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 52 children and older people.
- 0–4 4,723
- 5–9 5,449
- 10–14 5,740
- 15–19 4,806
- 20–24 4,647
- 25–29 5,920
- 30–34 6,361
- 35–39 5,691
- 40–44 5,826
- 45–49 5,694
- 50–54 5,648
- 55–59 5,522
- 60–64 5,069
- 65–69 4,196
- 70–74 3,208
- 75–79 2,509
- 80+ 2,975

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

## Where is Petorca Province?

Petorca Province lies in Valparaíso Region, Chile. It borders 4 other provinces: Choapa Province, Quillota Province, San Felipe Province and Valparaíso Province. By area it is the 39th largest of 56 provinces in Chile. It covers 28.3% of Valparaíso Region. The centre of Petorca Province is about 127 km in a straight line from Santiago, the capital. It is about 97 km from Valparaíso, the main town of Valparaíso Region. The centre point is at 32.3522° S, 70.9803° 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 Petorca Province

OpenStreetMap lists 65 named sights in Petorca Province: 28 viewpoints; 15 nature reserves; 10 beachs; 4 attractions; 4 museums; 2 memorials; 2 archaeological sites.
- Casa de la Cultura - Museo de Petorca - Casa del Presidente Manuel Montt · museum
- Museo La Ligua · museum
- Museo de Alicahue · museum
- Museo de Petorca · museum
- Campo de Petroglifos El Arenal · archaeological site
- Petroglifos de Chalaco · archaeological site
- Bien Nacional Protegido Humedal de Papudo · nature reserve
- Bien Nacional Protegido Humedal de Pichicuy · nature reserve
- BioParque Puquén · nature reserve
- Humedal Urbano Estero Agua Salada · nature reserve
- Humedal Urbano Estuario Los Molles · nature reserve
- Humedal Urbano Laguna El Totoral · nature reserve
- Humedal Urbano Laguna y Estero Catapilco · nature reserve
- Monumento Natural Isla Cachagua · nature reserve
- Parque El Boldo · nature reserve
- Parque RKF Aguas Claras · nature reserve
- Reserva Ecológica Tesoro del Pangal · nature reserve
- Santuario de la Naturaleza Cerro Santa Inés · nature reserve
- Santuario de la Naturaleza Cerro de La Cruz · nature reserve
- Santuario de la Naturaleza Humedal Salinas de Pullally - Dunas de Longotoma · nature reserve
- Santuario de la naturaleza salinas de Pullally y dunas de Longotoma · nature reserve
- Caleta Polcura · beach
- Lilén · beach
- Maitencillo · beach
- Malabajada · beach
- Playa Jorge · beach
- Playa La Laguna · beach
- Playa Las Salinas · beach
- Playa Los Molles · beach
- Playa Pichicuito · beach

…and 35 more.

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: Petorca Province
- 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
- Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) · Santiago 117 km
- Governor Francisco Gabrielli International Airport (MDZ) · Mendoza 212 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 14.3 hours, sunrise around 06:31) and shortest in Jun (about 10.0 hours, sunrise around 08:42, sunset around 18:45).

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.

## Communes of Petorca Province
| Commune | People | per km² | Area km² | Localities | Services |
| La Ligua | 38,117 | 33 | 1,165 | 86 | 156 |
| Cabildo | 20,735 | 14 | 1,454 | 42 | 60 |
| Petorca | 10,607 | 7.0 | 1,517 | 40 | 43 |
| Zapallar | 8,194 | 28 | 288 | 49 | 73 |
| Papudo | 6,331 | 38 | 167 | 25 | 79 |

Source: La Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile (BCN) via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO); UNFPA and Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas de Chile (INE) via OCHA HDX, population 2022 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO).

## Villages and localities in Petorca Province

Open gazetteers list 236 villages, towns and localities in Petorca Province. The largest with a recorded population: La Ligua (32,131), Cabildo (19,315), Papudo (4,015), Petorca (2,548), Los Quinquelles (500) and Cachagua (35). Settlements here lie between about 11 m and 1,230 m above sea level (median 190 m).
- Agua Salada
- Aguas Blancas
- Aire Mar
- Algarrobo
- Alicahue
- Alta Vista
- Alto El Puerto
- Artificio
- Barrio Bellavista
- Bartolillo
- Bartolillo Oriente
- Bartotillo
- Bellavista de Huaquén
- Beranda
- Bosque de Quinquelles
- Cabildo
- Cabo Verde
- Cachagua
- Caleta La Ligua
- Calle Larga
- Campo Mar
- Cantagua
- Casas Sol de Puyai
- Casas Viejas
- Casas Viejas de Longotoma
- Casas de la Quebradilla
- Catapilco
- Catapilco Poniente
- Cementerio
- Cerro La Cruz
- Chalaco
- Chimba Sur
- Chincolco
- Chincolco Norte
- Colico Sur
- Coligües
- Comunidad La Polcura
- Condominio Valle Oculto de Catapilco
- Cooperativa de Paihuén
- Costa Cachagua
- Cuesta El Melón
- Cuesta del Pobre
- El Almendro
- El Bajo
- El Blanquillo
- El Boldo
- El Bosque
- El Bronce
- El Carmen
- El Cobre
- El Embrujo
- El Escorial
- El Francés
- El Guindo
- El Guindo Chico
- El Ingenio
- El Manzano
- El Membrillo
- El Milagro
- El Mirador
- El Morro
- El Pangue
- El Pedernal
- El Peumo
- El Quemado
- El Rayado
- El Romeral
- El Secano
- El Sobrante
- El Tomé
- El Trapiche
- El Trebal 1
- El Trebal 2
- El Trebal 3
- El Valle
- Estación Santa María
- Ex Hacienda Camino Las Torres
- Ex Hacienda de Catapilco
- Foresta de Zapallar
- Frutillar
- Frutillar Bajo
- Fundo Aguas Claras
- Fundo Los Quinquelles de Huaquén
- Guaquén
- Guayacanes
- Guayacán
- Hierro Viejo
- Hospital
- Huaquén
- Huaquén Poniente
- Huaquén Sur
- Huaquén del Mar
- Illalolén
- Ingeniero Santa María
- Isla Seca
- Jaururo
- La Ballena
- La Canela
- La Canelilla
- La Cantera
- La Chimba
- La Empastada
- La Encierra
- La Engorda
- La Estación
- La Gruta
- La Higuera
- La Laguna de Zapallar
- La Laja
- La Ligua
- La Mancera
- La Mora
- La Polcura
- La Retamilla
- La Rinconada
- La Vega
- La Vega Baja
- La Vega Baja Poniente
- La Viña
- La Ñipa
- Laguna de Zapallar
- Las Bandurrias
- Las Mesetas del Chivato
- Las Palmas
- Las Parcelas de Longotoma
- Las Perdices
- Las Puertas
- Las Rocas de Quinquelles
- Las Terneras
- Las Terrazas
- Las Terrazas de Quinquelles
- Loma del Valle
- Lomas de Catapilco
- Lomas de Papudo
- Longotoma
- Los Aromos
- Los Boldos
- Los Callejas
- Los Callejones
- Los Ciruelos
- Los Comunes
- Los Corrales
- Los Duendes
- Los Hornos
- Los Maitenes
- Los Molinos
- Los Molles
- Los Perales
- Los Quinquelles
- Maitén Largo
- Maitén Viejo
- Manuel Montt
- Mariano Alfonso
- Mineral La Patagua
- Mirador Punta Pite
- Monte Grande
- Nueva Esperanza
- Ossandón
- Paihuén
- Palquico
- Papudo
- Paraíso Perdido
- Pedegua
- Petorca
- Peñablanca
- Pichicuy
- Pichilemu
- Pililén
- Placilla
- Población Araucaria
- Población El Esfuerzo
- Población Estadio
- Población Juan Pablo II
- Población Los Paltos
- Población Nueva Cabildo
- Población Nueva Irarrázabal
- Población Rodríguez
- Población Santa Anita
- Población Wisconsin
- Pueblo de Roco
- Pullally
- Pullally Poniente
- Pullancón
- Pulmahue
- Punta Cachagua
- Punta Pite Centro
- Punta Pite Norte
- Punta Pite Sur
- Punta Pullally
- Punta Puyai
- Puyancón
- Quebrada Granadillo
- Quebrada Honda
- Quebrada de Castro
- Quebrada del Pobre
- Quebradilla
- Quelón
- Quinquimo
- Retamilla
- Rocas del Mar
- San José del Medio
- San Lorenzo
- San Lorenzo Oriente
- San Manuel
- San Ramón
- Santa Bertina
- Santa Carolina
- Santa Julia
- Santa Laura
- Santa Marta
- Sector Colo Colo
- Tierras Blancas
- Trapiche
- Usillar
- Valle Hermoso
- Valle de Los Olmos
- Valle del Estero
- Valle del Mar
- Vencedor de Huaquén
- Villa Almendral
- Villa El Arrayán
- Villa Enami
- Villa Esperanza
- Villa Futuro
- Villa Fértil
- Villa Holanda
- Villa Huaquén Los Molles
- Villa Las Cenizas
- Villa Los Lagos
- Villa Lua
- Villa Padre Hurtado
- Villa San Alberto Hurtado
- Villa San Expedito
- Villa San José
- Zapallar
- Zapallar Norte

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

## Landscape and landmarks of Petorca Province

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

### Water

98 rivers and streams; 2 lakes.
- Cajón Cortadera
- Cajón El Pangue
- Cajón Las Chacritas
- Cajón de López
- Cajón de los Tres Molles
- Cajón del Oro
- Embalse Catapilco
- Estero Alicahue
- Estero Cajón de Los Ángeles
- Estero Catapilco
- Estero Chincolco
- Estero Denquer
- Estero El Blanquillo
- Estero El Espinal
- Estero El Pangal
- Estero El Pangue
- Estero Guaquén
- Estero Guayacán
- Estero La Tejada
- Estero Las Palmas
- Estero Los Ángeles
- Estero Ossandón
- Estero Raíces
- Estero Tierras Blancas

…and 76 more.

### Coast and islands

11 headlands; 2 islands; 2 beaches; 2 lagoons.
- Isla Pite
- Isla de Cachagua
- Laguna de Longotoma
- Laguna de Pullalli
- Playa La Ballena
- Playa de Pullalli
- Punta Cañas
- Punta Frutillar
- Punta Guallarauco
- Punta La Ligua
- Punta Lilén
- Punta Molles
- Punta Panulcillo
- Punta Peumo
- Punta Pichicui
- Punta Pite
- Punta Zapallar

### Hills and mountains

137 mountains; 79 peaks; 73 hills; 17 mountain passes; 3 valleys.
- Morro del Cuzco · 3,961 m
- Cerro El Colgado · 3,676 m
- Portezuelo de Otero · 3,506 m
- Cerro Alto del Cuzco · 3,413 m
- Cerro Manajeciales · 3,362 m
- Morro Alvarado · 3,345 m
- Morro del Rincon · 3,328 m
- Morro Nacimiento · 3,310 m
- Cerro Pulpica · 3,245 m
- Morro Peñón · 3,234 m
- Cerro Chamuscado · 3,172 m
- Morro Juego de la Chueca · 3,131 m
- Morro El Gallo · 3,011 m
- Cerro Baculomo · 2,991 m
- Cerro Las Bardas · 2,853 m
- Morro El Leoncito · 2,810 m
- Alto Las Minas · 2,806 m
- Cerro Chape · 2,796 m
- Portezuelo Los Monos · 2,767 m
- Cerro Paridas · 2,742 m
- Cerro Lepirco · 2,687 m
- Cerro Los Amarillos · 2,621 m
- Cerro Bayo · 2,600 m
- Portezuelo El Morado · 2,569 m

…and 285 more.

### Getting around

10 railway stations; 3 airports.
- Diego Portales Airport
- El Algarrobo Airport
- Estación Coligüe
- Estación Guaquén
- Estación Ingeniero Santa María
- Estación Ingenio
- Estación Longotoma
- Estación Palos Quemados
- Estación Papudo
- Estación de Pedegua
- Estación de Rayado
- Quinquimo
- Zapallar Casas Viejas Airport

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 Petorca Province and the best time to visit

In Petorca Province, the warmest month is Jan (average 20 °C) and the coolest is Jul (11 °C). About 283 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jun (70 mm) and the driest Jan (2 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are January to December.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
| Month | Average °C | Rain mm |
| Jan | 20 | 2 |
| Feb | 20 | 3 |
| Mar | 19 | 4 |
| Apr | 16 | 11 |
| May | 14 | 54 |
| Jun | 12 | 70 |
| Jul | 11 | 56 |
| Aug | 12 | 48 |
| Sep | 13 | 15 |
| Oct | 15 | 12 |
| Nov | 17 | 6 |
| Dec | 19 | 3 |

Source: NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29.

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Petorca Province

Places mapped inside Petorca Province in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.
- Hospitals 13
- Banks 12
- Petrol pumps 11
- Hotels 37
- Shopping malls 4
- Schools 97
- Colleges and universities 3
- Pharmacies 21
- Restaurants 189
- Police stations 14
- Dental clinics 10

Source: Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Quick answers
- Where is Petorca Province? In Valparaíso Region, Chile
- What is the population of Petorca Province? 83,984 (2022 estimate)
- What is the median age in Petorca Province? About 39 years (2022 estimate)
- What is the population density of Petorca Province? About 18 people per km²
- What borders Petorca Province? Choapa Province, Quillota Province, San Felipe Province and Valparaíso Province
- What is there to see in Petorca Province? Bien Nacional Protegido Humedal de Papudo, Bien Nacional Protegido Humedal de Pichicuy, BioParque Puquén, Bosques de Zapallar
- What time zone is Petorca Province in? UTC−3 (summer UTC−4)
- What currency is used in Petorca Province? Peso (CLP)
- What language is spoken in Petorca Province? Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Petorca Province? 236 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Petorca Province? Settlements lie between 11 m and 1,230 m
- What is the highest point in Petorca Province? Morro del Cuzco (3,961 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Petorca Province? January to December
- How many hospitals are in Petorca Province? 13 mapped
- How many banks are in Petorca Province? 12 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Petorca Province? 11 mapped
- What is the P-code of Petorca Province? CL054 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: Province
- Area: 4,591.6 km²
- P-code: CL054
- Region: Valparaíso Region

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