# Zapallar Commune, Petorca Province, Valparaíso Region

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/chile/valparaiso/petorca/zapallar/

Commune · Petorca Province 

# Zapallar

Zapallar is a commune of Chile in Petorca Province, Valparaíso Region. It had an estimated **8,194 people** in 2022 on 288 km² (about 28 per km²). 49 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 73 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 8,194people (2022)
- 288km²
- 73mapped services
- 128 mtypical elevation

## How many people live in Zapallar?

Zapallar had an estimated **8,194 people** in 2022 — 9.8% of Petorca Province, 274th of 345 communes. There are 1,010 women for every 1,000 men (below the Petorca Province figure of 1,028). Spread over 288 km², that is about **28 people per km²**, 175th of 345 communes.

17.3% of people are children under 15 and 16.1% are 65 or older; the median age is about 40 years (it is 39 across Petorca Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 50 children and older people.

0–4 ****468**

5–9 ****489**

10–14 ****463**

15–19 ****446**

20–24 ****456**

25–29 ****596**

30–34 ****613**

35–39 ****594**

40–44 ****578**

45–49 ****526**

50–54 ****528**

55–59 ****592**

60–64 ****522**

65–69 ****431**

70–74 ****347**

75–79 ****235**

80+ ****310**

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 Zapallar?

Zapallar lies in [Petorca Province](https://wherepedia.org/chile/valparaiso/petorca/), [Valparaíso Region](https://wherepedia.org/chile/valparaiso/), [Chile](https://wherepedia.org/chile/). It borders 4 other communes: [La Ligua](https://wherepedia.org/chile/valparaiso/petorca/la-ligua/), [Nogales](https://wherepedia.org/chile/valparaiso/quillota/nogales/), [Papudo](https://wherepedia.org/chile/valparaiso/petorca/papudo/) and [Puchuncaví](https://wherepedia.org/chile/valparaiso/valparaiso/puchuncavi/). By area it is the 250th largest of 345 communes in Chile. It covers 6.3% of [Petorca Province](https://wherepedia.org/chile/valparaiso/petorca/). The centre of Zapallar is about 115 km in a straight line from Santiago, the capital. The centre point is at 32.5907° S, 71.3249° 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 Zapallar

OpenStreetMap lists 25 named sights in Zapallar: 17 viewpoints; 5 nature reserves; 2 beachs; 1 memorial.

- 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
- Santuario de la Naturaleza Cerro de La Cruz · nature reserve
- Playa La Laguna · beach
- Playa Punta Pite Sur · beach
- Bosques de Zapallar · viewpoint
- Cerro de La Cruz · viewpoint
- Isla seca · viewpoint
- Mirador Cachagua · viewpoint
- Mirador Costero · viewpoint
- Mirador El Secreto · viewpoint
- Mirador La Montura · viewpoint
- Mirador Las Garzas · viewpoint
- Mirador Las Hormigas · viewpoint
- Mirador Los Bellotos · viewpoint
- Mirador Los Patos · viewpoint
- Mirador Mar Bravo · viewpoint
- Mirador Oceano · viewpoint
- Mirador Pacífico · viewpoint
- Mirador Piedras Blancas · viewpoint
- Mirador Quebrada del Tigre · viewpoint
- Mirador Tranque Santa Rosa · viewpoint
- Estatua El Cristo · memorial

### Nearby, outside Zapallar

- Cascada Palos Quemados · waterfall, Nogales7.6 km
- Playa El Pino · beach, Puchuncaví13 km
- Bote · memorial, Puchuncaví13 km
- Humedal Urbano Laguna El Totoral · nature reserve, Papudo14 km
- Humedal Urbano Estero Agua Salada · nature reserve, Papudo14 km
- Bien Nacional Protegido Humedal de Papudo · nature reserve, Papudo14 km
- Free Air Paragliding · attraction, Puchuncaví15 km
- Lilén · beach, Papudo15 km
- Sitio de Memoria Balneario Popular y Campo de Prisioneros Melinka-Puchuncaví · memorial, Puchuncaví16 km
- Museo de Sitio Melinka-Puchuncaví · museum, Puchuncaví16 km
- Vista La Ligua · viewpoint, La Ligua16 km
- Playa Quirilluca · beach, Puchuncaví17 km

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: Zapallar

- 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

- Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) · Santiago102 km
- Governor Francisco Gabrielli International Airport (MDZ) · Mendoza238 km

### Nearest railway station

El Melón (Nogales), about 15 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 14.3 hours, sunrise around 06:32) and shortest in Jun (about 10.0 hours, sunrise around 08:44, sunset around 18:45).

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 Zapallar

Open gazetteers list **49 villages, towns and localities** in Zapallar. The largest with a recorded population: Cachagua (35). Settlements here lie between about 11 m and 255 m above sea level (median 128 m).

- Alta Vista
- Beranda
- Cachagua
- Cantagua
- Casas Viejas
- Catapilco
- Catapilco Poniente
- Cerro La Cruz
- Colico Sur
- Coligües
- Condominio Valle Oculto de Catapilco
- Costa Cachagua
- Cuesta El Melón
- El Blanquillo
- El Boldo
- El Embrujo
- El Morro
- El Pangue
- El Secano
- Ex Hacienda Camino Las Torres
- Ex Hacienda de Catapilco
- Foresta de Zapallar
- Fundo Aguas Claras
- Isla Seca
- La Empastada
- La Encierra
- La Laguna de Zapallar
- La Mancera
- La Retamilla
- Laguna de Zapallar
- Las Perdices
- Las Terneras
- Lomas de Catapilco
- Los Aromos
- Los Callejas
- Los Duendes
- Población Estadio
- Punta Cachagua
- Punta Pite Centro
- Punta Pite Norte
- Punta Pite Sur
- Retamilla
- Santa Bertina
- Tierras Blancas
- Valle del Estero
- Valle del Mar
- Villa Esperanza
- Zapallar
- Zapallar Norte

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 Zapallar

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

### Water

7 rivers and streams; 1 lake.

- Embalse Catapilco
- Estero Catapilco
- Estero El Blanquillo
- Estero Tierras Blancas
- Estero de Coligue
- Estero de La Retamilla
- Quebrada Los Manantiales
- Quebrada de La Canela

### Coast and islands

5 headlands; 2 islands.

- Isla Pite
- Isla de Cachagua
- Punta Frutillar
- Punta Panulcillo
- Punta Peumo
- Punta Pite
- Punta Zapallar

### Hills and mountains

22 hills; 3 mountains; 1 mountain pass.

- Cerro Terneras · 755 m
- Morro El Macho · 709 m
- Alto Los Cardones · 512 m
- Cerro Los Canales · 347 m
- Cerro Carcuco · 346 m
- Divisadero Chico · 333 m
- Los Romeros · 305 m
- Morro de la Tinaja · 305 m
- Morro Zapallar · 274 m
- Cerro El Guindo · 264 m
- Los Duendes · 217 m
- Cerro El Morro · 187 m
- Belloto · 186 m
- Lagunas · 170 m
- Paso La Arena · 158 m
- El Arriendo · 144 m
- San Pedro · 130 m
- Cerro Palos Colorados · 128 m
- Piedra Puerca · 128 m
- Cadillo · 115 m
- La Cruz · 77 m
- San Alfonso · 77 m
- Catapilco · 73 m
- Montón de Árboles · 65 m

…and 2 more.

### Getting around

2 railway stations; 1 airport.

- Estación Coligüe
- Estación Palos Quemados
- Zapallar Casas Viejas Airport

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 Zapallar and the best time to visit

Using the climate of 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](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Zapallar

Need Nearest mapped Distance 

Hospital Posta catapilco · Zapallar 5.4 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-32.56793&mlon=-71.27432#map=17/-32.56793/-71.27432) 

Bank Banco Edwards-Citi · Zapallar 13 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-32.55405&mlon=-71.45773#map=17/-32.55405/-71.45773) 

Petrol pump COPEC · Zapallar 13 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-32.55578&mlon=-71.45523#map=17/-32.55578/-71.45523) 

Hotel Parque Laguna de Zapallar · Zapallar 5.4 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-32.56951&mlon=-71.27333#map=17/-32.56951/-71.27333) 

Mall Centro Comercial Arena Center · Puchuncaví 16 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-32.71829&mlon=-71.40543#map=17/-32.71829/-71.40543) 

School Escuela Básica Mercedes Maturana Gallardo · Zapallar 5.3 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-32.56842&mlon=-71.27526#map=17/-32.56842/-71.27526) 

College CFT Ucevalpo Sede Laligua · La Ligua 18 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-32.45090&mlon=-71.23175#map=17/-32.45090/-71.23175) 

Police station Retén Catapilco · Zapallar 5.3 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=-32.56758&mlon=-71.27579#map=17/-32.56758/-71.27579) 

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 Zapallar

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

- Hospitals2
- Banks1
- Petrol pumps1
- Hotels9
- Schools6
- Pharmacies5
- Restaurants45
- 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 Petorca Province

- Cabildo
- La Ligua
- Papudo
- Petorca

## Quick answers

- Where is Zapallar?In Petorca Province, Valparaíso Region, Chile
- What is the population of Zapallar?8,194 (2022 estimate)
- What is the median age in Zapallar?About 40 years (2022 estimate)
- What is the population density of Zapallar?About 28 people per km²
- What borders Zapallar?La Ligua, Nogales, Papudo and Puchuncaví
- What is there to see in Zapallar?Bosques de Zapallar, Cerro de La Cruz, Estatua El Cristo, Humedal Urbano Laguna y Estero Catapilco
- What time zone is Zapallar in?UTC−3 (summer UTC−4)
- What currency is used in Zapallar?Peso (CLP)
- What language is spoken in Zapallar?Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Zapallar?49 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Zapallar?Settlements lie between 11 m and 255 m
- What is the highest point in Zapallar?Cerro Terneras (755 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Zapallar?January to December
- Where is the nearest hospital to Zapallar?Posta catapilco, about 5.4 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to Zapallar?Banco Edwards-Citi, about 13 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to Zapallar?COPEC, about 13 km from the centre
- How many hospitals are in Zapallar?2 mapped
- How many banks are in Zapallar?1 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Zapallar?1 mapped
- What is the P-code of Zapallar?CL05405 (OCHA common operational dataset)