Commune · San Felipe Province
# Catemu

Catemu is a commune of Chile in San Felipe Province, Valparaíso Region. It had an estimated 15,482 people in 2022 on 362 km² (about 43 per km²). 33 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 28 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 15,482 people (2022)
- 362 km²
- 28 mapped services
- 491 m typical elevation

## How many people live in Catemu?

Catemu had an estimated 15,482 people in 2022 — 9.1% of San Felipe Province, 203rd of 345 communes. There are 1,014 women for every 1,000 men (below the San Felipe Province figure of 1,031). Spread over 362 km², that is about 43 people per km², 145th of 345 communes.

19.6% of people are children under 15 and 14.9% are 65 or older; the median age is about 37 years (it is 37 across San Felipe Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 53 children and older people.
- 0–4 913
- 5–9 1,052
- 10–14 1,075
- 15–19 925
- 20–24 929
- 25–29 1,104
- 30–34 1,231
- 35–39 1,107
- 40–44 1,093
- 45–49 1,037
- 50–54 928
- 55–59 930
- 60–64 853
- 65–69 775
- 70–74 565
- 75–79 421
- 80+ 544

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

## Where is Catemu?

Catemu lies in San Felipe Province, Valparaíso Region, Chile. It borders 7 other communes: Cabildo, Hijuelas, Llaillay, Nogales, Panquehue, Putaendo and San Felipe. By area it is the 233rd largest of 345 communes in Chile. It covers 13.7% of San Felipe Province. The centre of Catemu is about 87 km in a straight line from Santiago, the capital. It is about 22 km from San Felipe, the main town of San Felipe Province. The centre point is at 32.7181° S, 70.9539° 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 Catemu

OpenStreetMap lists 13 named sights in Catemu: 11 attractions; 1 memorial; 1 viewpoint.
- San José · viewpoint
- Agua Las Rosas · attraction
- Catemu Hare Krishna Sanctuary · attraction
- El Chorro · attraction
- La Casona · attraction
- Medialuna El Seco · attraction
- Piedra del Águila · attraction
- Poza Azul · attraction
- Poza El Boldo · attraction
- Pucará Cerro La Cruz · attraction
- Puente Colgante · attraction
- Sol y Lluvia · attraction
- Arturo Prat · memorial

### Nearby, outside Catemu
- Arturo Prat Chacón · memorial, Panquehue 12 km
- Piedra Santa · attraction, Llaillay 13 km
- Bernardo O'Higgins · memorial, Llaillay 14 km
- Arturo Prat · memorial, Llaillay 14 km
- Cerro Las Bandurrias · viewpoint, Llaillay 14 km
- Casona de la Hacienda Santa Teresa · attraction, Llaillay 14 km
- Rotary · memorial, Llaillay 14 km
- Monumento Manuel Rodriguez · memorial, Llaillay 14 km
- Centro Cultural Estación Llay-Llay · attraction, Llaillay 14 km
- Santuario de la Naturaleza Serranía El Ciprés · nature reserve, San Felipe 14 km
- Chorro de la señorita · attraction, Llaillay 16 km
- Chorrillo · attraction, Putaendo 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: Catemu
- 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 77 km
- Governor Francisco Gabrielli International Airport (MDZ) · Mendoza 202 km

### Nearest railway station

Chagres (Catemu), about 9.9 km from the centre.

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 14.3 hours, sunrise around 06:30) and shortest in Jun (about 10.0 hours, sunrise around 08:43, sunset around 18:44).

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 Catemu

Open gazetteers list 33 villages, towns and localities in Catemu. The largest with a recorded population: Catemu (13,285). Settlements here lie between about 420 m and 1,918 m above sea level (median 491 m).
- Catemu
- Cerrillo de Catemu
- Chagres
- El Carmelo
- El Cobre
- El Parquial
- El Pimiento
- El Quebrachal
- El Seco
- El Seco Alto
- El Seco Bajo
- El Ñilhue
- La Colonia
- La Cuadra
- La Poza
- Las Compuertas
- Las Majadas
- Las Marías
- Las Mercedes
- Las Vacas
- Las Varillas
- Los Cerrillos
- Los Corrales
- Los Mantos
- Los Salas
- Reinoso
- San José
- Santa Isabel
- Santa Margarita
- Santa Rosa
- Santa Virginia
- Villa las Palmas
- Ñilhue

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

## Landscape and landmarks of Catemu

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

### Water

5 rivers and streams.
- Estero Caqui
- Estero Catemu
- Estero Gómez
- Quebrada La Fortuna
- Quebrada Podrido

### Hills and mountains

13 mountains; 9 peaks; 3 hills.
- Cerro Piedra del Gaucho · 2,128 m
- Cerro La Ollita · 2,097 m
- Cerro Cepo · 1,773 m
- Cerro La Calabaza · 1,682 m
- Cerro Romero · 1,504 m
- Cerro Negro · 1,497 m
- Los Cerrillos · 1,439 m
- Morro Santa Catalina · 1,411 m
- Cerro Guanaco · 1,403 m
- Cerro Tococo · 1,246 m
- Cerro Los Morrillos · 1,229 m
- Cerro Punta Alta · 1,210 m
- Cerro Pirquitas · 1,201 m
- Cerro Cáñamo · 1,187 m
- Morro El Guayacán · 1,152 m
- Cerro La Unión · 1,008 m
- Cerro Higueral · 996 m
- Cerro Penitente · 988 m
- Cerro Sara · 983 m
- Cerro Alto de Llaillay · 895 m
- Cerro Huevil · 857 m
- Cerro La Parva · 678 m
- Cerro Tallagua · 674 m
- Cerro Santa Isabel · 529 m

…and 1 more.

### Getting around

1 railway station.
- Estación Chagres

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 Catemu and the best time to visit

Using the climate of San Felipe Province, the warmest month is Jan (average 19 °C) and the coolest is Jul (7 °C), after allowing for this place being about 216 m lower than the climate reference point (about 6.5 °C per 1,000 m). About 248 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jun (56 mm) and the driest Dec (7 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are October to May.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
| Month | Average °C | Rain mm |
| Jan | 19 | 8 |
| Feb | 19 | 9 |
| Mar | 17 | 8 |
| Apr | 14 | 10 |
| May | 10 | 41 |
| Jun | 7 | 56 |
| Jul | 7 | 43 |
| Aug | 8 | 35 |
| Sep | 10 | 12 |
| Oct | 12 | 10 |
| Nov | 15 | 9 |
| Dec | 18 | 7 |

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

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from Catemu
| Need | Nearest mapped | Distance | |
| Hospital | CESFAM Eduardo Raggio Catemu · Catemu | 7.2 km | Map |
| Bank | Banco Estado · Catemu | 6.8 km | Map |
| ATM | Redbanc · San Felipe | 22 km | Map |
| Petrol pump | COPEC · Catemu | 7.3 km | Map |
| Hotel | Ecological Lodge Edelweiss · Catemu | 7.9 km | Map |
| Mall | Copeval San Felipe · San Felipe | 21 km | Map |
| School | Escuela Rebeca Johnson Garcia Huidobro · Catemu | 2.9 km | Map |
| College | Centro de Formación Técnica ICCE Sede Llay Llay · Llaillay | 14 km | Map |
| Police station | Tenencia Catemu · Catemu | 6.8 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 Catemu

Places mapped inside Catemu in open map data, by type.
- Hospitals 1
- Banks 1
- Petrol pumps 2
- Hotels 1
- Schools 14
- Restaurants 8
- Police stations 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 San Felipe Province
- Llaillay
- Panquehue
- Putaendo
- San Felipe
- Santa María

## Quick answers
- Where is Catemu? In San Felipe Province, Valparaíso Region, Chile
- What is the population of Catemu? 15,482 (2022 estimate)
- What is the median age in Catemu? About 37 years (2022 estimate)
- What is the population density of Catemu? About 43 people per km²
- What borders Catemu? Cabildo, Hijuelas, Llaillay, Nogales, Panquehue, Putaendo and San Felipe
- What is there to see in Catemu? Agua Las Rosas, Arturo Prat, Catemu Hare Krishna Sanctuary, El Chorro
- What time zone is Catemu in? UTC−3 (summer UTC−4)
- What currency is used in Catemu? Peso (CLP)
- What language is spoken in Catemu? Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in Catemu? 33 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Catemu? Settlements lie between 420 m and 1,918 m
- What is the highest point in Catemu? Cerro Piedra del Gaucho (2,128 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Catemu? October to May
- Where is the nearest hospital to Catemu? CESFAM Eduardo Raggio Catemu, about 7.2 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to Catemu? Banco Estado, about 6.8 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest ATM to Catemu? Redbanc, about 22 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to Catemu? COPEC, about 7.3 km from the centre
- How many hospitals are in Catemu? 1 mapped
- How many banks are in Catemu? 1 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in Catemu? 2 mapped
- What is the P-code of Catemu? CL05702 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: Commune
- Area: 361.9 km²
- P-code: CL05702
- Province: San Felipe Province

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