The Wayro route from Antofagasta to Caldera is 288 miles (463 km), about 6 h 35 min of driving without stops.
Full advisory: Chile. Advisory issued: Chile August 19, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Chile: “Driving in Chile is relatively safe.”
| Distance by road | 288 mi (463 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 35 min |
| Main roads, in order | B-700 → B-710 |
| Regions on the route | Antofagasta, Atacama |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 11.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 5 |
The Antofagasta–Caldera drive in a few lines
B-710 (69 mi) and B-700 (8 mi) carry about 27% of the 288 miles. It runs through 2 regions: Antofagasta, Atacama. Of the 5 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Antofagasta to Caldera: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–32 | 32 | Antofagasta |
| B-700 | 32–40 | 8 | Antofagasta |
| B-710 | 40–109 | 69 | Antofagasta |
| local roads | 109–288 | 179 | Antofagasta, Atacama |
- Mile 176 of this route: Antofagasta → Atacama (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Antofagasta and Caldera
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Reserva Natural de Paposo (mile 109), Teatro Alhambra de Taltal (mile 140), Faro Monumental de Chañaral (mile 231)
- Nature and outdoors: Reserva Natural de Paposo (mile 109), Junquillar Spring (mile 111), Pan de Azúcar National Park (mile 205)
- Museums and history: Teatro Alhambra de Taltal (mile 140), Faro Monumental de Chañaral (mile 231)
Reserva Natural de Paposo
Paposo National Reserve is a state-protected area in the Antofagasta Region, 65 km north of the village of Paposo, with plant life set in the arid environment typical of northern Chile.
Junquillar Spring
Agua de Junquillar is a natural spring where water rises to the surface in Chile's Antofagasta Region.
Teatro Alhambra de Taltal
In Taltal, the Teatro Alhambra stands directly across from Plaza Arturo Prat, so you'll find it facing the town's square.
Pan de Azúcar National Park
Straddling the line between the Antofagasta and Atacama regions, Pan de Azúcar is one of Chile's national parks.
Faro Monumental de Chañaral
Also called the Millennium Lighthouse, Faro Monumental de Chañaral was built in Chañaral in 2000 to mark the turn of the millennium.
Arriving in Caldera
Casa Museo Tornini
Exhibits at Casa Museo Tornini in Caldera, Atacama, cover the port's history, the Constituent Revolution, the War of the Pacific and Italian immigration in the late 19th century.
Paleontological Museum of Caldera
Since 2006, the Paleontological Museum of Caldera in Chile's Atacama Region has protected the area's fossil record, including finds from Cerro Ballena and Los Dedos Paleontological Park.
Faro de Punta Caldera
Inaugurated on March 1, 1868, the Faro de Punta Caldera stands on the southern point of Caldera Bay, 2 km west of Caldera. It was built of wood with a square structure unique in Chile.
More drives to Caldera
- Iquique to Caldera
- Coquimbo to Caldera
- Valparaíso to Caldera
- Viña del Mar to Caldera
- Santiago, Chile to Caldera
- Los Andes to Caldera
From Antofagasta to other places in Chile
- Antofagasta to Iquique
- Antofagasta to Arica
- Antofagasta to Putre
- Antofagasta to Copiapó
- Antofagasta to La Serena
- Antofagasta to Coquimbo
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Antofagasta to Caldera?
About 6 h 35 min of driving without stops, over 288 miles.
What is the driving distance from Antofagasta to Caldera?
About 288 miles (463 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Is it safe to drive from Antofagasta to Caldera?
The U.S. State Department rates Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Antofagasta to Caldera?
In order: B-700 and B-710. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Antofagasta to Caldera?
Closest to the road: Reserva Natural de Paposo (nature area, mile 109, 0.7 mi from the route); Teatro Alhambra de Taltal (national monument, mile 140, 0.8 mi from the route); Faro Monumental de Chañaral (lighthouse, mile 231, 0.4 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.