The Wayro route from Antofagasta to Coquimbo is 543 miles (874 km), about 12 h 7 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 | 543 mi (874 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 12 h 7 min |
| Main roads, in order | B-700 → B-710 |
| Regions on the route | Antofagasta, Atacama, Coquimbo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.7 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
On the road from Antofagasta to Coquimbo
B-710 (69 mi) and B-700 (8 mi) carry about 14% of the 543 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Antofagasta, Atacama, Coquimbo. Of the 8 stops listed below, 5 are within a mile of the road.
Antofagasta to Coquimbo: 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 | 109–543 | 434 | Antofagasta, Atacama, Coquimbo |
- Mile 176 of this route: Antofagasta → Atacama (region line)
- Mile 486 of this route: Atacama → Coquimbo (region line)
Places worth a stop between Antofagasta and Coquimbo
- 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), Paleontological Museum of Caldera (mile 287), Museo Arqueológico, La Serena (mile 535)
- Nature and outdoors: Reserva Natural de Paposo (mile 109), Pan de Azúcar National Park (mile 205), Parque nacional Desierto Florido (mile 341)
- Museums and history: Teatro Alhambra de Taltal (mile 140), Faro Monumental de Chañaral (mile 231), Faro de Punta Caldera (mile 286), Paleontological Museum of Caldera (mile 287), Museo Arqueológico, La Serena (mile 535)
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.
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.
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.
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.
Parque nacional Desierto Florido
This protected area in the Copiapó commune and province of the Atacama Region covers 57,107 hectares, and is officially known as Parque Nacional Desierto Florido.
Museo Arqueológico, La Serena
Founded on April 3, 1943, as a municipal museum, La Serena's Archaeological Museum focuses on local prehistory and archaeology and sits in the city center.
When you get to Coquimbo
Faro Punta Tortuga
Punta Tortuga Lighthouse in Coquimbo was inaugurated on June 1, 1886, and is named for the point's turtle-like shape seen when entering Coquimbo Bay from the sea. It is still staffed.
Museo Cardenal Jorge Medina Estévez
Set behind the main altar of the Third Millennium Cross on El Vigía hill in Coquimbo, this museum is named for the Chilean cardinal Jorge Medina Estévez.
More drives to Coquimbo
- Valparaíso to Coquimbo
- Viña del Mar to Coquimbo
- Rancagua to Coquimbo
- Talca to Coquimbo
- San Rafael to Coquimbo, Chile
From Antofagasta to other places in Chile
- Antofagasta to Iquique
- Antofagasta to Arica
- Antofagasta to Putre
- Antofagasta to Caldera
- Antofagasta to Copiapó
- Antofagasta to La Serena
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Antofagasta to Coquimbo?
About 12 h 7 min of driving without stops, over 543 miles.
How far is Coquimbo from Antofagasta by car?
About 543 miles (874 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 Coquimbo?
The U.S. State Department rates Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What roads does the drive from Antofagasta to Coquimbo use?
In order: B-700 and B-710. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Antofagasta and Coquimbo?
Closest to the road: Reserva Natural de Paposo (nature area, mile 109, 0.7 mi from the route); Faro Monumental de Chañaral (lighthouse, mile 231, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Arqueológico, La Serena (museum, mile 535, 0.6 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.