Plan on about 12 h 29 min of driving for the 530-mile (853 km) trip from Antofagasta to Putre, before any stops.
Full advisory: Chile. Advisory issued: Chile August 19, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Chile: “Secondary and mountain roads may be poorly maintained, poorly lit, and may lack guardrails.”
| Total distance | 530 mi (853 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 12 h 29 min |
| Main roads, in order | A-133 → A-191 → A-143 |
| Regions on the route | Antofagasta, Tarapacá, Arica y Parinacota |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.2 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from Antofagasta to Putre is like
A-143 (9 mi) and A-133 (5 mi) carry about 3% of the 530 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Antofagasta, Tarapacá, Arica y Parinacota. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Antofagasta to Putre, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–445 | 445 | Antofagasta, Tarapacá, Arica y Parinacota |
| connecting roads | 445–446 | 1 | Arica y Parinacota |
| A-133 | 446–451 | 5 | Arica y Parinacota |
| connecting roads | 451–452 | 1 | Arica y Parinacota |
| A-191 | 452–456 | 4 | Arica y Parinacota |
| A-143 | 456–465 | 9 | Arica y Parinacota |
| local roads | 465–530 | 65 | Arica y Parinacota |
- Mile 165 of this route: Antofagasta → Tarapacá (region line)
- Mile 389 of this route: Tarapacá → Arica y Parinacota (region line)
Places worth a stop between Antofagasta and Putre
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Itata-Gualaguala Wetland (mile 60), Pozos de Dolores (mile 329), Museo Arqueológico San Miguel de Azapa (mile 451), Tambo de Zapahuira (mile 508)
- Nature and outdoors: La Chimba National Reserve (mile 8), La Portada (mile 11), Morro Moreno National Park (mile 16), Itata-Gualaguala Wetland (mile 60), Pozos de Dolores (mile 329)
- Museums and history: Faro Serrano (mile 258), Naval Museum of Iquique (mile 258), Museo Arqueológico San Miguel de Azapa (mile 451), Tambo de Zapahuira (mile 508)
La Chimba National Reserve
La Chimba National Reserve is a protected national reserve in the Antofagasta Region of northern Chile.
La Portada
Standing on the coast 18 km north of Antofagasta, La Portada is a natural arch protected as one of Chile's natural monuments.
Morro Moreno National Park
Northwest of the city of Antofagasta, Morro Moreno National Park sits on a coastal headland in Chile's Antofagasta Region.
Itata-Gualaguala Wetland
In the northern part of the Mejillones commune in the Antofagasta Region, the Itata-Gualaguala Wetland is a protected nature sanctuary.
Faro Serrano
Also known as Faro Península Serrano or the old Iquique lighthouse, Faro Serrano is an active lighthouse on the Iquique roadstead in Chile's Tarapacá Region.
Naval Museum of Iquique
Housed in the 1871 former Peruvian customs building, a national historic monument, the Naval Museum of Iquique (Museo Naval de Iquique) preserves relics of the Naval Battle of Iquique fought in its bay.
Pozos de Dolores
Near the village of Dolores in the Pampa del Tamarugal, the Pozos de Dolores are natural springs where water rises to the surface.
Museo Arqueológico San Miguel de Azapa
Mummies of the Chinchorro culture, described as the oldest in the world, are the centerpiece of the Museo Arqueológico San Miguel de Azapa, founded in 1967 near Arica.
Tambo de Zapahuira
Part of the Inca road (Qhapaq Ñan), the Inca-built Tambo de Zapahuira in Putre has a row of linked rectangular rooms and, 150 meters away, two adobe burial towers; it has been a National Monument since 1983.
More drives to Putre
- Iquique to Putre
- Calama to Putre
- Arequipa to Putre, Chile
- Quillacollo to Putre, Chile
- Llallagua to Putre, Chile
- San Borja to Putre, Chile
From Antofagasta to other places in Chile
- Antofagasta to Iquique
- Antofagasta to Arica
- Antofagasta to Caldera
- Antofagasta to Copiapó
- Antofagasta to La Serena
- Antofagasta to Coquimbo
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Antofagasta to Putre?
About 12 h 29 min of driving without stops, over 530 miles.
What is the driving distance from Antofagasta to Putre?
About 530 miles (853 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.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Antofagasta to Putre drive?
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 Putre?
In order: A-133, A-191 and A-143. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Antofagasta to Putre?
Closest to the road: Pozos de Dolores (spring, mile 329, 0.4 mi from the route); Museo Arqueológico San Miguel de Azapa (museum, mile 451, 0.2 mi from the route); Tambo de Zapahuira (archaeological site, mile 508, 0.1 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.