The Wayro route from Arica to Calama is 409 miles (659 km), about 9 h 18 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: “Secondary and mountain roads may be poorly maintained, poorly lit, and may lack guardrails.”
| Distance | 409 mi (659 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 18 min |
| Main roads, in order | B-150 |
| Regions on the route | Arica y Parinacota, Tarapacá, Antofagasta |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 16.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
How the Arica to Calama drive plays out
B-150 (33 mi) carries about 8% of the 409 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Arica y Parinacota, Tarapacá, Antofagasta. Of the 6 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Arica to Calama
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–293 | 293 | Arica y Parinacota, Tarapacá, Antofagasta |
| B-150 | 293–326 | 33 | Antofagasta |
| local roads | 326–409 | 83 | Antofagasta |
- Mile 60 of this route: Arica y Parinacota → Tarapacá (region line)
- Mile 253 of this route: Tarapacá → Antofagasta (region line)
Stops between Arica and Calama
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Picaflor de Arica Natural Monument (mile 27), Pozos de Dolores (mile 120), Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (mile 161), Pampa del Tamarugal National Reserve (mile 180)
- Nature and outdoors: Picaflor de Arica Natural Monument (mile 27), Pozos de Dolores (mile 120), Pampa del Tamarugal National Reserve (mile 180), Monte de la Soledad (mile 239)
- Museums and history: Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (mile 161)
Picaflor de Arica Natural Monument
Picaflor de Arica Natural Monument (Monumento natural Picaflor de Arica) is a natural area protected under Chilean law.
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.
Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works
The Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works are two former saltpeter refineries in northern Chile, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005 for the history of saltpeter mining.
Pampa del Tamarugal National Reserve
About 70 km east of Iquique in the Tarapacá Region, Pampa del Tamarugal National Reserve is split into three sectors: Zapiga, the native forest of La Tirana, and Pintados.
Salar de Pintados
South of the village of La Tirana in the Tarapacá Region, Salar de Pintados is a salt flat whose basin lies largely within the Pampa del Tamarugal.
Monte de la Soledad
Monte de la Soledad is a habitat with special characteristics on the Salar de Llamara in Chile's Antofagasta Region.
Once you reach Calama
St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Calama
St. John the Baptist Cathedral, also called Calama Cathedral, is the main Catholic church of the Diocese of San Juan Bautista de Calama in Chile.
More drives to Calama
- Tacna to Calama, Chile
- Sucre to Calama, Chile
- Oruro to Calama, Chile
- Potosí to Calama, Chile
- Salta to Calama, Chile
From Arica to other places in Chile
- Arica to Iquique
- Arica to Puno, Peru
- Arica to Nazca, Peru
- Arica to Chucuito, Peru
- Arica to Andahuaylillas, Peru
- Arica to Lampa, Peru
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Arica to Calama?
About 9 h 18 min of driving without stops, over 409 miles.
What is the driving distance from Arica to Calama?
About 409 miles (659 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 Arica to Calama drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Where can you stop on the way from Arica to Calama?
Closest to the road: Picaflor de Arica Natural Monument (nature area, mile 27, 0.4 mi from the route); Pozos de Dolores (spring, mile 120, 0.3 mi from the route); Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (historic site, mile 161, 0.3 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.