The Wayro route from Calama to Putre is 491 miles (790 km), about 11 h 9 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 | 491 mi (790 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | B-150 → A-133 → A-191 → A-143 |
| Regions on the route | Antofagasta, Tarapacá, Arica y Parinacota |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 19.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
The Calama–Putre drive in a few lines
B-150 (33 mi) and A-143 (9 mi) carry about 9% of the 491 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Antofagasta, Tarapacá, Arica y Parinacota. Of the 9 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Calama to Putre, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–84 | 84 | Antofagasta |
| B-150 | 84–117 | 33 | Antofagasta |
| local roads | 117–406 | 289 | Antofagasta, Tarapacá, Arica y Parinacota |
| A-133 | 406–412 | 6 | Arica y Parinacota |
| connecting roads | 412–413 | 1 | Arica y Parinacota |
| A-191 | 413–417 | 4 | Arica y Parinacota |
| A-143 | 417–426 | 9 | Arica y Parinacota |
| local roads | 426–491 | 65 | Arica y Parinacota |
- Mile 157 of this route: Antofagasta → Tarapacá (region line)
- Mile 350 of this route: Tarapacá → Arica y Parinacota (region line)
Places worth a stop between Calama and Putre
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Pampa del Tamarugal National Reserve (mile 229), Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (mile 249), Pozos de Dolores (mile 290), Picaflor de Arica Natural Monument (mile 383), Museo Arqueológico San Miguel de Azapa (mile 412), Tambo de Zapahuira (mile 469)
- Nature and outdoors: Monte de la Soledad (mile 170), Pampa del Tamarugal National Reserve (mile 229), Pozos de Dolores (mile 290), Picaflor de Arica Natural Monument (mile 383)
- Museums and history: Humberstone and Santa Laura Saltpeter Works (mile 249), Morro de Arica (mile 406), Museo Arqueológico San Miguel de Azapa (mile 412), Tambo de Zapahuira (mile 469)
Monte de la Soledad
Monte de la Soledad is a habitat with special characteristics on the Salar de Llamara in Chile's Antofagasta Region.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Picaflor de Arica Natural Monument
Picaflor de Arica Natural Monument (Monumento natural Picaflor de Arica) is a natural area protected under Chilean law.
Morro de Arica
Rising steeply from Arica and the sea to 139 meters above sea level, Morro de Arica is a headland with a gentler slope on its eastern side.
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
- Antofagasta to Putre
- Arequipa to Putre, Chile
- Quillacollo to Putre, Chile
- Llallagua to Putre, Chile
- San Borja to Putre, Chile
From Calama to other places in Chile
- Calama to Copiapó
- Calama to Tarabuco, Bolivia
- Calama to San Pedro de Quemes Canton, Bolivia
- Calama to La Quiaca, Argentina
- Calama to Humahuaca, Argentina
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Calama to Putre?
About 11 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 491 miles.
How far is Putre from Calama by car?
About 491 miles (790 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 Calama 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 Calama to Putre?
In order: B-150, A-133, A-191 and A-143. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Calama and Putre?
Closest to the road: Pozos de Dolores (spring, mile 290, 0.3 mi from the route); Museo Arqueológico San Miguel de Azapa (museum, mile 412, 0.3 mi from the route); Tambo de Zapahuira (archaeological site, mile 469, 0.2 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.