Plan on about 11 h 9 min of driving for the 546-mile (878 km) trip from Caldera to Algarrobo, before any stops.
Full advisory: Chile. Advisory issued: Chile August 19, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Chile: “Use caution when walking or driving at night, especially if alone.”
| Distance by road | 546 mi (878 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | F-50 → F-90-G |
| Regions on the route | Atacama, Coquimbo, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.8 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
How the Caldera to Algarrobo drive plays out
F-90-G (21 mi) and F-50 (15 mi) carry about 7% of the 546 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Atacama, Coquimbo, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Caldera to Algarrobo, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–472 | 472 | Atacama, Coquimbo, Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 472–474 | 2 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 474–499 | 25 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 499–501 | 2 | Valparaíso |
| F-50 | 501–516 | 15 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 516–524 | 8 | Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| connecting roads | 524–525 | 1 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| F-90-G | 525–546 | 21 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso |
- Mile 200 of this route: Atacama → Coquimbo (region line)
- Mile 420 of this route: Coquimbo → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 521 of this route: Valparaíso → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
- Mile 532 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Valparaíso (region line)
Places worth a stop between Caldera and Algarrobo
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Arqueológico, La Serena (mile 249), Museo Histórico-Arqueológico de Quillota (mile 482)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque nacional Desierto Florido (mile 55), Bosque de Fray Jorge National Park (mile 308), La Campana National Park (mile 482)
- Museums and history: Museo Arqueológico, La Serena (mile 249), Museo Histórico-Arqueológico de Quillota (mile 482), Museo Palmira Romano (mile 489)
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.
Bosque de Fray Jorge National Park
Near Ovalle in Chile's semi-arid north, Fray Jorge National Park shelters a fog-fed forest of species typical of southern Chile, such as olivillo and canelo. A short marked loop trail winds through it, and the park is a UNESCO biosphere reserve.
Museo Histórico-Arqueológico de Quillota
Quillota's history and archaeology museum occupies the Casa Colonial, a building declared a National Monument, in the city of Quillota.
La Campana National Park
In Chile's coastal range northwest of Santiago, La Campana National Park protects the Chilean palm that Charles Darwin studied on his 1834 visit. Trails climb toward Cerro La Campana, and the park also holds petroglyphs and the Salto La Cortadera waterfall.
Museo Palmira Romano
Run by the municipality of Limache in the Valparaíso Region, the Museo Palmira Romano is a museum listed in Chile's museum registry.
Teatro Pompeya
Teatro Pompeya is a theater on Paseo Latorre in the city of Villa Alemana, in Chile's Valparaíso Region.
Viña Casas del Bosque
Founded in 1993 in the Casablanca Valley, Viña Casas del Bosque is a winery growing cool-climate grapes like Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir, with restaurants Tanino and Casa Mirador on site.
More drives to Algarrobo
- Coquimbo to Algarrobo
- Copiapó to Algarrobo
- El Colorado to Algarrobo
- Los Andes to Algarrobo
- Rancagua to Algarrobo
- Curicó to Algarrobo
From Caldera to other places in Chile
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Caldera to Algarrobo?
About 11 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 546 miles.
How far is Algarrobo from Caldera by car?
About 546 miles (878 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 Caldera to Algarrobo drive?
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 Caldera to Algarrobo use?
In order: F-50 and F-90-G. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Caldera and Algarrobo?
Closest to the road: Museo Arqueológico, La Serena (museum, mile 249, 0.6 mi from the route); Museo Histórico-Arqueológico de Quillota (museum, mile 482, 0.9 mi from the route); Viña Casas del Bosque (vineyard, mile 521, 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.