Caldera to Quintay is about 535 road miles (861 km): roughly 11 h 9 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
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.”
| Total distance | 535 mi (861 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 11 h 9 min |
| Main roads, in order | F-800 |
| Regions on the route | Atacama, Coquimbo, Valparaíso |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 21.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
How the Caldera to Quintay drive plays out
F-800 (14 mi) carries about 3% of the 535 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Atacama, Coquimbo, Valparaíso. Of the 8 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Caldera and Quintay
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–472 | 472 | Atacama, Coquimbo, Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 472–474 | 2 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 474–519 | 45 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 519–520 | 1 | Valparaíso |
| F-800 | 520–534 | 14 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 534–535 | 1 | Valparaíso |
- Mile 200 of this route: Atacama → Coquimbo (region line)
- Mile 420 of this route: Coquimbo → Valparaíso (region line)
What to see on the way from Caldera to Quintay
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Ignacio Domeyko Mineralogical Museum (mile 249)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque nacional Desierto Florido (mile 55), Ignacio Domeyko Mineralogical Museum (mile 249), Bosque de Fray Jorge National Park (mile 308), La Campana National Park (mile 482)
- Museums and history: Ignacio Domeyko Mineralogical Museum (mile 249), Museum Fonck (mile 510), Open Air Museum Viña del Mar (mile 510)
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.
Ignacio Domeyko Mineralogical Museum
In La Serena, the Ignacio Domeyko Mineralogical Museum (Museo Mineralógico Ignacio Domeyko) displays a collection of gems, minerals, stones and rocks.
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.
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.
Teatro Pompeya
Teatro Pompeya is a theater on Paseo Latorre in the city of Villa Alemana, in Chile's Valparaíso Region.
Teatro Municipal Juan Bustos Ramírez
Quilpué's municipal theater opened on December 7, 1940, as Teatro Velarde; the city bought it in 2012 for reconstruction, and it reopened as Teatro Municipal Juan Bustos Ramírez in 2017.
Museum Fonck
Formally the Francisco Fonck Museum of Archaeology and History, Museum Fonck stands at the corner of 4 Norte and 1 Oriente in Viña del Mar.
Open Air Museum Viña del Mar
Near Recreo in Viña del Mar, this open-air art museum, known as "Walls watching the sea," shows reproductions of Chilean modern art painted by Claudio Francia Willms.
More drives to Quintay
- Reñaca to Quintay
- Coquimbo to Quintay
- La Serena to Quintay
- Vicuña to Quintay
- Punta de Choros to Quintay
- Copiapó to Quintay
From Caldera to other places in Chile
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Caldera to Quintay?
About 11 h 9 min of driving without stops, over 535 miles.
What is the driving distance from Caldera to Quintay?
About 535 miles (861 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 Quintay 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 Caldera to Quintay?
Closest to the road: Ignacio Domeyko Mineralogical Museum (natural history museum, mile 249, 0.7 mi from the route); Teatro Pompeya (theater, mile 500, 2 mi from the route); Teatro Municipal Juan Bustos Ramírez (theater, mile 504, 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.