The Wayro route from La Serena to El Colorado is 322 miles (519 km), about 6 h 22 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: “Use caution when walking or driving at night, especially if alone.”
| Distance by road | 322 mi (519 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 6 h 22 min |
| Main roads, in order | G-21 |
| Regions on the route | Coquimbo, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.9 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from La Serena to El Colorado is like
G-21 (19 mi) carries about 6% of the 322 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Coquimbo, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago. None of the 9 stops below is right on the road, so plan each as a short side trip.
Roads you'll take from La Serena to El Colorado
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–300 | 300 | Coquimbo, Valparaíso, Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| G-21 | 300–319 | 19 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| local roads | 319–322 | 3 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
- Mile 171 of this route: Coquimbo → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 255 of this route: Valparaíso → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
Stops between La Serena and El Colorado
- Nature and outdoors: Bosque de Fray Jorge National Park (mile 59), La Campana National Park (mile 231), Apoquindo Waterfall (mile 303)
- Museums and history: Faro Punta Tortuga (mile 7), Catedral de San Jorge, Santiago de Chile (mile 291), Museo Arqueológico de Santiago (mile 291), Museo de la Chilenidad Benjamín Mackenna Besa (mile 296)
Faro Punta Tortuga
Punta Tortuga Lighthouse in Coquimbo was inaugurated on June 1, 1886, and is named for the point's turtle-like shape seen when entering Coquimbo Bay from the sea. It is still staffed.
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.
Catedral de San Jorge, Santiago de Chile
On Santa Filomena street in the Patronato neighborhood of Recoleta, St. George's Cathedral is the seat of the Orthodox Archdiocese of Chile under the Antiochian Orthodox Church.
Museo Arqueológico de Santiago
The Museo Arqueológico de Santiago is an archaeology museum in the Plaza Mulato Gil de Castro area of Santiago.
National Astronomical Observatory
On Cerro Calán in Las Condes, Chile's National Astronomical Observatory is owned and operated by the University of Chile's Department of Astronomy.
Museo de la Chilenidad Benjamín Mackenna Besa
Housed in La Llavería at the Santa Rosa de Apoquindo estate in Las Condes, Santiago, this museum's three galleries explore how the horse, the land and its people shaped Chilean identity.
Santuario de la Naturaleza El Arrayán
El Arrayán Nature Sanctuary (Santuario de la Naturaleza El Arrayán) is a privately owned protected area open to the public in the Lo Barnechea commune of Santiago.
Apoquindo Waterfall
Fed by snowmelt from Cerro San Ramón and Cerro Provincia, Apoquindo Waterfall lies in Aguas de Ramón Natural Park on the east side of Santiago, near Apoquindo.
More drives to El Colorado
- Santiago, Chile to El Colorado
- Valparaíso to El Colorado
- Viña del Mar to El Colorado
- Coquimbo to El Colorado
- Copiapó to El Colorado
- Los Andes to El Colorado
From La Serena to other places in Chile
- La Serena to Quintay
- La Serena to Valle Nevado
- La Serena to Los Andes
- La Serena to Santa Cruz, Chile
- La Serena to Curicó
- La Serena to Pichilemu
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from La Serena to El Colorado?
About 6 h 22 min of driving without stops, over 322 miles.
How far is El Colorado from La Serena by car?
About 322 miles (519 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.
Is it safe to drive from La Serena to El Colorado?
The U.S. State Department rates Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
What are good stops between La Serena and El Colorado?
Closest to the road: Faro Punta Tortuga (lighthouse, mile 7, 2 mi from the route); National Astronomical Observatory (astronomical observatory, mile 296, 1 mi from the route); Santuario de la Naturaleza El Arrayán (nature sanctuary, mile 301, 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.