By road, Los Andes and Caldera are about 516 miles (830 km) apart, or roughly 10 h 26 min of driving.
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 | 516 mi (830 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 10 h 26 min |
| Regions on the route | Valparaíso, Coquimbo, Atacama |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 20.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
How the Los Andes to Caldera drive plays out
It runs through 3 regions: Valparaíso, Coquimbo, Atacama. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Los Andes to Caldera, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–29 | 29 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 29–30 | 1 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 30–516 | 486 | Valparaíso, Coquimbo, Atacama |
- Mile 96 of this route: Valparaíso → Coquimbo (region line)
- Mile 316 of this route: Coquimbo → Atacama (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Caldera
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe (mile 11), Museo Arqueológico, La Serena (mile 267)
- Nature and outdoors: La Campana National Park (mile 36), Bosque de Fray Jorge National Park (mile 208), Parque nacional Desierto Florido (mile 461)
- Museums and history: St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe (mile 11), Faro Punta Tortuga (mile 260), Museo Cardenal Jorge Medina Estévez (mile 262), Museo Arqueológico, La Serena (mile 267)
St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe
San Felipe Cathedral, dedicated to St. Philip, is a Catholic parish in San Felipe, Valparaíso Region, and serves as the cathedral of the Diocese of San Felipe de Aconcagua.
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.
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.
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.
Museo Cardenal Jorge Medina Estévez
Set behind the main altar of the Third Millennium Cross on El Vigía hill in Coquimbo, this museum is named for the Chilean cardinal Jorge Medina Estévez.
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.
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.
When you get to Caldera
Casa Museo Tornini
Exhibits at Casa Museo Tornini in Caldera, Atacama, cover the port's history, the Constituent Revolution, the War of the Pacific and Italian immigration in the late 19th century.
Paleontological Museum of Caldera
Since 2006, the Paleontological Museum of Caldera in Chile's Atacama Region has protected the area's fossil record, including finds from Cerro Ballena and Los Dedos Paleontological Park.
Faro de Punta Caldera
Inaugurated on March 1, 1868, the Faro de Punta Caldera stands on the southern point of Caldera Bay, 2 km west of Caldera. It was built of wood with a square structure unique in Chile.
More drives to Caldera
- Antofagasta to Caldera
- Iquique to Caldera
- Coquimbo to Caldera
- Valparaíso to Caldera
- Viña del Mar to Caldera
- Santiago, Chile to Caldera
From Los Andes to other places in Chile
- Los Andes to Reñaca
- Los Andes to El Colorado
- Los Andes to Valle Nevado
- Los Andes to Quintay
- Los Andes to Algarrobo
- Los Andes to Vicuña
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Los Andes to Caldera?
About 10 h 26 min of driving without stops, over 516 miles.
How far is Caldera from Los Andes by car?
About 516 miles (830 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 Los Andes to Caldera?
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 Los Andes to Caldera?
Closest to the road: St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe (cathedral, mile 11, 0.8 mi from the route); Museo Cardenal Jorge Medina Estévez (history museum, mile 262, 1 mi from the route); Museo Arqueológico, La Serena (museum, mile 267, 0.6 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.