The Wayro route from Los Andes to Pisco Elqui is 329 miles (529 km), about 6 h 54 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.”
| Total distance | 329 mi (529 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 54 min |
| Main roads, in order | D-201 → D-485 |
| Regions on the route | Valparaíso, Coquimbo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
What the drive from Los Andes to Pisco Elqui is like
D-485 (13 mi) and D-201 (4 mi) carry about 5% of the 329 miles. It runs through 2 regions: Valparaíso, Coquimbo. Of the 8 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Roads you'll take from Los Andes to Pisco Elqui
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–29 | 29 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 29–30 | 1 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 30–280 | 250 | Valparaíso, Coquimbo |
| D-201 | 280–284 | 4 | Coquimbo |
| local roads | 284–316 | 32 | Coquimbo |
| D-485 | 316–329 | 13 | Coquimbo |
- Mile 96 of this route: Valparaíso → Coquimbo (region line)
Breaking up the drive: stops between Los Andes and Pisco Elqui
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe (mile 11), Museo Arqueológico, La Serena (mile 267), Entomological and Natural History Museum of Vicuña (mile 304)
- Nature and outdoors: La Campana National Park (mile 36), Bosque de Fray Jorge National Park (mile 208), Entomological and Natural History Museum of Vicuña (mile 304)
- 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), Entomological and Natural History Museum of Vicuña (mile 304)
- With kids: La Serena Zoo (mile 281)
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.
La Serena Zoo
Founded in 2006, La Serena Zoo is a privately run zoo in Chile's Coquimbo Region, set in the El Hinojal area on the road from La Serena to the Elqui Valley.
Entomological and Natural History Museum of Vicuña
Opened in 1994, this private museum in Vicuña holds about 26,000 specimens, mostly insects, mollusks and birds, from Chile and other parts of Latin America, along with fossils.
More drives to Pisco Elqui
- Coquimbo to Pisco Elqui
- Punta de Choros to Pisco Elqui
- Copiapó to Pisco Elqui
- Reñaca to Pisco Elqui
- Quintay to Pisco Elqui
- Algarrobo to Pisco Elqui
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 Pisco Elqui?
About 6 h 54 min of driving without stops, over 329 miles.
How far is Pisco Elqui from Los Andes by car?
About 329 miles (529 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 Pisco Elqui?
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 Los Andes to Pisco Elqui use?
In order: D-201 and D-485. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Los Andes to Pisco Elqui?
Closest to the road: St. Philip's Cathedral, San Felipe (cathedral, mile 11, 0.8 mi from the route); Museo Arqueológico, La Serena (museum, mile 267, 0.4 mi from the route); Entomological and Natural History Museum of Vicuña (natural history museum, mile 304, 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.