Punta de Choros to Pisco Elqui is about 134 road miles (216 km): roughly 3 h 58 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.”
| Distance | 134 mi (216 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 3 h 58 min |
| Main roads, in order | D-110-C → D-201 → D-485 |
| Regions on the route | Coquimbo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 5.4 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 4 |
Driving Punta de Choros to Pisco Elqui: the shape of the trip
D-110-C (24 mi) and D-485 (13 mi) carry about 28% of the 134 miles. Of the 4 stops listed below, 3 are within a mile of the road.
Punta de Choros to Pisco Elqui: the road sequence
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | |
| D-110-C | 1–25 | 24 | Coquimbo |
| local roads | 25–70 | 45 | Coquimbo |
| connecting roads | 70–73 | 3 | Coquimbo |
| local roads | 73–85 | 12 | Coquimbo |
| D-201 | 85–89 | 4 | Coquimbo |
| local roads | 89–121 | 32 | Coquimbo |
| D-485 | 121–134 | 13 | Coquimbo |
Places worth a stop between Punta de Choros and Pisco Elqui
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Our Lady of Mercy Cathedral, La Serena (mile 72), Ignacio Domeyko Mineralogical Museum (mile 72), Entomological and Natural History Museum of Vicuña (mile 111)
- Nature and outdoors: Ignacio Domeyko Mineralogical Museum (mile 72), Entomological and Natural History Museum of Vicuña (mile 111)
- Museums and history: Our Lady of Mercy Cathedral, La Serena (mile 72), Ignacio Domeyko Mineralogical Museum (mile 72), Entomological and Natural History Museum of Vicuña (mile 111)
- With kids: La Serena Zoo (mile 86)
Our Lady of Mercy Cathedral, La Serena
Also called La Serena Cathedral, this is the seat of the Archdiocese of La Serena, standing on the northeastern corner of the Plaza de Armas at Los Carrera and Cordovez streets.
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.
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
- Copiapó to Pisco Elqui
- Reñaca to Pisco Elqui
- Quintay to Pisco Elqui
- Algarrobo to Pisco Elqui
- Valparaíso to Pisco Elqui
From Punta de Choros to other places in Chile
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Punta de Choros to Pisco Elqui?
About 3 h 58 min of driving without stops, over 134 miles.
How far is Pisco Elqui from Punta de Choros by car?
About 134 miles (216 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 Punta de Choros to Pisco Elqui 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 Punta de Choros to Pisco Elqui use?
In order: D-110-C, D-201 and D-485. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Punta de Choros and Pisco Elqui?
Closest to the road: Our Lady of Mercy Cathedral, La Serena (cathedral, mile 72, 0.3 mi from the route); Ignacio Domeyko Mineralogical Museum (natural history museum, mile 72, 0.3 mi from the route); Entomological and Natural History Museum of Vicuña (natural history museum, mile 111, 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.