The Wayro route from Santa Cruz, Chile to Pisco Elqui is 464 miles (747 km), about 9 h 28 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 | 464 mi (747 km) |
|---|---|
| Drive time without stops | 9 h 28 min |
| Main roads, in order | D-201 → D-485 |
| Regions on the route | Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Coquimbo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 18.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
What the drive from Santa Cruz to Pisco Elqui is like
D-485 (12 mi) and D-201 (4 mi) carry about 3% of the 464 miles. It runs through 4 regions: Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Coquimbo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 6 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Santa Cruz and Pisco Elqui
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–402 | 402 | Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Coquimbo |
| connecting roads | 402–403 | 1 | Coquimbo |
| local roads | 403–415 | 12 | Coquimbo |
| connecting roads | 415–416 | 1 | Coquimbo |
| D-201 | 416–420 | 4 | Coquimbo |
| local roads | 420–452 | 32 | Coquimbo |
| D-485 | 452–464 | 12 | Coquimbo |
- Mile 76 of this route: Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins → Región Metropolitana de Santiago (region line)
- Mile 149 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 232 of this route: Valparaíso → Coquimbo (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Pisco Elqui
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Basílica de Santa Ana, Rengo (mile 40), St. Bernard Cathedral, San Bernardo (mile 101), Centro Nacional de Arte Contemporáneo Cerrillos (mile 107), Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro (mile 110), Centro Cultural Matucana 100 (mile 111), Parque Japonés de La Serena (mile 402)
- Nature and outdoors: La Campana National Park (mile 172), Bosque de Fray Jorge National Park (mile 344), Parque Japonés de La Serena (mile 402)
- Museums and history: Basílica de Santa Ana, Rengo (mile 40), St. Bernard Cathedral, San Bernardo (mile 101), Centro Nacional de Arte Contemporáneo Cerrillos (mile 107), Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro (mile 110), Centro Cultural Matucana 100 (mile 111)
- With kids: La Serena Zoo (mile 417)
Basílica de Santa Ana, Rengo
A Catholic church in the city of Rengo, the Basílica de Santa Ana is one of Chile's nine minor basilicas, with roots going back to the colonial period.
St. Bernard Cathedral, San Bernardo
Beside the Plaza de Armas of San Bernardo in metropolitan Santiago, St. Bernard Cathedral is the main Catholic church and seat of the Diocese of San Bernardo.
Centro Nacional de Arte Contemporáneo Cerrillos
Housed in the old modernist terminal of Los Cerrillos airport in Santiago, this contemporary art center opened in 2016 for temporary exhibitions and Chilean art from 1967 onward.
Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro
Designed in Gothic Revival style by Brother Gerardo (Gustave Knockaert) and Huberto Boulangeot, this basilica stands in the Santiago commune.
Centro Cultural Matucana 100
Near Quinta Normal Park, Matucana 100 is a nonprofit cultural center in Estación Central hosting dance, theater, music, photography, visual arts and film programs.
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.
Parque Japonés de La Serena
Opened in 1994, La Serena's Japanese Park (Parque Jardín del Corazón) is a Japan-themed garden with plant and animal species from that country.
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.
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 Santa Cruz to other places in Chile
- Santa Cruz, Chile to Valle Nevado
- Santa Cruz, Chile to Vicuña
- Santa Cruz, Chile to Punta de Choros
- Santa Cruz, Chile to Malargüe, Argentina
- Santa Cruz, Chile to La Punta, Argentina
- Santa Cruz, Chile to San José de Jáchal, Argentina
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Santa Cruz, Chile to Pisco Elqui?
About 9 h 28 min of driving without stops, over 464 miles.
What is the driving distance from Santa Cruz, Chile to Pisco Elqui?
About 464 miles (747 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 Santa Cruz, Chile to Pisco Elqui?
The U.S. State Department rates Chile Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Santa Cruz to Pisco Elqui?
In order: D-201 and D-485. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
What are good stops between Santa Cruz and Pisco Elqui?
Closest to the road: Basílica de Santa Ana, Rengo (basilica, mile 40, 0.7 mi from the route); St. Bernard Cathedral, San Bernardo (cathedral, mile 101, 0.6 mi from the route); Parque Japonés de La Serena (park, mile 402, 0.4 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.