The Wayro route from Santiago, Chile to Vicuña is 334 miles (537 km), about 6 h 40 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 | 334 mi (537 km) |
|---|---|
| Time at the wheel, no stops | 6 h 40 min |
| Main roads, in order | D-201 |
| Regions on the route | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Coquimbo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 13.3 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 6 |
The Santiago–Vicuña drive in a few lines
D-201 (5 mi) carries about 1% of the 334 miles. It runs through 3 regions: Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Coquimbo. Of the 6 stops listed below, 1 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Santiago to Vicuña, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–293 | 293 | Región Metropolitana de Santiago, Valparaíso, Coquimbo |
| connecting roads | 293–294 | 1 | Coquimbo |
| local roads | 294–306 | 12 | Coquimbo |
| D-201 | 306–311 | 5 | Coquimbo |
| local roads | 311–334 | 23 | Coquimbo |
- Mile 39 of this route: Región Metropolitana de Santiago → Valparaíso (region line)
- Mile 123 of this route: Valparaíso → Coquimbo (region line)
Where to stop on the way to Vicuña
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Arqueológico, La Serena (mile 293)
- Nature and outdoors: La Campana National Park (mile 63), Bosque de Fray Jorge National Park (mile 234)
- Museums and history: Faro Punta Tortuga (mile 286), Museo Cardenal Jorge Medina Estévez (mile 288), Museo Arqueológico, La Serena (mile 293)
- With kids: La Serena Zoo (mile 307)
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.
Once you reach Vicuña
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 Vicuña
- Copiapó to Vicuña
- Caldera to Vicuña
- Reñaca to Vicuña
- Algarrobo to Vicuña
- Valparaíso to Vicuña
- Viña del Mar to Vicuña
From Santiago to other places in Chile
- Santiago, Chile to Valparaíso
- Santiago, Chile to Quintay
- Santiago, Chile to Reñaca
- Santiago, Chile to La Serena
- Santiago, Chile to Pisco Elqui
- Santiago, Chile to Punta de Choros
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Santiago, Chile to Vicuña?
About 6 h 40 min of driving without stops, over 334 miles.
How far is Vicuña from Santiago, Chile by car?
About 334 miles (537 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 Santiago, Chile to Vicuña?
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 Santiago to Vicuña?
Closest to the road: Museo Cardenal Jorge Medina Estévez (history museum, mile 288, 1 mi from the route); Museo Arqueológico, La Serena (museum, mile 293, 0.3 mi from the route); La Serena Zoo (zoo, mile 307, 1 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.