Plan on about 6 h 11 min of driving for the 302-mile (486 km) trip from Viña del Mar to Vicuña, before any stops.
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 by road | 302 mi (486 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 11 min |
| Main roads, in order | D-201 |
| Regions on the route | Valparaíso, Coquimbo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.1 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 7 |
Driving Viña del Mar to Vicuña: the shape of the trip
D-201 (5 mi) carries about 2% of the 302 miles. It runs through 2 regions: Valparaíso, Coquimbo. Of the 7 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
Road-by-road breakdown: Viña del Mar to Vicuña
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–37 | 37 | Valparaíso |
| connecting roads | 37–39 | 2 | Valparaíso |
| local roads | 39–275 | 236 | Valparaíso, Coquimbo |
| D-201 | 275–280 | 5 | Coquimbo |
| local roads | 280–302 | 22 | Coquimbo |
- Mile 92 of this route: Valparaíso → Coquimbo (region line)
What to see on the way from Viña del Mar to Vicuña
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Museo Histórico-Arqueológico de Quillota (mile 30), Parque Japonés de La Serena (mile 262)
- Nature and outdoors: La Campana National Park (mile 29), Bosque de Fray Jorge National Park (mile 203), Parque Japonés de La Serena (mile 262)
- Museums and history: Museo Histórico-Arqueológico de Quillota (mile 30), Museo Cardenal Jorge Medina Estévez (mile 257)
- With kids: Zoológico de Quilpué (mile 7), La Serena Zoo (mile 276)
Zoológico de Quilpué
Maintained by the municipality, the Zoológico de Quilpué was set up on land donated to the city to create a recreation park for the community.
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.
Museo Histórico-Arqueológico de Quillota
Quillota's history and archaeology museum occupies the Casa Colonial, a building declared a National Monument, in the city of Quillota.
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.
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.
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.
In Vicuña itself
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
- Santiago, Chile to Vicuña
From Viña del Mar to other places in Chile
- Viña del Mar to Coquimbo
- Viña del Mar to Pisco Elqui
- Viña del Mar to Punta de Choros
- Viña del Mar to Caldera
- Viña del Mar to El Colorado
- Viña del Mar to Valle Nevado
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Viña del Mar to Vicuña?
About 6 h 11 min of driving without stops, over 302 miles.
How far is Vicuña from Viña del Mar by car?
About 302 miles (486 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 Viña del Mar 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 Viña del Mar to Vicuña?
Closest to the road: Museo Histórico-Arqueológico de Quillota (museum, mile 30, 1 mi from the route); Museo Cardenal Jorge Medina Estévez (history museum, mile 257, 1 mi from the route); Parque Japonés de La Serena (park, mile 262, 0.2 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.