Driving from Lima to Calama
Calama lies 1,442 km (896 mi) south-east of Lima, +2 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there.
Driving takes about 21 h 59 min without stops, over roughly 1,759 km (1,093 mi) of road; add breaks, fuel and any border.
| Lima | Calama | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Peru | Chile |
| Population | 7.7 million | 166,334 |
| Elevation | 152 m (499 ft) | 2,275 m (7,464 ft) |
| Time now | UTC-5 (America/Lima) | UTC-3 (America/Santiago) |
| Postal codes | 02250–15088 | 1390000 |
Clocks in Calama are 2 h ahead of Lima right now, so a 21 h 59 min journey lands 23 h 59 min later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in Calama
Crossing from Peru into Chile: money changes from the Sol to the Peso (CLP); sockets are Euro, Type L; the dialling code becomes +56; the emergency number is http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648813 / http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q25648847.
Where to book car hire from Lima to Calama
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Staying in Calama
Live rooms and prices for Calama are in the search below.
Book a hotel in Calama
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Calama from Lima?
1,442 km (896 mi) in a straight line, south-east of Lima; by road roughly 1,759 km (1,093 mi).
How long does it take to get from Lima to Calama by car?
About 21 h 59 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Lima and Calama?
Calama is 2 h ahead at the moment (America/Santiago against America/Lima).
What currency do I need in Calama?
The Peso (CLP).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.