Driving from Santiago to Calama
Calama lies 1,235 km (767 mi) north of Santiago, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
Driving takes about 18 h 50 min without stops, over roughly 1,506 km (936 mi) of road; add breaks, fuel and any border.
| Santiago | Calama | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Chile | Chile |
| Population | 4.8 million | 166,334 |
| Elevation | 556 m (1,824 ft) | 2,275 m (7,464 ft) |
| Time now | UTC-3 (America/Santiago) | UTC-3 (America/Santiago) |
| Postal codes | 8320000 | 1390000 |
Where to book car hire from Santiago 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 Santiago?
1,235 km (767 mi) in a straight line, north of Santiago; by road roughly 1,506 km (936 mi).
How long does it take to get from Santiago to Calama by car?
About 18 h 50 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Santiago and Calama?
No, both are on America/Santiago at the moment.
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.