Ports & Harbours of the Pacific coast of South America
YearMaps maps 53 harbours on the Pacific coast of South America, in 4 countries and territories. The largest by the World Port Index's harbour size are Antofagasta and Puerto del Callao. Every harbour is listed below with its depths, tidal range and the largest ships it takes.
The Pacific coast of South America runs beside the Andes from Colombia to Cape Horn, with desert in the north and fjords and channels in the far south. Callao served as the port of Lima and the Spanish viceroyalty of Peru, shipping the silver of Potosí, and Valparaíso prospered as a stop for ships rounding Cape Horn until the Panama Canal opened in 1914.
- Harbours
- 53
- Countries
- 4
Map of the Ports of the Pacific coast of South America
Blue dots are the harbours of the World Port Index; tap or click one to open its entry. Use the layer panel to add trade routes, rivers and historical borders.
All Harbours of the Pacific coast of South America
53 harbours, the largest first by the index's harbour size. Channel depth and tidal range set the physical limit on which ships can call. 28 of them are recorded in the source with the city they serve.
| Harbour | Country | Size | Channel | Anchorage | Tide | Largest vessel | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antofagasta | Chile | Medium | 38.4 m | — | 3 m | large vessels | |
| Puerto del Callaoserves Callao | Peru | Medium | 38.4 m | — | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Bahia de Valdiviaserves Valdivia | Chile | Small | 53 m | — | 3 m | large vessels | |
| Iquitos | Peru | Small | 45.7 m | — | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Buenaventura | Colombia | Small | 42.1 m | — | 4 m | large vessels | |
| Puerto Maritimo de Guayaquilserves Guayaquil | Ecuador | Small | 38.4 m | — | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Bahia de Matarani | Peru | Small | 31.1 m | 5.5 m | 3 m | large vessels | |
| Iquique | Chile | Small | 31.1 m | — | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Rada de Aricaserves Arica | Chile | Small | 23.8 m | — | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Coronel | Chile | Small | 20.1 m | — | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Talara | Peru | Small | 20.1 m | — | 5 m | large vessels | |
| Mejillones | Chile | Small | 12.8 m | — | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Puerto San Antonioserves San Antonio | Chile | Small | 5.5 m | — | 4 m | large vessels | |
| Tocopilla | Chile | Small | 5.5 m | — | 3 m | large vessels | |
| Puerto Chacabuco | Chile | Very Small | 56.7 m | 5.5 m | 3 m | large vessels | |
| Salaverry | Peru | Very Small | 42.1 m | — | 3 m | large vessels | |
| Esmeraldas | Ecuador | Very Small | 38.4 m | — | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Manta | Ecuador | Very Small | 38.4 m | — | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Paita | Peru | Very Small | 38.4 m | — | 4 m | large vessels | |
| Lota | Chile | Very Small | 34.7 m | — | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Puerto Castroserves Castro | Chile | Very Small | 34.7 m | — | 3 m | medium vessels | |
| Puerto de Corral | Chile | Very Small | 34.7 m | 31.1 m | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Bahia San Nicolas | Peru | Very Small | 31.1 m | 5.5 m | — | large vessels | |
| Caleta Lobitos | Peru | Very Small | 31.1 m | 20.1 m | 1 m | — | |
| Pimentalserves Pimentel | Peru | Very Small | 31.1 m | — | 3 m | medium vessels | |
| Bahia Harris | Chile | Very Small | 27.4 m | 5.5 m | — | — | |
| Bahia Herradura Guayacanserves Coquimbo | Chile | Very Small | 23.8 m | — | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Caleta Clarencia | Chile | Very Small | 23.8 m | 53 m | — | large vessels | |
| Puerto Iloserves Ilo | Peru | Very Small | 16.5 m | — | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Taltal | Chile | Very Small | 12.8 m | — | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Puerto de Chimboteserves Chimbote | Peru | Very Small | 9.1 m | — | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Bahia San Vicenteserves Talcahuano | Chile | Very Small | 5.5 m | — | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Puerto Calderillaserves Caldera | Chile | Very Small | 5.5 m | — | 3 m | large vessels | |
| Puerto Chanaral | Chile | Very Small | 5.5 m | 27.4 m | 2 m | large vessels | |
| Puerto Yartou | Chile | Very Small | 5.5 m | 27.4 m | — | — | |
| Bahia Agua Fresca | Chile | Very Small | — | 49.4 m | — | — | |
| Bahia de Ancon | Peru | Very Small | — | 49.4 m | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Bahia Quintero (Ventanas) | Chile | Very Small | — | 16.5 m | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Caleta Mina Elena | Chile | Very Small | — | 42.1 m | — | — | |
| Caleta Patillos | Chile | Very Small | — | 9.1 m | — | large vessels | |
| Conchan Oil Terminal | Peru | Very Small | — | — | 1 m | large vessels | |
| la Libertadserves Salinas | Ecuador | Very Small | — | — | 2 m | large vessels | |
| la Pampilla Oil Terminal | Peru | Very Small | — | 16.5 m | 1 m | — | |
| Lirquen | Chile | Very Small | — | 27.4 m | 1 m | medium vessels | |
| Penco | Chile | Very Small | — | 34.7 m | 4 m | large vessels | |
| Port San Juan de la Juan | Chile | Very Small | — | 27.4 m | 4 m | — | |
| Puerto Bayovar | Peru | Very Small | — | 5.5 m | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Puerto Cabo Blanco | Peru | Very Small | — | 23.8 m | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Puerto Quemchi | Chile | Very Small | — | 5.5 m | 7 m | medium vessels | |
| Puerto Sara | Chile | Very Small | — | 12.8 m | 17 m | large vessels | |
| Puerto Supe | Peru | Very Small | — | 23.8 m | 1 m | large vessels | |
| Puerto Williams | Chile | Very Small | — | — | 2 m | medium vessels | |
| Punta Delgada | Chile | Very Small | — | 49.4 m | — | — |
Port Cities of the Pacific coast of South America
The most populous cities with a harbour of the Pacific coast of South America within 25 km. Each city is listed with its country's other cities on the country page.
- Lima8.01 million
Capital of Peru · Puerto del Callao (9 km), Conchan Oil Terminal (15 km), la Pampilla Oil Terminal (15 km)
- Guayaquil2.51 million
Ecuador · Puerto Maritimo de Guayaquil
- Concepción889,725
Chile · Coronel (24 km), Bahia San Vicente (14 km), Lirquen (14 km), Penco (13 km)
- Callao876,877
Peru · Puerto del Callao, Conchan Oil Terminal (18 km), la Pampilla Oil Terminal (16 km)
- Trujillo765,171
Peru · Salaverry (12 km)
- Chiclayo596,792
Peru · Pimental (13 km)
- Iquitos458,729
Peru · Iquitos
- Chimbote349,846
Peru · Puerto de Chimbote
- Antofagasta309,832
Chile · Antofagasta
- Talcahuano288,074
Chile · Bahia San Vicente, Lirquen (12 km), Penco (10 km)
- Buenaventura252,805
Colombia · Buenaventura
- Iquique227,499
Chile · Iquique
- Arica185,999
Chile · Rada de Arica
- Manta183,166
Ecuador · Manta
- Esmeraldas173,101
Ecuador · Esmeraldas
- Coquimbo161,317
Chile · Bahia Herradura Guayacan
- Valdivia159,599
Chile · Bahia de Valdivia, Puerto de Corral (18 km)
- La Serena154,521
Chile · Bahia Herradura Guayacan (11 km)
- Punta Arenas117,430
Chile · Bahia Agua Fresca (24 km)
- San Antonio104,292
Chile · Puerto San Antonio
- Talara99,074
Peru · Talara, Caleta Lobitos (14 km)
- Coronel92,940
- Paita56,151
Peru · Paita
- Ilo53,476
Peru · Puerto Ilo
- Lota49,763
- Mollendo49,033
Peru · Bahia de Matarani (11 km)
- Salinas43,862
Ecuador · la Libertad
- Pativilca31,905
Peru · Puerto Supe (12 km)
- Castro29,926
Chile · Puerto Castro
- Chancay26,958
Peru · Bahia de Ancon (23 km)
Countries with Harbours on the Pacific coast of South America
More Seas and Coasts
See every sea, grouped from North America to Oceania & Antarctica, on the world ports index, or the voyages that crossed these waters on the famous sea voyages map.
Pacific Coast of South America: Quick Answers
- How many ports are there on the Pacific coast of South America?
- YearMaps lists 53 ports and harbours on the Pacific coast of South America, from the World Port Index of the US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Small fishing harbours and private terminals outside the index are not counted.
- Which countries have ports on the Pacific coast of South America?
- Chile (31), Peru (17), Ecuador (4) and Colombia (1).
- What are the largest ports on the Pacific coast of South America?
- By the World Port Index's harbour size, the largest are Antofagasta and Puerto del Callao.
- What are the main port cities on the Pacific coast of South America?
- The most populous cities with a harbour here are Lima (8.01 million), Guayaquil (2.51 million), Concepción (889,725), Callao (876,877) and Trujillo (765,171).