It has an area of 10,079.8 km² and a population of 81,681. The capital of the province is the town of Illapel. Los Vilos is a Chilean coastal city with over 9,000 inhabitants, located in the Province of Choapa, part of the IV Region of Coquimbo. Its main activity is fishing. The city also has a significant amount of tourism, mainly due to its two beaches: La Principal and Las Conchas. It's located at 246 kilometers from La Serena and 224 kilometers from Santiago. This city was built in 1830, and it was declared a minor harbor in 1855. As of 2006, the city is still an important harbor of the country.