The provincial capital is La Serena. The province has an area of 16,895.1 km², and has 3,721 inhabitants.

La Serena
I is the second oldest city in Chile. The city, located 471 km north of Santiago, has a population of 147,815, according to the 2002 census. There are also 12,333 inhabitants of the immediately surrounding countryside. It is one of the fastest-growing areas of Chile, witnessing a population increase of 32.6% between 1992 and 2002.

Coquimbo
Is the port city and capital of the Elqui Province. Tourism has started to develop in Coquimbo recently. It is a jumping point for small beach towns to the south, such as Guanaqueros and Tongoy. The port is still important for the export, especially of fruits. Wine is also grown in the region. Coquimbo is located on the Pan-American Highway.