The canal begins at the northeastern foot of Cerro Huancune on the Uchusuma River,[1] a principal tributary of the Mauri River;[2] the diversion occurs at the locality Ancochaullanta at 4,460 metres (14,630 ft) elevation.

[3] The path of the canal takes it southeastward through Peruvian territory until the Peru-Chile border at Laguna Blanca.

It continues through Chilean territory from Laguna Blanca along the Arica–La Paz railway southwestward between the mountains Tacora and Caracarani, close to the Canal Mauri.

It turns around Tacora's southern flank to its western side[1] while following a low-altitude moraine,[4] crosses the Rio Azufre westward and then the border between Chile and Peru.

[3] The Quebrada Vilavilani descends the Andes in southwestward direction, where it has several different names, and ends close to the city of Tacna into the Caplina River.