It lies at an altitude of 3,738 m above sea level on the edge of the 250-acre (1.0 km2) flood plain of the river on the east bank of the Tacagua Poopó Lake.

Challapata is located half way of the road and railway connection from Oruro to Potosí, about 130 kilometers from both cities.

Challapata is located on the eastern edge of the Bolivian Altiplano before the Cordillera Azanaques, which is a part of the mountain chain of the Cordillera Central.

The mean average temperature of the region lies at 8-9 °C (see climate diagram) and varies between 4 °C in June and July and 11 °C in December.

[citation needed] The population of Challapata has risen in the past two decades by nearly 50 percent: 1992: 6661 inhabitants (census) 2001: 7683 inhabitants (census) 2010: 9482 inhabitants (update)[citation needed]