The canal proper starts at a diversion dam on the Uchusuma River and runs for ( of it through Chilean territory) in a rectangular canal. The Patapujo I canal joins it soon afterwards, and there are two gauging stations there. The path of the canal takes it through Chilean territory from Laguna Blanca along the Arica-La Paz railway southwestward between the mountains Tacora and Caracarani, close to the Canal Uchusuma. It turns around Tacora, crosses the Rio Azufre and ends close to the Peru-Chile border between the mountains Cerro Huaylillas and Cerro Tabajchuno (Paso Huaylillas Sur) into the Quebrada Vilavilani. It crosses the Cordillera Barroso through the long Huaylillas Sur tunnel, the water then enters the Quebrada Vilavilani proper. The Canal Mauri has a capacity of .