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Blog - Jim's Thoughts

Chile Tours and Travel

Multiple Destinations / Santiago area / Patagonia / Lake District
Easter Island / Atacama Desert / Expedition Cruises / Fiord Cruises
Biking / Treks / Multisport / Sea Kayaking / Wine Tours

Easter Island Tours

In the middle of the Pacific Ocean, 4000 km (approx. 2480 miles) straight out from the Chilean coastline, is an island which still holds a very special mystery and magic. Rapa Nui, as the natives called it, literally meaning the Navel of the World, was discovered on Easter Sunday and thus to this day it is usually, is simply referred to as Easter Island. But this island holds an intrigue far greater than one might imagine. So far from everything and everyone, isolated by the largest ocean in the world, it demonstrates a rich history, art, language and interestingly once even suffered a civil war. All upon an island not 25 kilometers (approx. 40 miles) across. The Island is an equilateral triangular shape, 24 km across its longest side with extinct volcanic cones in each of its three corners respectively. Amidst an atmosphere of friendly Polynesian hospitality, the entire island is today a species of open-air museum with more than 600 MOAI (some up to 9 meters in height), the fascinating Orongo Village and many traditional people`s cave dwellings open to view.

Main Attractions

Tahai: Group of altars with ceremonial purposes. Its archeological interest is combined to the aesthetics of its three "Ahu" installed on the north, center and south. In Tahai also are found the bases of the “boat house” and the rests of the archeologist Williams Mulloy on one side of the southern Ahu, while the northern moai is characterized by his white coral eyes placed by resolution of the elder council. On this place is performed each year the party Tapati Rapa Nui.

Te Pito o Te Henua: It’s an enormous rounded stone that represents the “world’s belly button” for the islanders. The meaning of “pito” is translated to English as center, womb and belly button, while “henua” is land, territory and universe.

Rano Kau Volcano: The volcano located on the south of the island has an interior lagoon of 1 kilometer width and 280 meters of depth. Possess beautiful vegetation composed mainly of totora reeds and rushes.

Orongo: Was a village used for ceremonial purposes to celebrate the transition between summer and winter hours, with the arrival of spring. Orongo means “place of the messenger” for the arrival to that place of migratory birds.

Anakena Beach: The beach resort is characterized by its warm, turquoise colored waters and coralline sand, and for the presence of the ahu Ature Huki and el Nau Nau, restored on 1954. Its interest is because it was the place of the expedition of the first king of the island, Ariki Hotu Matua, causing an important population center of notable social, political and cultural organization, such as the school of “the masters of the ancient writing” extinct on this days.

Ahu Te Pito Kura. The ahu possess the biggest moai of the island with 11 meters of height that was transported from Rano Raraku. Perfect to perform ecotourism, cultural activities and adventure tourism with the practice of varied disciplines on its beautiful hillsides.

Magic of Easter Island

Day 1: After your arrival at Mataveri Airport you will experience a traditional reception with flower necklaces. A short transfer takes you to your hotel. We recommend spending the remaining day to visit the church of the village. Among the various statues you will find traditional Roman
Catholic symbols together with indigenous ones. On Sunday morning you are welcome to attend mass. The artisan market and the local museum are located next to the church. The museum holds a collection of Rapa Nui artefact reproductions, while the originals were removed from the island.

Day 2: Anakena
Today you will learn more about the fascinating history of Rapa Nui. After leaving Hanga Roa, we will drive to the south along the coastal road. Views of the Poike Peninsula and the whole coastline consisting of black volcanic rock will accompany us all the way. Our first stop will be in Vaihu to visit archaeological sites, passing several moais lying along the street indicating the "Camino de los Moais“, the "Trail of the Moais“ on which
they were manoeuvred to their destinations, also marking our next stop. At Ranu Raraku - the place where the moais were made - we will have a picnic lunch, and afterwards we will start walking up the Ranu Raraku volcano. The next highlight is one of the most impressive sites on the island:
the restored giant Ahu Tongariki and its 15 moais, which are the largest worship site on the island.

Continuing on our excursion, we will take a small break to visit two beaches, one of them being Ovahe, a small bay with a cave and nearly pink-coloured sand. From there and after just a short drive we will reach Anakena with its white sandy beach and coconut palm trees, inviting you
to rest in the sand and swim in the warm Pacific water. Drive back to Hanga Roa. (B,BL)

Day 3: Ceremonial Village Orongo & Ahu Akivi
From Hanga Roa it is a 30 minute drive to the volcano Rano Kau with the ceremonial village Orongo. It is the ceremonial centre of the cult of the bird-man "Hombre Pajaro“, which started when the „Short Ears“ stopped building moais. Your guide will explain this "new“ culture of the island and show you famous petroglyph images. This site offers the view of three small islets in the Pacific: Motu Nui, Moto Kau, Moto Iti. The afternoon excursion will take you to the Ahu Akivi site with its prominent 7 moais. This site was one of the later constructions built, probably at a time when
the statue cult was beginning to unravel. Ahu Akivi is unusual because it is neither at the coast nor are its Moais facing towards the land, unlike all the other ceremonial statues. (B)

Day 4: Departure
Transfer to airport in time to board the flight to Santiago or Tahiti. (B)

Price per person in US$

Program includes: 3 overnights with breakfast, 1 full day excursion with picnic lunch (Anakena), 2 half-day tour (Orongo & Ahu Akivi), transfers and excursions with driver and bilingual guide, entrance fees.
Regular: the itinerary may be reversed; service with German or English speaking driver-guide. Regular services, at least 1 passenger
This program may be altered depending on the airline's schedule.

DAY 01 EASTER ISLAND
Arrival to Easter Island. Reception at the airport with flower necklaces and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight.

DAY 02 RANO RARAKU VOLCANO & ANAKENA BEACH (B,L)
Breakfast at the hotel. We will leave Hotel Otai for a full day excursion to some of the most interesting place of this beautiful island :

- VINAPU: Ahu Vinapu is not as spectacular as some of the other sites on Easter Island. There are no erected moai, no giant craters to peer into, and it's views include the airport fuel tanks. But at Ahu Vinapu, to some, stands evidence that flies in the face of what modern archaeologists want us to believe about the people that built the ruins. At Ahu Vinapu we will see a style of stonework not found at any other Polynesian site. This is the only site on Easter where this level of workmanship is shown as well, however, other sites had existed but were torn down by the missionaries to build houses.

- AKAHANGA: the ruins that are in their natural condition and where the first king of the island was buried.

- RANO RARAKU VOLCANO: situated close to the southern shore of the island, and at the Basis of Poike, which is the most spectacular crater in the zone and where the former island-people carved the giant statues from the volcano's quarry. Here we can see the different stages in the construction of the Moais, the biggest of which still remains at the basis of the quarry and which is more than 20m long and weighs just under 200 tons.

- AHU TONGARIKI: This was the most impressive megalithic monument of the classic period, with a central platform nearly 100 meters long that once supported 15 moais with their respective pukao (hats). The statues vary from 5.6 to 8.7 meters tall and weigh an average of 40 tons. The largest statue, with its enormous pukao (hat) on its head, reached some 14 meters above the level of the plaza.

- ANAKENA: This is the most Polynesian-looking part of the island, a true paradise with a grove of coconut palms that stretches to a white sand beach and a calm blue cove of warm Pacific waters. Anakena is one of two sand beaches on an island that is otherwise surrounded by a rough, black rock coastline. The idyllic setting here is interrupted by an ahu with six moai, a stark reminder that you are still on Easter Island. The distinct features of the moai, with carvings on their backs, are accented by the red scoria top knots, or pukaos, on their heads. This is where the island's first settlers, Hotu Matu'a and his family, are believed to have landed.

Box lunch at the beach. Free afternoon to enjoy this magnificent place. Return to the village. Overnight.

DAY 03 ORONGO (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Half day tour to Rano Kau viewpoint and Orongo. The excursion leaves for the western sector of the island. It ascends the hill slopes of the Rano Kau volcano to the viewpoint, allowing the observation of a crater with a diameter of 1.6 km and 200 meter deep. The crater of lush vegetation contains a large fresh water lake covered with totora. From this location, a privileged view is enjoyed to the islets Motu Nui, Motu Iti, and Motu Kao Kao, which belong to the ancient ceremony of the Tangata Manu (Bird man). At this place, there are also the restored ruins of the Ceremonial City of Orongo and sculpted petroglyphs on rocks, representing Tangata Manu, Make Make (God, the Maker) and Komari (symbol of fertility). Orongo has ruins of great archaeological and heritage value. Return to the hotel. Free afternoon. Overnight.

DAY 04 AHU AKIVI (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Morning tour to :
- AHU AKIVI: The first ahu (platform) whose restoration was systematic. It is aligned on an equinoctial north-south axis in such a way that the backs of the moai face the rising sun. The fact that Akivi has seven moai has led to the idea that they represented the seven explores of the legend of Hotu Matu'a.
- ANA TE PAHU: In a vast area known as Roiho, marked by traces of the island's most recent volcanic activity between 6 and 10 thousand years ago, the capricious movement of the incandescent lava formed a large number of caves, many of which were used as temporary shelters.

Return to the hotel. Free afternoon. Overnight.

DAY 05 EASTER ISLAND / SANTIAGO DE CHILE (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. At the agreed time transfer to the airport and assistance to board flight to your next destination. Farewell with seashell necklace.

Price per person in US$:

Includes:
- Transfer Mataveri airport / hotel / airport in regular service with bilingual guide.
- 4 nights of lodging on the island with breakfast.
- All excursions mentioned are in regular service with bilingual guide.

4 Day Tour (without day 4 above):

Price per person in US$:

HOTEL O'TAI
Traditional 3-star hotel with a good location in the heart of Hanga Roa, but its beautiful gardens make you feel like you are miles away from everyone.Friendly island family-run service. Good restaurant with local dishes, large garden, swimming-pool, comfortable rooms each with their own terrace. Both standard and superior rooms available. Very good value.

HOTEL IORANA
4-star hotel with peaceful setting located 2 km (approx. 3,2 miles) out from town center. The rooms have a beautiful view out over the ocean. The hotel has a swimming pool, but one can also swim in the ocean in a protected pool. There is a good restaurant to sample local island seafood. Standard Room: View of the sea, private bathroom, shower, balcony, air shaft, telephone, safety deposit box

HOTEL TAHA TAI
3-star hotel right next to the beach and only 5 minutes from the urban center of town of Hanga Roa. The hotel has a bar, restaurant, swimming pool and comfortable rooms.

HOTEL MANUTARA
23 room family-run hotel. Rooms are equipped with TV, phone, hair dryer and safe. Nice dining room, pool, bar, 15-minute walk from the village, close to the airport, very quietly situated with a big garden.